How to get rid of cockroaches

It’s one of the downsides of a Sydney summer – sure the weather is great, the beaches are lovely and Sydneysiders come out of their homes to party the night away. But so do the cockroaches. And, well, there can be quite a lot of them. And they fly.

Sydney is home to several species, including the German cockroach, the American cockroach, the Australian cockroach (actually introduced) and native species. German cockroaches in particular are drawn to warm, humid spots like kitchens and bathrooms and are often found in cupboards and in and under electrical appliances such as toasters, microwaves and fridges. They eat almost anything, with a preference for starchy foods, whereas the Australian cockroach is often attracted to food left out and is often found around garbage or pet food bowls. Native species are less likely to come indoors, according to the Australian Museum, and none of the 400-or-so native species is a serious pest.

So, aside from dropping hints and asking them to start paying rent, what can you do?  

Here are seven methods to deal with the ubiquitous Sydney roach.

1.  Bombs, sprays and baits

There’s a broad range of cockroach killers available in the supermarket or hardware store – the standard cockroach bomb, which involves setting off a gas “bomb”, shutting the doors and leaving it for a few hours; surface sprays; and station and gel baits. Ongoing treatments are generally needed to get rid of a stubborn infestation. Choice.com.au conducted a review in 2013 which might help you select a product off the shelf. 

2. The ‘Vegas Trap’ 

Apparently named for its appearance on a Las Vegas news broadcast, the Vegas Trap is a simple DIY trap that doesn’t involved insecticides. The general idea is to use wet coffee grounds to bait cockroaches into a larger jar or container with water in it, where they drown. When you’ve collected enough cockroach corpses, tip out and repeat. You can watch a video demonstration here, or a more local variation using a margarine container here.

3. The natural approach

Continuing on the “no-insecticide” theme, you could also try sticky baits or essential-oil based repellents. Sticky baits use a sweetened bait (which some cockroaches have reportedly evolved to avoid) to lure the roaches onto a sticky surface where they get, well, stuck, and eventually die. Aside from dealing with lower-level infestations they can also be handy in working out cockroach distribution. 

For essential oils – tea tree, cyprus and peppermint have all been suggested to discourage cockroaches and if nothing else, it’ll make your house smell nice. Additional steps you can take to support your extermination efforts include sealing up cracks and entry points, installing flyscreens and getting rid of clutter and particularly any cardboard lying around – they’re apparently quite fond of it.

4. Borax and an onion

As detailed at boricacid.net.au, you can make home-made cockroach baits using the humble household onion and borax or boric acid. If you don’t want to sacrifice a whole onion, using spare bits and ends from the onion. Note: Boric acid is toxic to humans and animals so exercise caution. 

5. Encourage an ecosystem

Cockroaches do have natural predators, including everybody’s favourite spider buddy, the large, flat and not-that-venomous huntsman. Killing your household spiders can lead to an increase in pests, so rather than taking to them with a thong and a sense of purpose (see below) it may be better to let them roam. Ditto lizards such as the blue tongue, which might help itself to your backyard cockroach population.

6. Hit them with a shoe

Depending on how good your reflexes are, resorting to that most Australian of weapons, the trusty thong, might work best for the odd non-native cocky wandering in from outside. Magazines and rolled up newspapers are also a popular weapon, and shouting encouragement such as “Just die already!” is optional.

7. Hire a professional

After all, it is their job and they know what they’re doing. For a serious infestation this might be your best bet.