How To Get Rid of Rats and Roaches

Nobody wants to experience pest infestation in their homes. These creatures can cause serious issues, leading to property damage and other problems.

Moreover, pests like rats and roaches can contaminate food, affecting the health of homeowners.

This is why, as responsible owners of your properties, you should know how to get rid of these pests practically.

You don’t need to be an expert in achieving. As long as you’re willing to learn and take the extra mile, everything should fall into place.

We understand the hassle of dealing with pests like roaches and rats and are here to help.

This article gives you a detailed guide on immediately getting rid of these pests.

Getting Rid of Rats and Roaches

Even the most practical and easiest method can eliminate pests like rats and roaches.

And if you want to avoid using pesticides with harsh chemicals unsafe for your kids, try our suggested methods below:

1. Seal Gaps and Caulk Windows

Most of the time, the best way to get rid of pests is to take preventive measures.

When your house has cracks or damages left open, these can serve as entry points for rats and roaches. And the cracks can also be the root cause of pest infestation.

As a responsible homeowner, regularly inspect your rooms for any signs of damage or minor gaps that should be sealed.

Look for problems arising on your home’s foundation and exterior walls. Always remember to seal potential holes and cracks right away by using effective sealants.

With several sealing materials available in hardware stores, it’s easy to find a reasonably priced product that works well.

Remember that rats can squeeze their bodies and enter even the smallest holes. And roaches can intentionally enter the tiniest cracks.

When sealing gaps and caulking windows, you can use the following affordable materials:

• Copper mesh or stainless steel wool
• Weatherstripping
• A joint compound
• Duct tape
• Sealing or caulking gun

If you’re DIYing this, don’t forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. You don’t want to end up with injuries, do you?

2. Vacuum and Reduce Clutter

Another preventive measure to eliminate rats and roaches is cleaning your house with no clutter.

Because these creatures are pests, they prefer dark areas filled with dirt. And when your rooms have enough filth, rats and roaches will go out of their way to reach these areas and look for potential food sources.

Get your vacuum and clean the dirt, dust, and food debris you see on the floor.

Rats love food crumbs, while roaches love hiding in areas filled with filth and dust. Always clean your countertops, tables, and floors to ensure you don’t leave food stains or crumbs behind.

Don’t forget to empty garbage cans every night too. This prevents dirt from accumulating, causing garbage cans to become potential thriving places for these pests.

3. Use a Vinegar and Water Mixture

Sometimes when preventive measures are insufficient, it’s time to seek ways how you can eliminate these pests.

And mixing vinegar with water is an ideal solution. Mix equal parts and pour into a spray bottle. You can also moisten a cloth with the mixture.

Use the dampened cloth to wipe countertops, floors, and tables.

Aside from wiping food crumbs, stains, and dirt, the mixture can also remove odors that could attract roaches and rats.

Moreover, these pests don’t like the smell of vinegar because of their keen sense of smell. The smell will trigger them, causing them to escape right away.

4. Try Boric Acid

Boric acid can also work. This chemical contains toxins and other substances that could be detrimental to common pests, including roaches and mice.

Mix boric acid into a bottle with 3/4s water. Have a good shake, and spray on areas where you suspect pests are accumulating. Boric acid can also come in powder form, which you can add to food crumbs.

These small chemical particles are poisonous to roaches, and they could die when their bodies absorb the chemical. Mixing powdered boric acid with sweet substances like honey or sugar is also an ideal trap for rodents.

But if you wish to use boric acid, be careful when handling it, especially when you have kids at home. Boric acid contains dangerous health effects when ingested by humans, including the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Throat Swelling

This is why it’s best to use boric acid in hidden areas, such as behind appliances, cracks, and other places where children will not be able to reach.

5. Set Up Traps

If chemicals or mixtures don’t work, traps should do the trick. They are best placed in areas inaccessible to cleaning, such as behind appliances or under furniture.

Because roaches are tiny pests, glue traps are already enough. You can place these traps in dark areas unreachable by cleaning them. These places are usually where roaches thrive.

On the other hand, rats need various traps and baits because they are smarter creatures than roaches.

Glue traps can also work with rats but only for smaller-sized creatures. If you suspect having bigger-sized mice at home, switch to snap traps or electrical snaps instead.

Outsmart Roaches and Rats at Home

As the homeowner, you should always outsmart vermin pests like rats and roaches.

These pests will dominate your property when you don’t seek proper ways to get rid of them.

Follow our suggestions in this guide, and rest assured your home will become a pest-free property in no time.