Cockroaches are one of the most common pests that invade homes. They can enter your home through many different ways, and once inside they will cause trouble by destroying food supplies, carrying bacteria and causing allergic reactions to those who come in contact with them.
The most effective way to stop cockroaches from entering your home from under the door is to install a physical barrier and use anti-roach repellents. Silicon seals can be very effective for large gaps under doors and a range of essential oils can be used to naturally deter roaches. however, a more extensive anti-roach plan may be needed in some cases.
There really isn’t just one method you can use to stop cockroach invasions, and not every method will apply to you.
So, for more information about how to really stop cockroaches from coming under the door, read on!
Can roaches go under doors?
There is no doubt that cockroaches are able to enter and travel around your home by crawling under the doors. These pests can grow up to 1.6 inches in length (4 cm) and are only 0.28 inches (7 mm) high, which is plenty small enough to get under doors.
Unfortunately, the most common US species of roach is one of the biggest you’ll find around the globe. This means that if you can, you definitely want to stop them getting into your home from under the door.
The best way to stop them is by using a mix of prevention methods and treatments, and we’ll start talking about that right now.
Best door product to keep cockroaches out
The best way to physically block cockroaches from entering your home is to fix an anti-roach device over the gap (you can buy them on Amazon). These will either be a tube or sheet with adhesive on the back that you can stick to your door to keep all types of bugs from coming under it, and they come in many different sizes.
Before buying this product, make sure that you measure up your door’s dimensions, including the gap underneath it.
You need to be sure that the strip you buy is long enough to cover the entire bottom of the door and won’t stop you from opening and closing it.
You can also look into installing simple door draft stoppers, I got mine from Amazon, on your internal doors, this could also help stop the spread of roaches who get into your home through other means.
Best chemicals to kill cockroaches
If you have an infestation and you want to deal with the invader directly, by far the best ‘chemical’ agent to use is boric acid.
It is a natural, non-toxic agent which can be blended with other products for increased effectiveness.
Many people swear by it and say that if you use boric acid correctly then your infestation will quickly diminish in size!
Simply sprinkle the boric acid (get this type from Amazon) on clean surfaces where the cockroaches are normally seen. For example, you can sprinkle it on your kitchen worktops and cupboards (where they might be crawling across the floor).
Leave for a few hours and then vacuum up any residual powder. Keep doing this every day or two until you’re sure that the infestation has been dealt with successfully.
Are your roaches really coming under the door?
Although it’s totally possible that cockroaches are entering your home from under the door, they could also be coming up from the sewer or from cracks around windows and even in your foundations.
So, before you start a boric acid treatment make sure that your house is properly sealed and that there are no cracks or gaps leading to the outside of your home.
Check for any rotten window frames or doors that are not properly sealed.
It’s also a good idea to check any pipes that lead from the outside of your home, as these may be carrying in roaches and insects.
If you find cracks or gaps around windows and doors, then seal them up with silicone caulk before you start an extermination treatment.
If you aren’t much of a DIY person, this really is something where it’s worth paying a handyman to fix these issues for you.
As well as sealing up any cracks and gaps, it’s also a good idea to check the roof of your house – roaches can climb trees and then make their way onto your home via gutters or other water pipes that lead from the outside into your attic.
The more you do in prevention, the less likely you are to get cockroach invaders.
What smells keep roaches away?
Cockroaches are said to eat everything, but there are certainly some smells that they hate. Many essential oils can be used to help deter roaches.
With only plants or natural oil blends as ingredients, essential oils can be diffused to keep the inside of your home safe from cockroaches.
Tea Tree Oil
Homeowners often find that, when they apply tea tree oil to cracks or crevices on their door frames, roaches are deterred from entering the home.
Make a spray bottle by combining 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water with a few drops of tea tree oil, then set it down near areas where you know cockroaches typically enter your home.
Buy: MAJESTIC PURE Tea Tree Oil from Amazon – Pure and Natural Therapeutic Grade Tea Tree Essential Oil – Melaleuca Alternifolia – 4 fl oz
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is a natural oil that has been used for years to repel roaches. You can use diluted eucalyptus oil to spray areas which could be potential nesting places for cockroaches. That’ll stop them in their tracks.
Buy: Eucalyptus Oil from Amazon. Clarifying Aromatherapy Scent, Steam Distilled, 100% Pure, Vegan, 4 Fl Oz (1 Count)
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is a calming and comforting floral scent for people, but it’s actually driving insects away!
There are many documented cases where the use of lavender oil has repelled cockroaches, but there is no scientific proof that I know of that this tactic will work for an entire home., so that’s why it’s best to use it at known entry points.
Buy: Lavender Oil from Amazon. Clarifying Aromatherapy Scent, Steam Distilled, 100% Pure, Vegan, 4 Fl Oz (1 Count)
Cypress Oil & Peppermint Oil
Some people believe that peppermint oil and cypress oil can repel cockroaches. These essential oils are based mostly on anecdotal evidence, not scientific research but that doesn’t mean it won’t work.
Again, use a diluted spray or bowl of this near where you have seen the roaches and see how it goes.
In addition to using essential oils, you can also have some anti-roach plants around the home.
Buy your peppermint oil from Amazon and get some cypress oil to mix it with.
Mint Plants & Oil
Mint plants deter cockroaches by giving off a strong odor that stings them and the process is quick. It is also one of the best pesticides for neutralizing roach infestations available on earth.
Mint, either as a plant or essential oil, is a potent natural insect repellent and a good first choice when trying DIY solutions. Plus, it’s great for cooking and cocktails!
Cockroaches are potentially toxic to more than two species, including the American cockroach and German cockroach. As part of your cockroach control plan, you should include this natural pesticide in your home.
Buy: Seed Needs, Peppermint Herb (Mentha piperita) Twin Pack of 1,000 Seeds Each Non-GMO
Bay Leaves
An often-believed fact about how to bar roaches is that bay leaves will keep them at bay. Basil probably isn’t the answer for major infestation, but some fresh herbs are a good deterrent. They also contain a compound known as eucalyptol, that repels many species of bug. Plants like rosemary and tea tree leaves (you can buy these plants in grocery stores) have it.
You can place fresh bay leaves in small bowls near the places you think the cockroaches are hiding, or where you don’t want them going, like your cupboards, cabinets, and pantry.
Buy: Yamees Bay Leaves – Bay Leaves Bulk – Bay Leaves Whole – Laurel Leaves – Bulk Spices – 3 Ounce Bag
Another plant-based repellent is Garlic
Garlic seems to be a smell that cockroaches don’t care for, but it’s not totally effective for totally keeping a large population of roaches out. That being said, if you use garlic powder strategically you can certainly stop them from coming in from certain cracks or drains.
Does one roach mean you have an infestation?
Unfortunately, cockroaches aren’t solitary creatures and one roach is likely to have several friends hiding where you can’t see them. So, if you do see one roach don’t panic but do assume you have more.
Jump into the action and start checking your home for entry points and laying down repellents and treatments such as boric acid.
Tips to keep cockroaches out of your home
The best way to prevent a home invasion by roaches is through sanitation and habits like reducing clutter and food consumption inside of your house. This will reduce the chances that they enter your home in search of food.
Keeping a clean kitchen is also important because roaches thrive in tight, dark environments where there are lots of food sources and an abundance of moisture.
If you find that your home has been invaded by cockroaches despite all these measures then it’s time to take action with the chemical deterrents available for purchase at any hardware store or online.
The first step is to vacuum and clean your house thoroughly which removes all the food sources that attracted them in the first place.
Once you’ve done this, ask a pest control expert for advice on where they might be coming from so that you can make sure it’s sealed shut or removed completely.
What causes roaches in a clean house?
Although cockroaches are normally associated with filth and grime, especially German cockroaches, they can still be found in pristinely cleaned homes.
This is normally due to the fact that you live in an area with a naturally large roach population, in many southern states for example, and they are just in the neighborhood.
You will also get roaches in your home if you haven’t adequately sealed all the cracks in your home.
It’s a common misconception that cockroaches seek out squalor, but actually, they are attracted to areas where there are lots of food sources and an abundance of moisture.
Despite the cleanliness of your abode, there is definitely food and water about it, so it’s always going to be a target for roaches if they can gain access.
If you find that your home has been invaded by cockroaches despite all these measures then it’s time to take action and protect your home while reaching for the roach killer.
