In the United States alone, about 14 million of the approximately 124 million occupied housing units have reported seeing roaches in 2020. So that’s about 11%.
Roach infestation raises public health concerns. Yet, when we see roaches in our homes, all we wish is for a way to take care of them overnight.
But!
Since roaches don’t infest a house overnight. Similarly, there is no method to get rid of roaches overnight. The boric acid mixed with sugar only eliminates 80-90% of roaches, and it also needs around ten days to show results.
The quickest way to kill roaches is using foggers or insecticide sprays. The long-term solution is using baits with rotation, closing all entry points, and using an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator).
There are many different reasons why you can’t get rid of roaches overnight, and I will explain them in this article.
Why roaches can’t be removed overnight?
Roaches typically hide in tight spots and are hard to reach. Check this article on where do roaches hide.
You will be amazed to hear that roaches hide inside an electrical socket. Check this video below to understand how many roaches can get into a small tight spot inside a plug socket.
Sockets are just one place among many a cockroach can hide.
They will nest in cracks and crevices you can not even imagine off.
So, it’s technically impossible to get these roaches and kill them, so you are roach-free overnight.
Therefore, pest control researchers have developed a method that does not kill roaches instantaneously as traditional insecticides do. Instead, they will use a chemical that will kill a cockroach in 10-20 hours.
The roach will return to its nest in this much time, which we are unaware of, and will die there. Since cockroaches are cannibalistic, other roaches will consume the poisoned dead roach and will die of that.
High-quality baits can kill roaches for up to three tiers. Which means a poisoned roach will die. Another one will eat it and will die. A third one will eat this second roach and will die as well. So it creates a dominos effect which can kill a lot of roaches off a small amount of bait.
Boric Acid Mixed with sugar does not work overnight!
Yes, you heard it right. Unfortunately, boric acid does not work overnight. Boric acid alone does not control the entire colony of roaches, and as soon as you stop using boric acid, roaches will reappear in a month or two.
I have written a complete article on how boric acid kills roaches.
So things that hinder boric acid in getting rid of roaches overnight!
- Boric acid kills a cockroach in 2-3 Days
- Cockroaches consuming a dead roach from boric acid will unlikely die of it
- Only those roaches will die which come out of their nests to eat the boric acid mix
- It will take time for roaches to discover the boric acid mix and consume it
- A few roaches will always remain out there in nests which have not consumed boric acid for and will remain alive to reignite infestation.
Foggers and Sprays are a better option to kill roaches overnight!
Although foggers and sprays will not eliminate the roach infestation, they can reduce the free-roaming roaches significantly.
Foggers and sprays kill roaches on contact, so they die quickly, and you get great results overnight. However, if not used properly, you can see more roaches after the bombing.
Limitation of Foggers and Sprays:
Following are limitations of a fogger or spray, which hinder the complete elimination of roaches.
- Sprays and foggers can not reach tight and hidden spots killing the entire nests
- Foggers and sprays repel roaches and can push them to new spots in your house
- A few roaches will be always left to restart an infestation
Roach killers with Effectiveness
There are different ways to take care of roaches with their plus and minuses. I am going to summarize this here.
So here is a quick table on methods you can use to get rid of roaches overnight:
| Method | Duration to Act | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombing with Fogger | Overnight (2-4 Hours) | – Kill roaches overnight – Very easy to use – Can kill roaches for many days to come Our Score: 7/10 | – You will have to evacuate your room or house while bombing – It will take a few more days to kill roaches hiding – Will disperse roaches to new places – Contaminates everything |
| Roach Sprays | Overnight (2-4 Hours) | – Kill roaches overnight – Can kill roaches for many days to come Our Score: 7/10 | – Need extra effort to spray everywhere – It will take a few more days to kill roaches hiding – Will disperse roaches to new places – Contaminates everything |
| Boric Acid Mix with Sugar or starch | 4-10 Days | – Always works – Easy homemade remedy – Natural ingredients Our Score: 7/10 | – Time-consuming – Need extra effort to make the mix – A little messy – Not 100% efficient |
| Gel Baits | 1-3 Days | – Exterminators’ method of choice – Works for many days – Will destroy the nests when the affected roach goes back Our Score: 10/10 | – Time-consuming – Need the expertise to place the bait at the right spot |
| Killer Bait Traps | 2-4 Days | – The safest method to get rid of roach problems – Easy to use, friendly method – Will destroy the nests Our Score: 9/10 | – Need a little time – Roaches hiding at very tight places will be hard to reach |
| Sticky Traps | 1-3 Days | – The cleanest method to kill roaches – No after kill cleaning involved Our Score: 7/10 | – Works better for new invaders – Not manageable for a severe infestation – Disgusting to look at |
| Diatomaceous Earth (DE) | 4-6 Days | – Natural safe method to kill and repel roaches and insects Our Score: 6/10 | – Very time consuimg – A roach has to touch or bath in DE for effective results |
| Baking Soda | 2-4 Days | – Safe method to kill roaches Our Score: 3/10 | – Not effective |
| Essential Oils | Almost Never kills a roach | – Good to repel roaches Our Score: 5/10 | – Costly – Messy – Cockroaches get use to the smell of oils – Never work on already infested area |
| Borex Mix with Sugar or starch | 3-5 Days | – Easy homemade remedy – Natural ingredients Our Score: 6/10 | – Time-consuming – Need extra effort to make the mix – A little messy – Non refined form of boric acid |
| Vinegar | 3-5 Days | – Natural ingredients Our Score: 3/10 | – Does not work alone – Not a good killer, but a repellent |
| Bay & Eucalyptus Leaves, Garlic | Never kills a roach | – Good repellents Our Score: 3/10 | – Can not kill roaches |
How experts get rid of roaches.
Below is a link to a guide showing how experts get rid of roaches. I have also summarized the process after the list of products.
Tired of cockroaches? Invest in only these products and follow the guide to eliminate roaches!
Use these products, and you will be roach free in less than a week.
1. Advion Cockroach Gel Bait (Review)
2. Gentrol IGR Point Source (Review)
Other Products to try:
1. Combat Roach Traps (Easy than gel baits)
2. Hot Shot Foggers (To kill in masses – 95%)
3. Pet Safe Killers (Uses Essential Oils)
4. Ortho Defence Outdoor Roach Killer (Prevent Roaches)
Follow these three simple steps to get rid of smoky brown cockroach nymphs in your bathroom.
Step 1: Use a bait
The first step is to use bait to get rid of any roach inside your bathroom. Baits are better than sprays as baits will kill the entire colony.
You can get your hand on many baits, but these are my favorite ones. Use each of them according to instructions on the pack.
– Bengal Roach Killer is a dry spray bait, very easy to apply and use. (How to use guide)
– Advion Cockroach Gel Bait is the most effective gel you can buy.
– Hot Shot Liquid Cockroach Trapper and Killer is the best trap you can get for cockroaches.
– Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is the best bait out on the market.
Step 2: Close all openings
The next step is closing all openings into your bathroom; else, it will be impossible to stop an infestation. Use Loctite Foam Sealent (Amazon Link) to close gaps and openings like a pro.
Step 3: Use an IGR
Using an IGR is the last step to ensure the roach nymphs don’t grow into adults. An IGR alters the internal hormones of roaches to molt. This way, the roaches can not become adults and reproduce. Gentrol Growth Regulator (Amazon Link) is the only and the best IGR device for roaches.
It’s effortless to use. Just purge one of the IGR and place it in a hidden place inside your bathroom.
That’s it. Peace.
Additional Read:
