You might be thinking, why is there a need for roach killer powder when we already have highly effective and fast roach-killing products such as sprays and trap baits?
Here is the Answer! Because roach killer powder stays on the surface for long and has an excellent residual effect. Moreover, most roach powder killers are safe and environmentally friendly compared to other chemical insecticides.
I have been personally testing these products with one of my friends who has a pest control agency and has been in business for 20+ years.
Here are my recommended top 5 best roach killer powders,
- Zap Roach & Ant Killer (highly effective but slow)
- HARRIS Boric Acid Roach and Silverfish Killer (Competitive price and easy to apply in gaps and cracks but product quality issues noted)
- Safer Diatomaceous Earth (Very safe around pets and children but creates a mess and needs repeated application)
- Terro Roach Bait Powder with Applicator (Highly effective and very easy to use but offers a small quantity)
- Bayer Tempo 1% Dust (Very effective and lethal, works even in moist places but is very expensive)
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)
How does Roach killer powder work?
Boric acid is an odorless and colorless white powder with weak acidic properties. It acts as an effective insecticide, antiseptic, and flame retardant. Interestingly, most roach killer powder contains boric acid as an active ingredient.
Roach killer powder kills roaches by sticking to their bodies. Once it is attached, the boric acid/roach killer powder absorbs through the cockroach’s body, or It is ingested by the bug thinking it to be food.
The roach killer powder kills cockroaches by,
- Destroying the roach nervous transmission
- Slowly absorbing the exoskeleton of a cockroach
- Desiccating the cockroach to death
- Puncturing the digestive system
- Disturbing the acid-base and fluid balance
Boric Acid for Roaches: Does it kill? Read this interesting article to know more.
Does Baby Powder Kill Roaches?
Baby powder is made up of a mixture of talcum (a clay mineral) and cornstarch infused with a scent. You will be amazed that baby powder kills roaches effectively if it is sprinkled directly upon or eaten by roaches.
Once you sprinkle baby powder over the cockroach, it enters spiracles (respiratory openings on the body) and clogs them. Within the next few hours, the cockroach dies because of hypoxia.
Any other way the baby powder kill roaches is when they eat it. The hydrated magnesium silica, an essential component of talcum, disrupts the Roach’s digestive system and kills them within the next 7 hours.
List of 5 Best Roach Killer powders with reviews
1. Zap Roach & Ant Killer
This is the best Boric acid roach killer available on the market. I have used it in my apartment and it worked wonders. Just within 15 days, there were no signs of roaches anymore.
I found the product very satisfactory, and it had no noticeable smell until the powder remained dry. Once the product became wet due to extreme humidity or in places with water, it started to give a mild pungent smell.
Similarly, the Zap roach and ant killer didn’t leave any stains on the floor, cabinets, and walls until they remained dry. Walls with a water paint on them slightly changed the color to a yellowish hue once the powder became wet.
The product kept working until it remained dry. Once the powder met water, it became useless, and I had to reapply the roach killer powder.
Therefore, I believe you should use Zap Roach & ant killer in places that remain dry, such as attics, basements, kitchen cabinets, storerooms, carpets, and electrical appliances.
Zap Roach & Ant Killer is an excellent product to kill roaches, ants, bugs, spiders, and other insects until the powder remains dry.
| Factors | Zap Roach & Ant Killer Powder |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | 9 |
| Ease of Use | 7 |
| Safety | 7 |
| Availability | Easily Available |
| Price | Inexpensive |
| Cons | It becomes useless when wet |
2. HARRIS Boric Acid Roach and Silverfish Killer
The good thing about Harris Boric acid roach killing powder is that it has a built-in applicator for easy application into cracks, crevices, and corners.
One of my friends had cockroaches inside walls and had tried different techniques, but he had no satisfactory results. The cockroaches reappeared after a few weeks. However, the roaches were gone once he used the harris powder and applied it deep inside the walls.
Harris boric acid powder is similar to Zap Roach & ant killer in efficacy because both contain boric acid. Still, unfortunately, harris boric acid usually fails to kill big cockroaches such as palmetto bugs. Reasons? I don’t know( Possibly because the powder fails to catch up with the bug’s systems?)
However, for small roaches such as German cockroach HARRIS Boric Acid Roach and Silverfish Killer is very effective and highly lethal. It also kills ants, spiders, silverfish, and other bugs.
| Factors | HARRIS Boric Acid Roach and Silverfish |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | 8 |
| Ease of Use | 8 |
| Safety | 7 |
| Availability | Easily Available |
| Price | Inexpensive |
| Cons | Becomes useless when wet/Product Quality issues |
3. Safer Diatomaceous Earth
if you are looking for a pet and children safe roach killer, Safer Diatomaceous earth powder is for you. It is very safe yet highly effective in killing roaches. Moreover, it also effectively destroys cockroach eggs and render them non-reproductive.
However, Diatomaceous earth powder slowly kicks in and takes a considerable time to kill roaches. Therefore, this is not for you if you are looking for a fast-acting roach-killing powder.
I used this product to kill roaches outside the house, especially in the backyard and patios where plants are abundant. It gave me good results and successfully killed roaches, bugs, spiders, and ants.
One thing I didn’t like about Diatomaceous earth powder was that it needed to be applied in large quantities. Furthermore, it also needed reapplication after a few days to keep working.
You can read more here on, How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth for Roaches and Bugs: Does it Work?
| Factors | Safer Diatomaceous Earth |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | 7 |
| Ease of Use | 7 |
| Safety | 9 |
| Availability | Easily Available |
| Price | Inexpensive |
| Cons | Needs multiple applications |
4. Terro Roach Bait Powder with Applicator
I found Terro roach bait powder extremely easy to apply anywhere to kill roaches. In addition, it contains an active ingredient Abamectin which is different from all the roach-killing powders mentioned above.
The good thing about Terror powder is that it keeps working even in high humidity. Moreover, it will destroy the roach colony because it does not instantaneously kill roaches, and they share the bai with their peers, killing them too.
One drawback of the product that I didn’t like was the quantity they offer. For example, it only contains about 150 shouts which might be less in case of heavy roach infestation.
The working of Terror roach bait is similar to other cockroach gel baits like the Advion or Combat Max roach baits, except that it is a powder puffed out of the nozzle.
| Factors | Terro Roach Bait Powder |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | 9 |
| Ease of Use | 9 |
| Safety | 6 |
| Availability | Easily Available |
| Price | Moderately Expensive |
| Cons | Small quantity |
5. Bayer Tempo 1% Dust
This is probably the most roach-killing powder I have used. It works very well and kills bugs, including roaches, fleas, ants, and spiders. Like other best Boric acid roach killers, this product does not contain boric acid as an active ingredient.
Moreover, the good thing about this product is that it successfully keeps roaches away for longer than any other roach killing powder ( Approximately five months)
Unlike other best powders affected by water and humidity, Bayer Tempo Dust doesn’t get offended water. Therefore you can easily use it under the sinks and in bathrooms.
You can also buy an applicator with it, but it will cost you some extra bucks making it more expensive.
Long story short, if you are looking for roach killer powder that works under extreme humidity in places such as Ohio and Hawaii, then go for it. Otherwise, try other cheap alternatives.
| Factors | Bayer Tempo 1% Dust |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | 9 |
| Ease of Use | 7 |
| Safety | 7 |
| Availability | Easily Available |
| Price | Expensive |
| Cons | Needs Applicator |
Additional Read!
