How To Get A Cockroach Out Of Hiding With Irresistible Lures

It’s actually pretty easy to get a cockroach out of hiding.

But many people make the mistake of alerting them to their presence. 

It causes the roaches to run deeper into the home, making it more difficult to lure them out. 

In this guide, I will share some simple hacks that will get roaches out of their hiding places, no matter where they are. 

I have tried dozens of different methods, but these steps always work 100% of the time. 

Additionally, you will find some DIY lures that roaches can’t resist. 

These lures will make the roaches come out of hiding, only to meet their demise. 

Keep reading to learn more.

Steps to Draw Out Hidden Cockroaches

One crucial revelation before I go ahead.

The steps you’re about to discover aren’t a cure for cockroach infestation.

Even one cockroach hiding in the room can mean there’s an infestation.

And the hacks you’re about to discover will not eliminate cockroaches in your entire home.

It’ll be best to hire a pest controller for a home inspection. And follow the professional’s advice to treat your home for roaches.

Now, let’s get into the steps.

Identify the Cockroach’s Hiding Spots

The hiding place of roaches depends on the species. 

The big reddish-brown American cockroaches and brown German roaches are the most common cockroaches that invade homes.

Cockroaches hide in dark, warm, and humid areas such as under furniture, behind appliances, and inside cracks or crevices. 

They can hide underneath sinks and fixtures in places like the bathroom and kitchen.

Check for cockroach droppings, which look like small, dark pellets near their hiding places.

They also leave behind smear marks on surfaces they’ve traveled on.

De-clutter to Prepare the Room

You need full access to put the baits and lures to draw out the hiding cockroach.

So, remove any clutter or obstacles blocking your access to the cockroach’s hiding spot.

Move furniture away from walls and appliances to create more open space.

Apply Cockroach Insecticide Baits

Place cockroach bait stations or traps near the roaches’ hiding spots you discovered in the first step.

Use baits that contain insecticides specifically designed for roaches. 

Follow the instructions on the bait package for proper placement and usage. 

And ensure that the baits are out of reach of children and pets.

Sprinkle Boric Acid Powder

Boric acid is a natural cockroach killer. Sprinkle a thin layer of boric acid around the cockroach’s hiding spot.

Be cautious, though. Boric acid can quickly get into the respiratory system, and it can be harmful if you ingest it.

It’d be best to wear a mask while sprinkling boric acid. 

Instead of boric acid, you can also use diatomaceous earth. 

I’d recommend using diatomaceous earth to lure cockroaches hiding in wet areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, or basement.

The reason is that boric acid is soluble in water and can be diluted on wet surfaces. 

However, diatomaceous earth is insoluble.

Essential Oil Sprays

Cockroaches hate the smell of essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, and cedar. 

These oils also have insect-repellent properties.

Dilute a few drops of your preferred essential in water and use it as a spray on the roaches’ hiding spots.

Essential oils can cause skin irritation in humans and pets. So, wear gloves while preparing the mixture.

Turn The Lights Off

Cockroaches are nocturnal insects. They come out at night to feed and to find their new nesting areas.

Turn off the lights and close the curtains to make the room darker. 

It’s a trick to make the cockroach believe it’s safe to venture out for food.

Do Not Make Any Sounds

Roaches can easily pick up the slightest bit of vibrations and sound on the floor. 

So, do not make any noises in the room. And do not try to move objects from one place to another in the room.

Let the poisonous bait, boric acid, and essential oil spray remain overnight. 

Clean the Room to Dispose of the Dead Roaches

Check the room the following day for any dead roaches.

Vacuum clean the room to remove the dead roaches. And dispose of the dead roaches safely outside your property.

It’s essential to remove the dead roaches. Failing to do so attract bugs like ants and other roaches.

DIY Roach Baits and Lures

The best part about luring a hiding cockroach out is that you’ve got many options. 

There are many DIY traps that you can prepare using your home products. 

Below are some of the most effective ones.

Jar Trap

Take a plastic or glass jar. And use a cloth soaked in cooking to coat the jar’s interiors.

Put one cheese ball and a few drops of honey inside the jar. 

And keep the jar near the cockroach hideouts. 

The smell of cheese and honey will draw out the roaches. 

They’ll get inside the jar to feed on the cheese and honey, but due to the slippery, oiled interior of the jar, they’ll fail to crawl out.

Use a roach spray on the roaches inside the jar to kill the trapped roaches. 

Dispose of the dead roaches, clean the jar, rinse, and repeat.

Diatomaceous Earth Roach Cracker

Mix diatomaceous earth with dough and sugar. Make small balls or cookies out of the mixture.

Keep these crackers near the cockroach’s hiding places. 

The roaches will come out of hiding to feed on them.

But the desiccant nature of diatomaceous earth will kill the roaches that will eat them. 

Food on Duct Tapes

Keep bread, baby food, small cooked meat pieces, butter, or small slices of apples on the sticky side of the duct tape.

Do not clutter the duct tape with these foods. Just a few pieces will work.

Keep the duct tape with food near the cockroach’s hiding places.

The food will attract the roaches out. But they’ll get stuck when they step on the sticky side of the tape. 

There are even sticky roach traps available that follow the same principle. 

Things To Do After Luring and Killing The Roaches

Now that you’ve lured and killed the roaches hiding in the room, it’s time to roach-proof it.

And the best way to do it is extensive cleaning, sealing the gaps and cracks, and using roach-repelling essential oil sprays.

Inspect the room for potential entry points, such as window cracks, gaps around pipes, or wall holes. 

Seal them with a quality sealant, such as silicone-based sealants, which are tough, and roaches can’t chew through them. 

Keep your room clean and de-cluttered. Do not let moisture develop inside the room.

If your bathroom or kitchen has leaky pipes and faucets, fix them. These leaks increase the moisture levels, which attract roaches.

Use roach-repelling sprays, such as peppermint oil spray, every other day to keep roaches away.

Recap

You must ensure the cockroach feels safe to leave its hiding place. 

You’ll also need to ensure it has an incentive to come out. 

You can do both by preparing the room and using baits and lures. 

This guide revealed how to lure a cockroach out of hiding to kill it by strategically placing the traps, lures, and baits. 

The hacks in this post will give you results. 

Share your results and any inputs or suggestions in the comments section below.

References:

• In Search for Effective Cockroach Lures, Apples and Blueberry come on top, Entomology Today
• Comparison of Cockroach Traps and Attractants, Rutgers University
• Alternative Roach Control Techniques, National Library of Medicine, United States government