Is there anything worse than spotting a creepy, crawling cockroach right when you’re trying to snuggle up and get some sleep?
Seeing one or a few can keep anyone awake, leaving them unable to sleep with the thought that they might make their way up to the bed and eventually on to them.
If you’ve spotted a cockroach and you can’t sleep, we’ve gathered some ways that you can get rid of it stat, tucking back in and getting a good night’s sleep.
Why Are Cockroaches in My Room Anyway?
If you know anything about cockroaches, you know that they’re attracted to dirty areas. If dishes or trash pile up, cockroaches are all over it, looking to steal a few crumbs and have a feast.
When you think about your bedroom, you don’t have all the crumbs, liquids, or sticky foods that are typically found in the kitchen.
So, why do cockroaches go in there? One of the main reasons is that they’ve made their way into your home, and they are on the hunt for food and water.
They won’t venture far from the kitchen unless they’re on the hunt for more, so that may be why. Another reason is that you could have crumbs or moisture.
We know you may be thinking, what? In my bedroom? Well, cockroaches have two goals in life, to survive and procreate.
Part of their means of survival is to find food and water, which they can sense at long distances. You could have excess water in your tub or somewhere in your room, leading them your way.
7 Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches Fast
Enough about how they go there. What are you supposed to do if it’s late at night and you’re trying to get some shut-eye?
Below, we have 7 ways that you can get rid of them fast and enjoy a good night’s sleep.
#1. Traps
The market is filled with traps, some of them both fast-acting and major attracting to cockroaches. One of the key reasons why traps work is because they combine two of the things that roaches love, sweets and moisture.
Traps typically work with a type of sweet liquid in them, which works to attract roaches.
When they approach, they will get a dose of poison along with their sweet fix, only giving them a few seconds to a few minutes to survive. With one or a few traps, you can snuggle back up and get some sleep.
#2. Step on It
If you’re brave enough to get it done, you could just take a chance and step on the pesky roach. This is a great thing to do if you haven’t completely settled in yet and have seen a roach. Also, if you don’t have a lot of furniture around.
Turn on the lights, find the roach, and just step on it, wiping it up with a clean cloth when you’re done.
While you may take care of the problem instantly, you may want to set up some traps around your home just in case, as cockroaches hardly ever travel alone.
#3. Roach Motel
Roach motels are another type of trap that you can set up in your home. These work by attracting roaches to the inside and trapping them once they’re in.
The inside of the Roach Motel traps is filled with sticky flooring that, when stepped in, will keep roaches stuck from here on out.
You can simply take the trap and throw it out once the roach has wandered in or leave it for a few days to see if any others scurry on in.
#4. Boric Acid + Flour + Sugar
If you want to take it easy on the chemicals, you could go for some things that you likely have in your home.
If you spot a cockroach late at night and want instant relief, you could head to the kitchen and stir up a concoction that will stop them in their tracks.
To create it, grab some boric acid, flour, and sugar, mixing them all in equal parts. Sprinkle this mixture around the baseboards and near any kind of crevices, which are the places where cockroaches typically hang out.
Then, you can get back to bed knowing that the roaches will head toward the sweet stuff.
The boric acid is masked by the sugar and flour, which are what the cockroaches are attracted to.
So, leave it there, get some rest, and sweep it away in a few days to make sure all the cockroaches in your bedroom are gone.
#5. Bug Spray
Of course, you could also use bug spray. Most sprays on the market will work for all types of cockroaches, so just find and choose your preferred one.
Try and aim for the roach directly, giving it a few spritzes so that it won’t go far.
If you can’t find it, you could spray a bit around the baseboards, though you want to take it easy if you’re trying to sleep.
Breathing in the smell of bug spray all night is never pleasant, so keep it to a minimum if you can.
#6. Fabric Softener
You might not know this, but fabric softener works as a natural bug repellant. Cockroaches hate fabric softener, and will typically run the other direction when they come into contact with it.
You could take some fabric softener, mix it with water, and add it to a spray bottle.
Then, spray it around your bedroom, putting a sharp focus on the baseboards, door, and around your bed. This will create an invisible shield around that will keep the roaches away and let you rest in peace.
#7. Peppermint Oil and Salt Water
Another natural alternative is mixing saltwater with peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is something that bugs hate, keeping them far away.
It also acts as a natural disinfectant, keeping some of the harmful microbes away.
Sort of the same as the fabric softener, you should start by adding salt water to a spray bottle. Then add around 5 drops of peppermint oil, shaking it up a bit.
Spritz the mixture all around your bedroom, including around your bed to keep the bugs away.
Preventing Cockroaches from Getting in Your Home
One of the best ways to keep cockroaches out of your bedroom is to prevent them from getting in the first place.
While it’s impossible to keep them out forever, you could take preventative measures that will prevent or reduce the presence of cockroaches.
Seal It Up
Even if your home is spotless, there could be small almost invisible cracks around the tiniest places that give insects and cockroaches a way into your home.
If you see small cracks, tears, or any holes, seal them up quickly to keep cockroaches from getting in.
Keep an Eye on Pipes
Sometimes, pipes around the home let out a bit of water. Though we might not see it as a major deal, in the beginning, it could lead to an abundance of insects.
Cockroaches are always on the hunt for moisture, which they can find in the smallest puddles from leaky pipes.
Keep your eyes on your pipes and make sure that there is not a buildup of moisture around or under any of them.
If there is, you could tie something around it for a quick fix or simply add some sealant, letting it dry for a few days.
Never Go To Bed with a Dirty Sink
It’s an adage that’s followed by homemakers around the world but, it’s also a key way to keep insects and cockroaches out of your home.
Even if you’re too tired to function, try to push through and keep your kitchen clean to avoid cockroaches.
If it happens once in a blue moon, that’s okay, though it shouldn’t become a habit if you can help it.
Keep Your Yard Tidy
Your yard has a lot to do with the types of insects that can scurry into your home.
It’s recommended to keep your yard tidy and to make sure that you keep the outside panels and baseboards clean and sealed. Also, keep the grass tidy and clean up any leaves or twigs that have fallen.
All of these moist spots outside are a preferred hangout spot for cockroaches, which is why you should keep them far away.
The more you have, the higher the chance that they can slip in and make their way to your bedroom.
Take Care of Pests and Get Some Rest
Sleep is in-demand, and often something that we don’t get enough of. If you have a creepy cockroach in your bedroom that’s keeping you from getting some sleep, there are a few ways that you can take care of it fast.
Whether it’s zapping it with a trap or going for a more natural option, the choice is yours to keep your home (especially your bedroom) bug-free.
Alright, that’s it for this article, here are a few hand-selected articles that you might also find interesting reads:
Should You Kill a Roach if You See One? Things to KnowHow to Identify a Cockroach (Easy Checklist)
What to Do If Your Apartment Is Infested with Roaches?
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