We wait so long for summer.. hot days, warm nights and vacation time. But there is one thing that comes along with that hot weather that sucks, the summertime roach invasion. I live in the charming little city of Richmond, Virginia, where overgrown plants hug the sides of the super old house I live in. And off those plants, giant roaches known sometimes as water bugs trickle into my house at night to eat coveted floury goods and hide among my also super old and leaky water pipes. It’s hard to sleep at night, knowing there’s a giant roach, sometimes as large as my hand, hiding under my record player or under my bed. So I’ve made it my mission this summer to get rid of them, which sometimes means seeing them, looking into their woeful, amber eyes and reconciling with myself as I try to kill them.
So I’ve been successful so far. And here are some DIY, environmentally safe ways to get rid of them in your house, too.
Surprisingly, roaches HATE peppermint. It drives them nuts, and they flee from any spot where the smell is overwhelming. I crafted an elixir which gets them running and is super cheap to make. All it takes:
1 plastic spray bottle
1 bottle of peppermint extract
2 tsp non chlorine bleach
Enough water to fill the bottle
Mix all ingredients together and shake. Use to clean all surfaces, except wood areas. Use often.
Peppermint Basil Soy Candle
Burn this when your at home to keep the roaches at bay. Smells amazing, too. Also, great for gifts.
1/2 ounce peppermint fragrance oil
1/2 ounce basil fragrance oil
1 pound of soy wax
1 mason jar
1 cotton wick
Add soy wax into a pan and heat until the wax is softened and melting. Add the fragrance oils and stir until well mixed. Pour the wax mixture into your jar and position your wick. Hold the wick steady and when the wax dries, trim the wick.
Other remedies for roaches –
Pouring vinegar down all your drains. Water bugs hide in the drains and the smell of vinegar will force them out.
Trimming back all the foliage around your house. This is how they get in, so maintaining it is key.
