How To Get Rid Of Palmetto Roaches | 5 Methods That Actually Work

To get rid of Palmetto roaches in your home, use water mixed with dish soap to clean and sanitize your home, seal off cracks, and fix leaks. Spray your home with special roach insecticides and use roach baits. If the infestation is severe, contact a pest control professional.

Palmetto roaches are the bane of any homeowner’s existence. They are notorious for causing structural damage.

And perhaps the most infuriating thing about these pesky critters is that they tend to be prolific breeders, increasing in number in neglected areas of a home, such as basements or attics.

You’re about to sit down for dinner and see a roach scurrying across the floor. Your first thought is that you have a total pest control problem on your hands. In reality, it’s more likely that you’ll be able to solve your problem yourself.

If you’ve got a roach problem, you want to get rid of them yesterday. However, before I dive into how to get those annoying pests under control with simple DIY methods, It’s important to identify what’s causing the problem.

how to get rid of palmetto roaches

How Do Palmetto Roaches Get Into Homes?

No one wants to admit they have a roach infestation. It’s embarrassing and feels like you live in a dirty home. However, when these critters decide to go house hunting, they can invade even the cleanest living spaces and crawl through openings in your home as small as 0.15cm. 

These pests are frequently looking for warmth, moisture, and darkness. Here are five common ways they could get comfortable in your homes:

  • Cracks and Crevices: Roaches often find their way into your homes through cracks and crevices around door frames, window sills, baseboards, and pipes. You need to seal any openings they can sneak into.
  • Sinks: Leaky faucets and food scraps stuck in the drain provide the right amount of moisture and food roaches need to survive. To prevent them from invading your sink, clean out debris and food scraps regularly.
  • Appliances: Palmetto roaches can easily enter your appliances through the small openings around seals. Once they’re inside, they can set up camp and cause problems. Check the back of your appliances. If you see signs of roaches in these areas, you should add a repellant.
  • Under Floors: humidity of your basements and crawl spaces are always attractive to palmetto roaches. If you have food stored down there, sweep away crumbs to discourage them from living there.

Palmetto roaches can also be cheeky and hitch a ride in unsuspecting places, like grocery bags or your work briefcase. And since they’re nocturnal, you may not realize you’ve made some new friends until they’ve already started reproducing!

Despite how tricky these pests are, there are several ways to get rid of them. Below are methods I have found to be the safest and most effective.

DIY Methods To Get Rid Of Palmetto Roaches In Your Home

Although removing a palmetto roach infestation from your home can be difficult, these methods can give you better control.

Deep Cleaning And Maintenance

Roaches seek shelter, food, and water sources, and if they can’t find them, they either die after a while or flee.  With a deep cleaning and maintenance of your home, you can restrict their access to food crumbs and hiding places.

Here’s how to start your cleaning and maintenance

  • Mix water and dish soap or vinegar in equal proportions and pour into a spray bottle
  • Spray around suspected roach hiding areas 
  • Start cleaning from the kitchen; wipe off crumbs and food particles that have fallen on the floor. This eliminates the potential food source for pests
  • Roaches are attracted to grease, so thoroughly spray and clean the sink.
  • To eliminate Palmetto bugs hiding in water pipes, inspect your plumbing system and repair any leaks.
  • Seal all cracks, crevices, and holes with caulking or other sealing material to seal off entrances.

Using Homemade Pesticide

Using Homemade Pesticide

If you think having poisonous chemicals in your home is too risky, there are simple homemade natural insecticides that are very effective against palmetto bugs. 

You’ll need the following ingredients to make your spray:

  • Water
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Baking soda (or Borax)
  • Essential oil of peppermint

Procedure:

  • Fill a spray bottle halfway with water
  • Add dishwashing liquid and 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil.
  • Mix in the baking soda.
  • Shake the spray bottle gently to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
  • Spray the solution in roach-infested areas.

Use Roach Bait

Setting up bait is an alternative to homemade spray that can effectively get rid of more roaches. You can make your bait with an enticing food that attracts the roaches and a poisonous chemical to kill them.

Procedure:

  • Make your own roach bait or purchase one from your local store. There are several types of baits on the market, including liquid, solid, and gel.
  • Get a few pairs of gloves to avoid touching the bait with your bare hands.
  • Locate the potential roach nesting site in your home using a flashlight.
  • Place bait in dark corners, crevices, and cupboards near food and water sources to trap and kill roaches.
  • Monitor the bait and reapply until there are no more roaches in your home

Safety Measures:  Roach baits are harmful if taken in large quantities, so you should keep them away from children and pets

Insecticide Dust and Powder

Insecticide dust is a fine powder that is applied to roach-infested areas. It clings to their bodies, destroys their wax coating, and eventually kills them.

Procedure

  • Purchase insecticide dust that is effective against roaches from your local store.
  • Inspect your home for roaches in isolated areas.
  • Insecticide dust works best on cracks, under kitchen counters, behind the refrigerator, along baseboards, and in any cracks and crevices.
  • In each location, use a single light squeeze of your duster.
  • Wipe up powder spills from cracks to prevent stains.
  • After using the product, wash your hands.

Quick Tips:  To effectively control a palmetto roach population, you will need to use both insecticide dust and baits. However, you mustn’t spray where you have placed the bait, as the spray will repel the roaches and keep them from coming near the bait. This will reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

Using Pesticides Spray

Pesticides have long-lasting effects (many are effective for three months or more) and will kill roaches on contact. However, because pesticides are toxic, The United States Environmental Protection Agency advises consumers to use them only as a last resort.

 Procedure:

  • Purchase a palmetto roach-specific garden pest control from your local store.
  • Read the guidelines and instructions on the spray bottle, and customize the pesticide solution dosage to your needs.
  • Put on the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • Mix or dilute the pesticide outdoors and in a well-ventilated area. Keep children and pets away from areas where pesticides are mixed and applied.
  • Apply the pesticide around the perimeter of your home and along driveways.

For indoor applications:

  • Make sure there is enough ventilation.
  • Apply the pesticide to specific areas, such as cracks, rather than the entire floor, wall, or ceiling.
  • If necessary, reapply pesticide spray after a few weeks to eradicate Palmetto roaches from your home.

Safety Measures 

  • Before treating the kitchen cabinet, remove all food, pots, and dishes.
  • Rinse the tools and equipment used to remove pesticide residue.
  • Wash your clothes and protective gear after pesticide application.

Quick Tips: To get rid of roaches in your home using a chemical method, first, inspect your home and identify the type of roaches present, potential nesting sites, and population to choose the best pest control chemical

When To Call A Pest Control Professional

If you find yourself dealing with a recurring palmetto roaches infestation in your home, Your best bet is to call in a professional exterminator. They have the experience and tools necessary to identify where the roaches are coming from and get rid of them.

Call A Pest Control Professional

FAQs On How To Get Rid Of Palmetto Roaches

What Draws Palmetto Roaches Into My House?

All palmetto roaches are drawn to food wastes, water, and a warm environment that is easily accessible.

Can Palmetto Roaches Bite Me?

Palmetto roaches are capable of biting humans and causing irritation. But this is highly unusual.

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