Think Twice About Using This DIY Spray To Banish Cockroaches

Cockroaches are the worst. They're creepy, scary, and gross, and the sight of one is enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. So when you unexpectedly spot one and aren't sure what to do, you might turn to the internet for a quick and easy DIY solution. Some DIYs promise to deal with your cockroach problem with stuff you already have at home, like fabric softener. And while it's tempting because of how simple it seems, you might need to think twice about it before you blindly trust what you read online.

Fabric softener DIYs promise to obstruct the pores of the cockroach, asphyxiating it and killing it in the process. For this DIY, people mix fabric softener with water in a spray bottle and use it in any spot cockroaches crawl out of, like trash, drains, cracks, and vents. But sadly, that likely won't do much besides making your home smell like fresh laundry.

The reason this doesn't work is that in order to actually suffocate and kill a cockroach, fabric softener needs to be sprayed directly onto it. Simply spraying the ground they step on won't have the intended effect since it won't cover them in fabric softener. So yes, the logic behind this DIY solution makes sense, but the execution is flawed. Sure, if you see a cockroach crawling around, this can help kill it, but it might be easier to simply use your vacuum (remember to toss the vacuum bag afterwards). In short, keep your fabric softener in your laundry machine, and find better solutions to prevent these nasty intruders from coming into your house.

Part of why using fabric softener to kill cockroaches is not effective is that these creepy invaders prefer to hide from humans. This makes any solution that requires you to spot a cockroach and approach it useless, considering most of them aren't walking around waiting to be noticed. During the day, cockroaches are more likely to hide in small cracks, in dark cabinets, or behind the fridge. It's at night, when no one is around, that they'll come out looking for snacks. Instead of using fabric softener, there are some true and tested simple maintenance tasks that can keep cockroaches out of your home. 

First and foremost among the things to avoid if your home is attracting roaches is leaving food out. A clean home is the best defense against these pests, so make sure to securely wrap unfinished food, wipe surfaces to remove any crumbs, and vacuum often. This is also true for water, so make sure there aren't any leaks causing water to accumulate in your bathroom or kitchen. And of course, try to seal any entry points, like cracks and crevices.

You should reconsider using spray pesticides to expel cockroaches because of the harsh chemicals and toxic fumes they release into the air. Instead, consider glue traps. These are sticky pieces of cardboard where cockroaches get stuck and die. You can also use boric acid, a poison that gets caught on their legs and kills them. (However, if ingested in large quantities by humans or pets, boric acid can be dangerous.) If you're dealing with a full-blown infestation, it's always best to call pest control. Professionals can adapt the treatment to the severity of the infestation and get it sorted quickly.