The Popular Cucumber DIY For Repelling Cockroaches May Be A Waste Of Time

Getting rid of pests is not easy, so it's no wonder so many people try to use hacks and DIY sprays to banish cockroaches. One popular natural DIY hack recommends putting slices of cucumber around your kitchen to deter roaches. Unfortunately, online hacks and old wives' tales are sometimes too good to be true. This age-old myth of leaving cucumber slices around doesn't actually repel cockroaches, and it might attract them instead. Talk about backfiring.

This hack recommends leaving cucumber slices and peels around the kitchen. One variation recommends placing the slices in tin jars to trigger a reaction that will emit a smell. In any case, cockroaches are incredibly adaptable, and getting rid of them will take a lot more than just leaving cucumbers out. In fact, the first line of defense against these annoying invaders is quite the opposite: Do not leave any food out, wipe spills, pick up crumbs, and clear standing water.

The reason people believe in this hack is that compounds found in cucumbers have been studied for their ability to repel cockroaches. However, these tests were done in a lab with crushed cucumbers, resulting in a high concentration of the compound. In real life, the compounds aren't as potent and wear off quickly, and leaving cucumber slices to rot on the counter will only attract more pests to your home. Although they're otherwise not picky eaters, these compounds explain why cockroaches tend to steer clear of cucumbers, but they won't effectively banish them from your home on their own.

If you're trying to solve a cockroach invasion, put your cucumbers away. Actually, put all of your food away. The best way to repel cockroaches is to restrict their access to food. Cockroaches hide during the day, and at night, they come out looking for food you've forgotten on the counter. They'll get into opened containers, find small crumbs on the floor, and relish in spills you left behind while cooking. If you're dealing with some of these invaders, make sure to wipe clean all counters, vacuum often, and use closed containers for all of your food items. And yes, that means putting your cucumbers away, too.

Now, you might be looking for ways to kill cockroaches rather than repel them. While cucumbers can't, everyday household products can help drive pesky roaches away. For example, you can make a two-ingredient solution that can help keep roaches out of your home using Borax and sugar, which will bait them and kill them simultaneously. Another option to kill cockroaches without using chemical sprays is to use glue traps instead. And if you're dealing with more than a small invasion, but a full-blown infestation, don't hesitate to call professional pest control services.

Cockroaches aren't just gross; they're also dangerous. Their waste and saliva can cause allergies and asthma, so you really don't want them roaming around your home and all over your food. These uninvited houseguests can even spread bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. If you suspect an invasion, it's safest not to waste too much time on unproven online hacks and instead call pest control.