Killing sewer roaches can seem daunting and gross, but it’s possible to do it with common methods, such as pouring boiling water down the drain and placing roach baits.
Let’s explore these solutions to reclaim your home from these nasty pests.
6 Ways to Kill Sewer Roaches
If sewer roaches have made their way into your home and are skittering around your living spaces, it’s time to take action and get rid of them. But if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, check out our article What are Sewer Roaches? for more information.
And if you’re trying to prevent sewer roaches from getting into your home in the first place, check out our guide on How to Keep Sewer Roaches Out of Your Drains.
Without further ado, here are some strategies to help you get rid of sewer roaches:
1. Use Roach Bait
Roach bait combines an insecticide with a food attractant. Roaches consume the bait and slowly die, but the real advantage is that they carry the bait back to their nests. This natural behavior helps spread the insecticide, killing other roaches, including younger ones in the nest.
Another benefit is that you don’t have to locate their hiding places; they’ll come to the bait. Just apply small dots of gel bait in many different locations, rather than applying a big amount in only one area. Here are some places you could apply roach bait:
- Under the sink
- Behind the fridge
- On your cupboards’ door hinges
- Around pipes’ seams
- Around the dishwasher
- Underneath the microwave or toaster
Pro tip: Do not apply an insecticide spray in the same area as the bait, as the spray will repel roaches, making the bait less effective.
2. Place Glue Traps
Glue roach traps help gauge the extent of an infestation, identify entry points, and reduce the roach population. Typically, they have a sticky surface that traps roaches inside them.
Choose glue traps designed for larger roaches, like the American cockroach (sewer roach), and preferably, with a built-in bait station. They will have a larger surface area, stronger adhesive, and will also lure sewer roaches in.
Place them under the sink, near drains, behind appliances, and inside cupboards, and check them every few days. If there are no roaches inside, change the location until you can tell where they’re coming from. This way, you can target and eliminate the roaches more effectively.
Pro tip: Keep the area clean, since dust particles can adhere to the glue trap, making it less effective.
3. Use a Borax and Sugar Mixture
Photo Credit: Frédéric BISSON / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Dissolve 1 cup of boric acid and 1 cup of sugar in 1 gallon of water, then pour the solution into multiple shallow trays around the kitchen or bathroom. The sugar lures roaches in, while the borax poisons and/or dehydrates them, killing them.
You can also use boric acid in its pure form, by dusting a fine layer with a narrow applicator on the following locations:
- Crevices along your cabinets
- Wall and floor junctions
- Behind the fridge, stove, and dishwasher
- Openings where plumbing enters walls
- Hollow space under kitchen and bathroom cabinets
Warning: Do not apply pure boric acid on surfaces used to prepare food and be careful not to allow children and pets near boric acid trays to ensure safety.
4. Sprinkle Baking Soda
Photo Credit: Aqua Mechanical / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
When roaches consume baking soda, it mixes with the acid in their stomach, creating gas that they can’t expel, ultimately killing them. To use it against sewer roaches, mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar and sprinkle the mixture around strategic areas, like under and around the sink, toilet, or bathtub.
Unlike boric acid, baking soda is not toxic to humans and pets, making it a safer option while providing similar results. In addition, unlike diatomaceous earth, a common pest control product, baking soda is still effective when wet.
5. Pour Boiling Water
As a quick and direct method, pouring boiling water down the drain can kill roaches instantly. Boil a large pot of water and carefully pour it down the bathtub, shower, bathroom sink, and kitchen sink drains.
Making this a weekly habit can help prevent sewer roaches from coming through the drains, but also kill the ones that are already there. However, be very careful to avoid burning yourself while handling the boiling water.
6. Spray Insecticides
Spraying insecticides is effective if you already know where sewer roaches are coming from and can identify their hideouts. Use a residual insecticide in spray or aerosol form to target these areas directly.
It is not recommended to randomly spray baseboards, countertops, and other exposed surfaces. Focus on areas where sewer roaches hide, like under the sink. To avoid contamination, remove any food or utensils that may be exposed to the insecticide.
Look for products with active ingredients like deltamethrin, permethrin, esfenvalerate, and cypermethrin, which are effective against roaches. Be sure to follow all label instructions carefully.
Call a Professional
If you’ve tried the methods above and they weren’t enough, find more advice in these helpful articles:
And if you’re facing a significant roach problem, consider giving a pest control pro a call. They can apply insecticides and insect growth regulators effectively and safely, ensuring your home is thoroughly treated.
Main Image Credit: rawintanpin / Adobe Stock Free / License
