Trap Pesky Cockroaches With Two Things You May Already Have In Your Kitchen

Living with roaches is like having roommates who never chip in for rent, refuse to clean up after themselves, and only come out at night to party like it's 1999. You think that you've got a quiet and relaxing home, but as soon as you flick on the lights in the middle of the night, you find yourself breaking up a roach rave. Luckily, if you enjoy the occasional sandwich or refreshing brew, you might be in luck for trapping some of these partygoers. That's because these two tasty ingredients are a surefire way to lure roaches into an inescapable trap. These pests have a thing for beer and bread.

If you're looking to make your home a little less hospitable to your cockroach roomies, there are a few things to consider in addition to setting out your beer and bread bait. Moisture emits a distinct scent, often associated with musty and earthy aromas that are reminiscent of decaying organic matter. Roaches actually love this smell, so be sure to address any leaks, ventilation, or storage issues where moisture might encroach. Certain scented household products unintentionally lure them in, too. So if you have a candle that smells like Grandma's homemade banana bread, you might want to think twice before burning it if there's a possible infestation going on. Instead, opt for scents less likely to mimic food. Lastly, when in doubt, don't be afraid to seek professional assistance. Roach infestations can get out of hand in the blink of an eye, or in this case, a flick of the light.

A simple and effective way to address roach infestations without digging your paws into toxic pesticides is to grab some beer and bread, a two-liter soda bottle, masking tape, and petroleum jelly or cooking spray. Start off by soaking a slice of bread in the beer, and while it's doing its thing, start on crafting the trap. To assemble the trap, begin by cutting the top off the plastic bottle and inverting it into the base so that it looks like a funnel. Apply either the petroleum jelly or cooking spray to the inside of the bottle funnel. This layer of slippery stuff will keep the roaches from crawling out. If you choose to use the petroleum jelly, make sure that you apply only a thin smearing, so that the roaches can't use it as mini handholds to climb out.

Place a piece of beer bread in the bottom of the bottle piece and put the funnel back on top. Be sure to tape down the edges to prevent any potential escapees. Lastly, attach a piece of masking tape to the outside of the bottle to create a ramp into the trap. Put your trap in a dark area, like under the sink, or in other areas that have roach activity. Leave it overnight and check it every morning. Dump the trap accordingly, and remember to change the bait every few days to maintain its potent roach-attracting aroma.

For obvious reasons, this is not a foolproof way to put a major dent in your roach population. That's because, depending on the species, these creepers produce between 200 and 300 babies per year. That being said, using a beer and bread hack can do a little bit of damage (as long as you empty it enough). So just think of this trick as a sidekick in your pest control journey, working its magic to shrink the roach crew while keeping things eco-friendly.

If you're not into sharing your beer, which is understandable considering you'd be offering it up to a house full of invaders, you can also use soda or syrup. Roaches thrive on a diet that's high protein, high fat, and high carbohydrate, and tend to stray away from fresh fruit and vegetables. However, if that produce is moldy or decaying, they'll flock to it like a roach buffet. Keep in mind that these insects are opportunivores and eat anything that was derived from organic matter, and that includes cardboard, tape, and glue. That's right. Roaches love a good adhesive.