Can Lemons Really Help Prevent A Cockroach Infestation In The House?

Lemons may not be a type of fruit your family regularly wants for snacking, but because there are so many other potential uses around the house for lemons and their juice, it's a good idea to keep a few in the refrigerator. One of the potential uses involves repelling insects, like cockroaches. But does it actually work against these pests? There isn't much compelling evidence that shows lemons and their peels will successfully kill cockroaches, let alone prevent a full-blown infestation. However, that doesn't mean you can't place these citrus fruits and their peels in areas where you may have seen roaches in the past. The peels' scent may encourage them to set up a nest somewhere else. 

There are several other ways to get rid of unwanted roaches that are more proven than lemons, so you may want to try some of these first. Traps and boric acid are more common options used to try to repel cockroaches that have a higher success rate.

Ultimately, a pest control professional is almost always going to have a better success rate versus an infestation of cockroaches than any DIY remedy that you try. The pros know how to find the areas where these pesky insects are hiding and breeding and can attack them aggressively to eliminate the problem. Using most DIY methods, including spreading lemon peels around the home, is more of a passive attempt to control these unwanted pests, giving them time to expand their numbers if it doesn't work.

One reason why people believe lemons work to eliminate cockroaches is because the juice contains an essential oil called limonene. The peel also has limonene in it. This oil is known to deter cockroaches, causing them to avoid the area. However, for this essential oil to actually work, you need to deploy it in high concentrations. Additionally, limonene evaporates quickly, almost as fast as water, meaning it doesn't remain in place long enough to serve as a long-term deterrent for cockroaches. Consequently, it is highly unlikely that making use of any form of lemons, even with an extremely high concentration of limonene, is going to kill these bugs and put an end to the infestation.

Many insect repellents contain lemon scents, especially mosquito repellants, which often use them as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals in repellents. Some people then believe that because lemon works for mosquitoes, it may also work for other insects, like cockroaches. You certainly could leave lemon peels in the areas where you believe these pests may appear, but the concentration of limonene may not be strong enough to repel the insects. 

It's worth mentioning that some pest control experts believe that leaving bowls of lemon juice in your home actually doesn't repel the cockroaches. Instead, because of the sugar in the juice, it may actually attract them and other insects. It just depends on the concentration of the limonene that you have in the juice.

If you believe that the scent of lemon is helpful in repelling cockroaches, one of the most effective steps you can take is to clean your home thoroughly using products that include this scent. Using prevention techniques often works extremely well when it comes to deterring roaches and keeping a very clean home and kitchen is one of the best preventative measures. 

Start by removing any debris and food crumbs that are in the kitchen. Uncovered food and leftover food on plates in the sink are probably going to draw roaches at some point. Roaches do not care what kind of food you leave out. They will eat just about anything. Clean the counters in the kitchen regularly and wash dishes daily. Then, use a lemon-scented cleaning spray to wipe down the counters and the sink to create a citrus smell that these pests may not like. Some people even make use of actual lemon juice when cleaning, as it has antibacterial properties and a low pH that allows it to work well.

If you have a garbage disposal, roaches may also be attracted to this area, as it often has food particles that remain in the blades. It's also extremely difficult to clean thoroughly because of its location. You can place some lemon peels inside the garbage disposal to improve the smell. Just be sure that you don't use too many at once, which could clog or damage it.