If you have an infestation of roaches in your house, you know how annoying it is. Roaches are extremely hardy creatures that aren't not easy to kill at all. In fact, it is true that roaches can survive for a while with their heads removed! Not a happy experience at all, that's for sure. Because they are so hardy, waging a roach killing war in your home isn't easy, but there are some options you have to try to make things better.

In this hub, we will look at some of the more popular ways of killing roaches, and how you get started doing your own pest control today!

Step 1: Determining If You Have Roaches

So, do you even have roaches?  The answer to this might seem straightforward, but in reality it can be tricky.  Many people have roaches but do not know it.  If you would like to find out before you see one of them scampering across the kitchen counter, give this little technique a try.  Buy yourself a tacky board at a home improvement store, or wrap a small thin board in duct tape so the stick part faces out.  Set this up in a dark corner somewhere.  Underneath a cabinet sink often works quite well.

Leave this there for about a week, and come back to check it out.  IIf you have roaches, you will very likely find some stuck to the board.  If it is clear, feel free to leave the board in place as an early warning system of sorts.  This work because roaches love to run along dark corners.

Step 2:  Try The Basics

Most people, up discovering that they have roaches, often find themselves going to the stor and buying a can of Raid and some roach motels.  If your roach problem isn't too intense, these very well might work.  The bait trap (roach motel) works by attracting the roach.  The roach ingests the bait, which contains a substance that basically lacerates the roaches shell and causes it to die from dehydration.  Other roaches will feed on the dead roach, spreading the poison.  Sure, this is all pretty gross, but it can work.

Spray poison does work, but keep in mind that you can only spray roaches you see, and you will only see a fraction of the roaches you have.

Step 3: Kill Roaches WIth Boric Acid

This is taking things up to the next level.  Boric acid basically works the same as the bait trap poision described above (in fact it is often the same thing).  It is readily available in powder form at most grocery stores or home improvement centers.  Once you have your box of boric acid, it's time to go wild.  Spread the powder along baseboards, back edges of cabinets, and any others edges you feel roaches will probably crawl on.  The more aggressive you are, the more likely you are to get rid of all the roaches.  This is a time proven method.

So, you know basically how to kill cockroaches, but you want some alternative methods.  That is what this section is here for.

Alternative 1:  Hire a Roach Exterminator

This is somewhat of an easy way out.  Most exterminators will start with the basic methods listed above, but their experience will allow them to execute it very well.  They can also spray your house, which can be effective, but there are some side effects (chemical residues) that can occur when you have your house sprayed.  Still, though, if you are looking to get rid of roaches quickly, this might be a good option for you.

Alternative 2:  Cats

This may sound odd to many of you, but many cats will hunt, kill, and eat roaches.  It sounds gross, but I can speak from experience that cats will eat almost any bug they find, including roaches!  There has never been a general pest control solution quite like a cat.  Of course, if you aren't willing to take care of and pay attention to a cat, don't get one just for pest control purposes, but if you were thinking of getting one anyways, you have one more reason to go through with it!

So, I hope these tips have helped you figure out how you can get on your way to solving your roach problem.  Best of luck!