Does Baking Soda Kill Cockroaches?

If you’ve spotted cockroaches in your home, you may be looking for DIY home remedies to get rid of them. One popular hack is using baking soda, but does it actually work?

In theory, yes. However, it may not be the most reliable solution for a cockroach infestation. Let’s break down why.

Key Takeaways

• Baking soda kills cockroaches by creating gas in their digestive system, but only if they eat it.
• Roaches often avoid baking soda, and those that eat too little may survive, causing inconsistent results.
• Baking soda cannot reach cockroaches hiding in cracks and walls, so it won’t eliminate entire infestations.
• Better ways to kill cockroaches include boric acid, diatomaceous earth, essential oils, or professional pest control.

1. Roaches Might Avoid the Baking Soda

Cockroaches are resourceful critters that seek out reliable food sources. Even if you mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar as bait, roaches might still choose food found on countertops or inside closets and baseboards.

Since it only works if roaches ingest it, the method often falls short.

2. Slow and Inconsistent Results

Baking soda isn’t a fast-acting roach killer.

Cockroaches that consume it may take several hours or even days to die. During that time, they often retreat to hidden areas, making it difficult to monitor how well the method is working.

Additionally, if a roach ingests too little bicarbonate, it may survive, leading to inconsistent results.

3. It Won’t Eliminate the Entire Infestation

A few dead roaches don’t mean the problem is solved.

A roach infestation often involves large colonies that are difficult to reach with DIY methods. They commonly hide in cracks, closets, and behind baseboards, where baking soda won’t reach.

For long-term results, it’s essential to eliminate both adult roaches and their droppings, which can attract more cockroaches.

4. Baking Soda Isn’t a Natural Repellent

While baking soda may help kill cockroaches, it doesn’t work as a natural repellent.

Unlike essential oils such as peppermint oil or sprays made with white vinegar and dish soap, baking soda won’t deter them from entering your home.

Without addressing the root cause of the cockroach problem, such as sealing entry points and removing food sources, the infestation is likely to return.

5. Hard to Apply Effectively

For baking soda to work, you need to mix it with bait in equal parts and place small amounts near areas where cockroaches are active—such as countertops, baseboards, and inside closets.

However, these pests often hide in hard-to-reach areas like wall voids and behind appliances, making it difficult to apply the baking soda mixture where it’s needed most.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches Without Baking Soda

If you’re looking for more reliable ways to kill roaches, consider these DIY methods:

• Boric Acid: Like borax, it can be mixed with sugar or peanut butter to create a lethal bait that roaches will consume.
• Diatomaceous Earth: This natural repellent damages the cockroach’s exoskeleton, causing dehydration and death.
• Essential Oils: Peppermint oil, when mixed with water in a spray bottle, acts as a natural repellent that cockroaches dislike.

When to Call a Professional Pest Control Company

If you have a persistent cockroach infestation, especially with hard-to-eliminate species like German cockroaches, it’s time to call a professional pest control company.

At Simple Pest Management, our trained exterminators specialize in getting rid of cockroaches, fleas, bed bugs, and termites. Serving San Diego, South Riverside, Sacramento, and West Placer counties, we use proven pest control methods to eliminate infestations and help prevent them from returning​.

If you’re dealing with a roach problem, don’t rely on natural ways that may only offer short-term results.

Contact us today for effective and long-lasting pest control solutions.