What's a chemical free insect repellent?

Question

I have a problem with cockroaches coming into my kitchen!

Answer 1

A commercial brand of chemical free insect repellent is CedarCide Liquid Net Insect Repellent. It is made from all natural ingredients: citronella oils, cedar oils, lemon grass. This may be available under different brand names but I am not familiar with them. It is labeled as controlling cockroaches as well as other household insects.

Answer 2

When I had a cockroach problem, I searched in vain for a natural cure. I had great luck with large quantities of boric acid, which, although it is a chemical, is not an insecticide. Roaches die by walking across the powder, then cleaning themselves and dying. The advantage of this is that it can be put in places where roaches congregate and not have to worry about contamination elsewhere. Check the link at the bottom of the page for the "Vegas cockroach trap" - I'd try that first if you can be patient enough.

Regardless, roaches can only realistically be controlled, not eliminated, so follow the roach-reduction tips in the article.

Answer 3

Talia: I take it you are looking for a repellent that is also not harmful to people or pets ("chemical free"; note: you'll have a hard time finding any substance that is not also technically a chemical)? I would have to agree with the other poster who recommended boric acid. In the places in which you would use it, it would typically be inaccessible to children and most pets, and even if they could reach some of it, they would have a hard time ingesting enough to cause a health problem (excepting, of course, things like a child repeatedly rubbing it in their eyes). You would still have to be careful with the container of the compound. It's not what we would typically consider "poisonous" to mammals, but you would want to be safe with it. Below is a link to a relatively comprehensive, but technical, resource on pesticides.

Answer 4

you can buy cockroach baits from the super market you put in or under cupboards but they will have chemicals in the baits but you wont smell them
they will crawl in there & eat the stuff & I;m not sure if they die there or go away
I always have a good pest man ( a well known pest mob) spray out once every 2 years & its very mild & supposed to not effect people with chest problems

Answer 5

You wont really achieve anything if you just "eliminate" the roaches that come into your kitchen. Ive heard that for every one roach you see, there are 100 more hiding. Besides there are the eggs to think about. I suggest you call an exterminator or pest control. They would do a better job at getting rid of them than you trying to do it on your own.