Are you looking for an effective home remedy to kill roaches? If it is so, then you have come to the right place. In this blog I will discuss: Does lemon juice kill roaches?
There are various chemicals and insecticides that can kill roaches and repel them, but apart from these advantages, such chemicals also offer drawbacks as they contain harsh chemicals.
It is hard to choose between safe and effective chemicals, so it is better to avoid this mess and go for a natural method that can effectively kill roaches and is safe to apply.
In this article, I am going to share such useful remedies. I have been writing about natural pest control methods for a long time, so, I ensure the availability of reliable data here.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s move forward, as there is much more to discuss.
Does Lemon Juice Kill Roaches?
The short answer to this question is no, lemon juice is not capable of killing roaches, but it is still beneficial for use against roaches because it can keep them at a distance. The main reason is its odor, which is considered toxic by roaches, so they feel safe to avoid it. Moreover, the ingredients in lemon juice make it strong repellent.
Furthermore, lemon juice can be used as a cleaning agent for kitchen shelves and floors, just mix it with hot water and clean the surfaces that are at greater risk of roach exposure.
In addition, lemon juice can also kill microorganisms, so it doesn’t only keep roaches away but acts as a disinfectant for the floors and other surfaces.
Why is Lemon Juice Better than Chemicals?
Before stepping forward, I would like to answer a frequently asked question. As you know, there are several other chemical repellents that are used to repel roaches and disinfect surfaces.
But why is lemon safe and preferable as a cleaning agent and roach repellent? Pesticides contain dangerous chemicals such as Permethrin and cyfluthrin.
These are known as cancer-causing chemicals that can cause uncontrolled division of cells. Moreover, these chemicals are hazardous for both animals and their surroundings.
Most of the chemicals used in pesticides can cause damage to aquatic life and enhance environmental pollution.
Similarly, they can also cause health problems; some chemicals need to be applied under strict conditions, as mishandling can prove to be toxic.
For Example, the dust powders that kill roaches can also cause respiratory problems and can increase stress on the lungs.
Such harmful aspects of pesticides force one to look for natural ingredients that can kill roaches, but unfortunately, lemon is not powerful enough to fulfill this demand.
But there is nothing to worry about as you can still use it against cockroaches to repel and distract them; lemon juice can be used in place of chemical cleaners.
Lemon juice is a 2 in 1 solution; it not only cleans surfaces from pathogens but also deters roaches and keeps them at bay.
There are different ways through which you can use lemon, which I will discuss later, so keep reading.
Composition of Lemon
Now let’s explore the nutritional value of lemon and see what ingredients make it a perfect roach repellent. I have listed the composition in the table below, so let’s have a look.
| No | Nutrient | Percentage |
| 1 | Protein | 9.42 % |
| 2 | Fat | 4.98% |
| 3 | Ash | 6.26% |
| 4 | Fibre | 15.18% |
| 5 | Sodium | 755.5 mg/100g |
| 6 | Potassium | 8600 mg/100g |
| 7 | Calcium | 8452.5 mg/100g |
| 8 | Copper | 4.94 mg/100g |
| 9 | Iron | 147.65 mg/100g |
| 10 | Magnesium | 1429.50 mg/100g |
| 11 | Zinc | 13.94 mg/100g |
| 12 | Phosphorus | 6656 mg/100g |
Does Lemon Oil Repel Cockroaches?
As I have mentioned above, there are different forms of lemon that you can use to keep roaches away; one of these forms is lemon oil.
Lemon oil is derived from the peel of lemon that can be used for various purposes, it has a pleasant fragrance and is generally associated with skin-related products.
Lemon has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can keep your skin safe from bacterial attacks and enhance the freshness of your skin. Apart from these benefits, it can also repel roaches.
One drawback is that it is quite expensive in markets, but nothing to worry about as I will provide you with a complete way through which you can extract the oil yourself.
Moreover, it is also believed that lemon oil can kill a roach if it becomes completely submerged in the oil, but this is nothing other than a myth.
It will not kill roaches but can repel them and protect your stuff and your food from roach contamination.
Now, let’s discuss the method through which you can get this valuable product in your home without spending money.
- First, you have to remove the skin of the lemon; for this, use a peeler.
- Discard the white crux, as it can change the taste of lemon oil.
- Submerge the skin of the lemon into olive oil and mix it.
- Heat it for about 15 to 20 minutes at medium to low flame; don’t cook it at high flame.
- Now remove the skin and take the peels out.
- Pour the oil into a bottle; this is the mixture of oil extracted from lemon peels along with olive oil.
- Now you can use it for either cleaning surfaces or repelling cockroaches.
How to Make a Spraying Solution from Lemon?
Now let me explain to you a simple method through which you can use lemon juice on cockroaches to repel them or clean the surface from their attack.
The spraying solution is better as it is easy to spray and clean. For this, you need lemon oil, a spraying bottle, and water to dilute the solution.
You can use the above method to extract oil from lemon peels if you don’t have extra money to spend. Make the solution by the below-mentioned method and spray it on the desired places.
Now let’s come to the point and explore the method.
- Take a spray bottle with a working nozzle.
- Now fill 3/4 of the bottle with tap water, hot water is preferred.
- Take lemon oil from the market or extract it yourself by peeling and boiling the skin of the lemon.
- Mix 15 to 20 drops of lemon oil in the water.
- Mix the solution well and shake it before use.
- Rotate the nozzle in order to set the number of particles.
- For spraying in small cracks in walls and tight spaces, rotate the nozzle to have a direct spray; I advise you to narrow the nozzle for such sprays.
How to Use Lemon Peels to Repel Roaches?
I have discussed the method through which you can use lemon oil and make a spraying solution of lemon, but there is also another method to use lemon for repelling roaches.
You can also use the lemon peel as it is in raw form to repel roaches; this is the easiest and simple method as compared to extracting its oil or squeezing the lemon to get its juice.
For this, you just need some lemons and a peeler to uncover them. Peel the skin of the lemon and place the peels in the areas that are at higher risk of roach attack.
The peel of lemon has a repellent smell and can keep roaches at a distance. This strong smell can affect the brain of roaches which processes this odor as an alarming situation, so roaches run away.
Place the peels in areas that can serve as entrance routes for roaches such as doors and windows. Next, target their hiding places and place 1 to 2 peels of lemon at the corners.
The major hiding places are the bathroom and dark corners of the kitchen; some roaches also hide inside the trash box and basements.
Moreover, the carpet is also a good hiding spot for roaches, so also place the peel inside it.
Other Methods
Now let’s discuss some other methods through which you can use lemon as a roach deterrent. The first method is to use lemon juice.
You can either buy it from the market or can squeeze it yourself from the fresh lemons. I will advise you to extract the juice on your own as the market juice is processed.
The processed juice may contain some other ingredients as well that can reduce the natural odor of lemon, which can reduce the effectiveness of the lemon juice.
So extract the juice and pour it into a spraying bottle, then select the areas where roaches are hiding and spray the solution at the selected spaces.
Now let’s move on to the following method; the following method is identical to the one which is mentioned above, with just a slight change.
First, extract the lemon juice from fresh lemons, don’t discard the peels as you can use them to extract oil according to the method I have stated above.
Now add the juice to a spraying bottle; make sure the bottle is new and does not contain other chemicals or carbonated drinks, as it can become a source of attraction for roaches.
Now add water to it and shake it well. Make sure to use small quantities of water as it can reduce the repelling smell of lemons.
How Lemon Repel Roaches?
You must be wondering about an important question: how does lemon repel roaches so well, or what are the qualities in the lemon peel or lemon juice that work so well?
So, now your wait is over as I am going to disclose this matter. You already know that it is due to the strong smell of lemon that roaches try to avoid them.
But an additional factor is its antimicrobial properties, these properties also force roaches to change their way. Thanks to the constituents of lemon juice.
Roaches have a great association with odors, and they even identify their food on the basis of smell, which plays a great role in the survival of these species.
There is a specific part in a roach’s brain that can identify the smell and can inform it whether to get attracted to or avoid it. So, the odor of lemon does not have a good image in roaches’ minds.
However, it has a terrible reputation, so whenever a roach comes in contact with such an odor, its brain reminds the roach to avoid the smell and run away from that particular area.
Therefore roaches are afraid as they feel as if something is going to happen and make a break for it.
Concluding Lines:
In this blog, I have discussed: Does lemon juice kill roaches or not? So unfortunately, the answer we get is no, lemon juice can’t kill roaches, but nothing too sad, as it can repel them.
Lemon juice is one of the safest and pure methods to keep roaches away. It is not only used as roach repellent but can also be used for cleaning surfaces and acting as an antimicrobial agent.
Therefore lemon juice is better than other chemical repellents. I have mentioned different methods to use lemon; you can either extract oil from the peel or can use it in raw form.
You can also extract juice from the fresh lemon and can use it as a spraying solution by adding water, so read the above detail carefully and choose a method that you find easy to apply.
I hope this article will be helpful for you in learning something productive, so Good luck!
FAQs:
Are Roaches Attracted to Lemon Juice?
No, roaches hate the smell of lemon juice which is because of a repelling ingredient known as limonene. So roaches never get attracted; instead, they are repelled.
Do Roaches Like Baking Soda?
Roaches don’t like baking soda, but if you add sugar to it, they get attracted due to its smell, as roaches love sugar, and it is one of their favorite items to fulfill their appetite.
Do Bugs Hate Lemon Juice?
Yes, they do, as it contains citrus, which is one of the best repellents not only for roaches but also for mosquitoes, flies, ants, and other bugs.
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