When it comes to household pests, cockroaches are easily one of the most hated. I’ve never been a fan of anything creepy and crawly, but roaches top the list for their ability to show up in all the wrong places—basements, closets, under the kitchen sink, and anywhere else that’s dark, damp, and out of sight. Just one sighting is enough to make your skin crawl, and once you see one, you know there are more hiding nearby.
If you’ve been dealing with an unwanted cockroach problem in your home, you’re probably at your wits’ end trying to find a reliable way to get rid of them. Fortunately, there’s a super simple and inexpensive method you can use to kick these unwelcome guests out for good, and the best part is, you only need two ingredients that are easy to find: boric acid and an egg yolk. To start, grab a mixing bowl and combine three tablespoons of boric acid with one egg yolk. Stir the mixture until it reaches a thick, doughy consistency that you can shape by hand.
Once you’ve got your dough ready, use a spoon to form small balls, placing them on wax paper or parchment paper to dry. Let them sit out for about an hour so they can harden up before you put them to work around your home. Once the balls have dried and become firm, place them in the areas where you’ve noticed cockroach activity. Since roaches love dark, moist spots, think under the fridge, behind the stove, underneath sinks, inside cupboards, and around the basement or laundry room. These little bait balls are irresistible to roaches. They’re drawn to the smell and taste, and once they ingest the mixture, the boric acid goes to work. It disrupts their digestive systems and ultimately kills them.
It’s an incredibly effective solution that requires very little effort or money. However, it’s extremely important to be cautious if you have pets or small children in the home. While boric acid is a common household substance used in pest control, it can be toxic if ingested by animals or kids. Make sure to place the bait balls in hidden or hard-to-reach spots, or consider using barriers or traps that keep the balls contained while still allowing roaches access. You may find that this method doesn’t eliminate the entire roach population immediately, and that’s normal.
Female cockroaches are capable of laying dozens of eggs, which can hatch after your first round of bait has already taken effect. That’s why it’s a good idea to repeat the process after a week or so just to ensure you’ve tackled the problem completely. In most cases, one or two cycles of this homemade solution will leave your home roach-free. This method not only saves you from shelling out for expensive exterminators or spraying harsh chemicals around your home, but it also gives you control over where and how the solution is used.
Plus, there’s something satisfying about taking care of a pest problem using basic ingredients and a little DIY effort. Roaches are notoriously hard to get rid of, but with a bit of patience and consistency, you can wipe out an infestation using just boric acid and an egg yolk. It’s a cost-effective, low-fuss solution that has worked for countless people, and it can work for you too. So if you’re tired of seeing roaches dart across your floor or hide behind your appliances, mix up a batch of these homemade bait balls, target those dark corners, and say goodbye to cockroaches once and for all.
