Roaches can vary from one-half to 3 inches in length anywhere on average. German, Oriental and American roaches are the three most prevalent cockroaches in the United States.
I have never been friendly with roaches, big no, and they still somehow found their way into my kitchen. Is it the food they want? (I wondered) but they don’t seem to eat anything specific. So what are they after?
Cockroaches find a safe haven at home looking for food, water and shelter. They can multiply rapidly once they have infested an environment, posing a danger to your health. Before an infestation takes place, it is essential to get rid of cockroaches.
Some of them are night walkers (pretty vampirish eh) and they just saunter about when and if they feel the need to conquer and dominate places (rude!).
When I went to the store, I saw a full row of the best roach killers, brought one home (didn’t work), went again, brought a different kind (didn’t work). Up until this point I saw a roach trying to climb my couch, so I had definitely had it. I couldn’t invite anyone home because I didn’t want them to find out how I lived with roaches. I wanted them out, right away.
So began my personal prejudice against roaches. I went through some of the best roach killers review by review. I looked for specific ingredients, I searched for what is more potent and lasting, and then finally, I woke up one day and hallelujah – they were gone!
My delight overpoured that day. I invited a lot of people for a tea party (not a lot really, just a few: 3 aunts, 2 cousins and their nephews and children – anyway! We are a big southern family).
I was still scared they’d appear again, but this cockroach repellent actually worked. I never saw them again.
1. Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait
It’s a roach repellent that promises to kill the nest (big deal!). Cockroach repellents come in many shapes and forms – from gel tubes to colored powders – this one comes in the shape of a bait station!
The bait station comes with packed baits that are ready to be placed around the house. Normally – for a mild infestation – a pack alone will be enough to steer your house clear of roaches for a year.
If you are wondering how it works, here is how the best roach fogger (in the bait station category) acts as a roach doctor:
- Roaches get into the bait station.
- They ingest the bait and take it back to their nest.
- They share the bait in their colony which kills other roaches and destroying the nest.
Do not use sprays around baits. Sprays contaminate baits and reduce effectiveness.
What kills cockroaches instantly?
Fipronil is known as the best cockroach bait for killing them within a few hours (6 to 24 hours). It is commonly used in treating ticks in dogs and cats too but the chemical formula used in Combat Max is potent which does not make it a pet safe roach killer.
Prominent Features:
- Fipronil as an active ingredient – 0.05%
- Eliminates the source of infestation
- Kills non-stop for 12 months
- Used best in places such as in the bathrooms, behind the sink and beneath the appliances
Editor’s rating: ★★★★☆
Why we like it: Combat Max has 18 bait stations with instructions in both english and spanish! The pack lasts for a year and is easy to use as the baits do not require extra activation with harmful substances.
- Not a pet friendly roach killer
- A bit heavy on the pocket
2. Rockwell Labs – Invict Gold – Cockroach Gel
Rockwell labs promises to create the future of pest control with their product that comes in a pack of four tubes of gel. If you are thinking of how to get rid of roaches with borax, then this might be a good alternative considering it is safer than common substances and essential oils that repel roaches.
How to get rid of roaches overnight?
You may get a handful of dead baby roaches overnight but in order to nip the nest in the bud, a minimum of three days are required to let the bait work on the roach plague.
How to get rid of german cockroaches?
Technically, people use a combination of different methods to make a roach repellent for german cockroaches, but gel-based baits are more effective in luring them out. Rockwell labs has designed this product specifically for a stubborn german roach infestation.
Prominent Features:
- Roaches start to die in as little as 20 minutes after eating the bait.
- Proven secondary kill when roaches are subjected to carcasses and droppings of roaches that ate the bait.
- Unique food grade attractants are deliberately distinct from other famous baits.
- Formulated without the eight most common food allergens for sensitive applications such as schools, child care and health care facilities.
Editor’s Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why we like it: It comes in a box containing 35 g syringes, a plunger, a 300 g big gun tube that fits right into the standard caulking gun making it easy to assemble and use.
- Not effective for all types of roaches
- No replaceable plunger & syringe once lost
3. Vendetta Roach Gel Bait Insecticide
If you are having nightmares of roaches crawling all over your place even after using your best roach killer for apartments, then rest easy our next product might give you the long awaited breather you have been waiting for.
Vendetta is strictly an indoor pest control gel bait. It has a higher shelf life in comparison to the other best roach killers. As roaches are known for their tenacity, according to the Scientific American, they can live for a week without their head!
It may not be easy to eradicate them for once and all with a natural cockroach killer, but it isn’t impossible when the active ingredient in your gel is Abamectin B1, popularly known for the control of pests on crops.
What is the difference between a bait and an insecticide?
Anything that kills or repels an insect is an “insecticide“. Baits are types of insecticides that have food ingredients to get the pests to eat it.
Baits or bait stations are usually preferred because they use less active ingredients as compared to sprays. Baits are generally specific to a few species. That means it does not affect people, pets, and the environment to a larger degree.
Prominent Features:
- Free of toxic substances
- Attracts and kills bait averse and non-averse cockroaches
- Easy to handle and apply
- Provides consistent performance over a wide range of dietary conditions
Editor’s Ratings: ★★★★☆
Why we like it: It can be used as an alternative to sprays and powders that most people might be allergic to. It is a safer option than many other gel baits because of its low intensity of hazardous ingredients but high efficacy of results.
- Visible results might take a while
- Primarily used for german roaches
4. Bengal Roach Killer Spray
Many people opt for a natural cockroach killer. Instead of going for the best roach killer on the market, some people prefer essential oils that repels roaches.
It’s a common myth that roaches hate the smell of a natural roach killer like lavender and tea tree oil. If it was an effective remedy, it would have outlasted modern cockroach traps.
Our next product is made up of active ingredients permethrin and pyriproxyfen. It is formulated to be highly attractive and effective, even on the toughest, hard-to-kill cockroach populations.
What kills cockroach instantly?
Gels and solid baits take some time for the infestation to control, but what kills a roach instantly is a spray can. Spray is one of the most effective methods of killing cockroaches.
A can is helpful for the times when you spot a roach in your home and you don’t want to get too close. The best roach spray should kill the bug almost instantly. If you were wondering how to get rid of roaches without an exterminator, then this might be it.
Prominent Features:
- Prevents cockroach reproduction
- Prevents re-infestation of cockroaches for up to 6 months
- Contains Nylar
- Highly palatable bait matrix
- Dry penetrating formula
Editor’s Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why we like it: It is a unique dry spray that gets deep into the creeks and the crevices to control roaches where they live. Generally referred to as the best roach spray, the Bengal Spray is the closest thing to a professional grade product that you will find in the pest control niche.
- Degrades over a few days
- Does not go deep into the nest
5. Syngenta A20378A Advion Cockroach Bait Arena Insecticide
Turning on the kitchen light and watching the scatter can cause you to cringe away from getting your midnight snacks. Cockroaches are icky and they spread germs.
According to WebMD, they can cause a major trigger for allergy and asthma. 60% of individuals living in cities with asthma are allergic to cockroaches.
Syngenta combines a highly attractive, proprietary formulation with a potent, non-repellent active ingredient. Cockroaches cannot resist the combination, and even the toughest populations are quickly controlled.
Prominent Features:
- It provides a complete control of cockroach colonies with the active ingredient indoxacarb.
- By touching and indirectly by feeding on feces or poisoned carcasses, the slow-acting active ingredient of the bait offers enough time for cockroaches to pass it throughout the colony.
- High-consumption bait features a non-repellent formulation.
- Labeled for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Ideal for commercial, residential and industrial sites.
Baits are the best roach traps. The low cost and long lifespan (so to speak) of these bait stations are both certainly selling points, but so too is the ripple effect of their efficacy.
Editor’s Ratings: ★★☆☆☆
Why we like it: Roach killer advion is a product with high efficacy that targets all predominant cockroach pest species, including German, American, Australian, brown, smoky-brown, oriental, brown-banded & Asian cockroaches.
- Does not kill instantly
- Only works if the roaches go for it
6. Vendetta Plus Cockroach Gel Bait
Vendetta Plus combines two modes of action to kill German cockroaches where they hide and stop re-infestation in the future.
It can be used as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. To delay the growth of additional types of behavioral opposition, rotation of Vendetta Plus with other cockroach baits is suggested over the course of the year.
A natural roach killer like boric acid powder for roaches might be better than the best roach killer on the market, but it will not be a pet safe roach killer. Cockroach traps like the advion syngenta cockroach gel bait are popularly known to lessen the roach population as according to several advion cockroach gel bait reviews.
Prominent Features:
- Kills German Cockroaches where they hide
- Effective on both averse and non-averse German Cockroaches
- Breaks the life cycle of German Cockroaches
- Contains NyGuard IGR
- Reduces the population by preventing reproduction
As roaches might build up tolerance and may become immune to even the best roach fogger so it is ideal to use the bait every three months.
As per the report by the World Health Organization, cockroaches are the unhygienic scavengers of human settlements that move freely from building to building or from drains, gardens, sewers and latrines to human habitations. As they feed on human faeces as well as human food they can spread germs that can cause diseases.
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★☆
Why we like it: The gel is easily dispensable, does not get runny during heat and comes in four tubes which can be used for longer periods of time over the course of a year.
- It’s not sold in California
- Does not come with a plunger
7. Zap-A-Roach Boric Acid Roach and Ant Killer
If you are curious about how to get rid of cockroaches in apartments, then Zap – A – Roach might be the best cockroach killer in the form of a powder that leaves no stains and no odor.
The formula for even the best roach bomb is similar to a natural cockroach repellent which is why most people go for the boric acid powder for roaches.
How does boric acid kill roaches?
Boric acid interferes with the digestive system of the roach. Additionally, the powder bait will cling to the outside of the roach. This will help to kill other roaches when the bait roach returns to the nest.
This might be one of the best roach bombs for house considering it is non-flammable. It acts as a natural cockroach repellent with boric acid being the active ingredient.
Prominent Features:
- Combats a roach, ant, water bug, flea, and even silverfish infestation
- It is a non-staining compound that can be used safely on various surfaces
- Does not have a pungent smell like other chemical sprays
- It is highly toxic with boric acid as an active ingredient
It is lowkey a poison that can be harmful for many people on touch. It can have lethal consequences if ingested, swallowed, touched or if it goes into your eyes. Hence, make sure you are covered with gloves and a face mask before you decide to use it in your house.
Editor’s Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why we like it: It works for different kinds of insects apart from roaches (helps with two problems for the price of one).
- Not safe for pets and children
- Results take around two weeks
8. Advion Syngenta Cockroach Gel Bait
Roach killer advion does a deep clean sweep into the nests within a span of two weeks (you will be able to see visible results in a few hours).
If the roaches don’t end up dying on your kitchen floor, worry not, they may have headed back to the colony to die. Since the poison remains in their dead carcass, when other roaches cannibalize the body, the poison gets passed on to the other roaches.
It is effective for both baby roaches and adult cockroaches. In case you are wondering what do baby roaches look like, they are usually white or grey (not brown or black), and are notoriously difficult to eradicate.
Prominent Features:
- According to advion cockroach gel bait review, it can be used in single and multi-family residential buildings, commercial/industrial facilities and in schools
- Comes with four tubes and four plungers
- Kills all types of roaches (German, American, Australian, Smoky, Brown)
As per the advion cockroach gel bait review, you can apply 3 to 5 spots of gel bait per 10 linear feet for heavy infestations of cockroaches. In case of light to moderate infestations of cockroaches, apply 1-3 spots of advion cockroach gel bait per 10 linear feet each spot of advion gel bait should equal around 5 grams (approx. 1/4″ diameter).
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★★
Why we like it: If you want to know how to get rid of roaches in car, then Advion Syngenta cockroach gel bait is best suited for transportation equipment like aircraft, trains, ships, boats and buses.
- A bit pricey
- No warranty
- Non- refillable container
9. BulbHead Original Roach Doctor Cockroach Gel
Ever encountered a cockroach and wondered where it is coming from? There are probably more roaches around and you don’t need to freak out and call an exterminator for them anymore.
With products like BulbHead gel baits, you have your very own roach doctor at hand. The use of gel might not appeal to you as the best cockroach bait, afterall, we have all used sprays as the best cockroach killer that gets rid of the roach instantly, but what if there is a nest in hiding? You certainly need the best roach traps for that.
Which is better? Gel bait or sprays?
Harmful chemicals are often used in the making of different products like weed killers, roach killers and rat poisons, but the ideal form of substance used for roaches is gel bait. Why? Spraying or powdering around can cause the toxic substances in the air to be ingested which can result in serious health problems.
Prominent Features:
- Roach bait pest control: Roach Doctor bait attracts and kills German cockroaches with its roach-attracting formula.
- Syringe applicator: Easy to apply within the hideout of roaches.
- Easy to use: All you need is a small dab about ¼” in diameter of the roach killer in small spaces to start freeing your house of nasty roaches.
- For use of both indoors and outdoors: Roach Doctor is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, making it a powerful roach bait.
Editor’s Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why we like it: It comes with a syringe that can contain 30 g (1.06 oz) of cockroach bait.
- Harmful to domestic animals
- Comes with a single syringe
10. Combat Max Roach Killing Gel
If you are looking for a gel bait for a mild infestation of roaches behind your ceramic cookware set, microwave toaster oven or countertop water fillers then this might be a good choice for you.
The use of fipronil in the gel (as compared to bait stations) has been used mildly. The 0.01% of the active ingredient’s density indicates that the gel bait is meant for little harm where roaches are few and afar.
Do roaches eat human beings?
Cockroaches are omnivores that normally eat meat and plants. They have been seen eating both the living and the dead human flesh, although they are inclined to bite the fingernails, eyelashes, feet, and hands.
The bites can cause irritation, injury, and inflammation. You can also be affected by minor diseases or wounds for a while.
Prominent Features:
- Starts working in hours
- Fast control of even large roaches
- For hard to reach places like cracks and crevices
- Long residual action
If the number of cockroaches is left unchecked, the population may exceed the normal sources of food. The cockroaches will be compelled to find more food and will start eating stuff they don’t normally do.
Editor’s Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why we like it: This gel bait can ideally be used after a successive extermination treatment for roaches has been done. It can be dispensed in locations where roaches were in numbers in order to prevent an infestation relapse in the future.
- Not powerful enough to destroy a roach nest
- May not keep away all kinds of roaches
11. Maxforce FC Magnum Cockroach Gel Bait
Maxforce FC acts like a magnum for roaches. They try to devour the yummy food which unfortunately for them has 0.05% of fipronil that works as a poison to melt their guts.
Most roaches still survive even after a thorough extermination process as their hiding places are unique and they seldom show up during the day.
Why are roaches hard to find and where do they hide?
Cockroaches are nocturnal beings. They prefer living and feeding in the dark, so a daylight cockroach is a possible indication of infestation.
Cockroaches tend to prefer hiding and breeding in the dark, in humid areas and can be discovered behind refrigerators, sinks and stoves as well as under floor drains and inside engines and major appliances.
As their bodies can be flattened to fit into tight fields, cockroaches can also be discovered hiding under rubber mats, behind wallpaper and inside wall cracks.
Prominent Features:
- Two tubes of 33 g along with a plunger
- Dispensable gel wipes off easily
- Ideal for cupboards, shelves and wardrobes
- Functional in hot and humid temperatures
Editor’s Rating: ★★★☆☆
Why we like it: It stays on for long. The improved formula is more potent and effective than its previous formula.
- Causes moderate eye irritation
- Cannot be used near electrical appliances
12. Combat Roach Killing Bait, Large Roach Bait Station
According to the pest world, a roach can travel for upto three miles in an hour which means they can go from the sewerage to your bedroom real soon! As they are known for their mobility, it would have been hard chasing them around.
This is why Combat Max works with dropping baits that are roach food in different places. They might get hungry and at the sight of food might come scurrying to get nourished.
This is where most of them are trapped, they ingest Hydramethylnon which is used 2%. This is a heavy dose of a potent chemical which is ideal for eradicating larger cockroaches.
How to Use:
- Use all 8 bait stations. Break baits apart. Do not remove labels on bait stations or puncture them. Wherever you’ve seen roaches, place baits.
- Place the baits correctly so that walls and corners are touched. Don’t use sprays or foggers.
- Replace baits after every three months, or sooner, when the roaches return.
Prominent Features:
- Targets larger roaches
- Eight child resistant bait stations
- Powerful active ingredient – 2% Hydramethylnon
- Solid bait – can be thrown in the nest
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★☆
Why we like it: Although many have tried using the best roach bombs for house to exterminate roaches but the combat killing station works as a natural killer by baiting the roaches through food.
- Not effective on smaller roaches
- Not safe for children/pets
Editor’s Choice – Recommended Best Roach Killer
Roaches are tough species to eradicate (imagine flying cockroaches).
They are equally dreadful and unfriendly. The germs they carry result in the epidemic spread of different diseases. Nobody wants them crawling around their house uninvited – neither did we.
After a trial and error hassle to find the best roach killer, we ended up discovering the “Advion Syngenta Cockroach Gel Bait”. I’m so glad I laid my eyes on it and decided to try my luck with it.
It is odorless, stainless – hardly noticeable once applied. Initially, after using a can of sprays for getting rid of roaches, my dog and I had to sit in our patio (with the mosquitoes) for a few hours for the spray to work. My only solace being my zero gravity chair – most of my neighbours found out what was up though.
Once the roaches left our place, our next door neighbours started complaining of roaches to whom I suggested the same. The gel bait may not be fast acting like sprays, but it definitely went deep into the nests and showed immediate results in a few days.
Best Roach Killers – Buyer’s Guide
There are a few things that you should keep in mind when opting for the best roach bait that suits your needs:
Types of Roaches
As you already may have an idea, there are different kinds of roaches. Apart from baby roaches and adult roaches, there are numerous species that might be roaming in your house. For example, the german roach is known for being the sturdiest roach to kill that not even the best roach bait can exterminate.
It is tempting to call an exterminator right away, but with so many specific products manufactured to kill certain species, you just might save a lot of your money here.
Active Ingredients
Roaches are best destroyed with chemicals. Pest control authorities though have limited the use of harmful chemicals for home usage for safety purposes but there still are some toxic substances like fipronil, Indoxacarb, abamectin B1, Pyriproxyfen and Hydramethylnon which can be lethal even in a few percentage.
Safe for pets and children
When looking for the most fatal ingredient, be sure to check if the product has been labelled to be child or pet friendly. Most of the best roach baits contain harmful substances that are not good for your kids.
In the situation of an emergency, take them to a doctor immediately. While most roach killers are harmless when they come into contact with the human skin, but if ingested can have adverse consequences.
Form of bait
From liquid sprays to powdered acids, there are many forms of roach killers intended to keep your house roach free.
- A gel bait is nearly odorless and invisible.
- A liquid spray gives instant results but does not reach the nest.
- An insecticide is meant for larger buildings where there are colonies of nests.
- A powdered acid is pocket friendly and usually used when you have an ant problem along with a roach issue.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs
Conclusion
Roaches rank among the oldest and the most resilient of insects.
With our product reviews on the most formidable roach killers, that may not be the case anymore.
We empathise with your struggle to find an effective solution for a tiring problem! Rest assured, the products listed are lethal and safe enough to answer your queries.
Comment below to share your experiences with the irksome little monsters. We expect you’d be all set to tackle a roach infestation on your own after reading this article.
Good luck on saving your money from an exterminator. When you are done conquering your house back, remember us as your e-pest heroes!
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