Peppermint Oil for Roaches

A 2001 study conducted by Auburn University  tested the effects of mint oil on two of the most common species of cockroaches, the American and German roaches.

The result? Roaches absolutely hate mint. And so, do cockroaches hate peppermint oil too? In this article, you will find the answer as to why peppermint oil repels roaches and and how to use pepermint oil for roach control. 

Does Peppermint Oil Repel Roaches?

Now, there are plenty of ways in which you can make your house roach-free. However, using peppermint oil for the roach control is possibly the most natural and easiest way of getting rid of them.

Yes, peppermint oil strongly repels roaches and bugs. In fact, it is a natural cockroach repelent, and has proven to be one of the best essential oil against cockroaches.

A tiny amount of this essential oil with vinegar, Listerine, or water seems to work perfectly against cokroaches. We recommend using undiluted, pure peppermint oil.

Do roaches hate peppermint?

Yes, they do. Not only that, but peppermit is toxic for them -and many other bugs. 

Does Peppermint Oil Kills Cockroaches?

Like most essential oils, peppermint oil also does not usually have the level of toxicity needed to kill cockroaches directly, but it will keep them away. 

However, it has been observed that the solutions in which the percentage of mint oil is more than 3% killed roaches, but only with continuous and direct exposure.

How to Prepare Peppermint Oil Spray

Now that you know peppermint oil is effective against bugs roaches, the next step is using it to drive them away.

The best method is by spraying it. You can combine it with other products to enhance its effects. Below are some of the common peppermint solutions that you can use as sprays to get rid of coroaches lurking around your house.

Peppermint and Vinegar

The mix of peppermint oil and vinegar is one of the most favorite solutions used against roaches.

Roaches hate peppermint, and this solution highlights that very feature the most.

To create this mixture, add two parts of water to one part of white vinegar and lastly, add ten drops of peppermint oil into a spray bottle and spray it around the infected areas.

Peppermint oil and Listerine

Cockroaches hate the essential oils present in Listerine, making it a great product to produce our cockroach repellent. 

To create a mixture of peppermint oil and Listerine, mix one cup of Listerine with one cup of water and then add 3-4 drops of mint oil.

Mix it well and then spray it around the house’s infected areas as many times as needed.

Here is the Listerine (kills 99.9% of germs that cause bad mouth breath), and it’s very cheap.

Peppermint oil and Water

Peppermint oil mixed simply with water is also an excellent roach repelling solution.

To create a mint oil and water mixture for roaches, simply mix 15 drops of peppermint oil to 10 ounces of water.

Spray this solution around the infested areas multiple times for the best results.

How to Use Pure Peppermint Oil for Cockroach Control

Now that you know how to make a roach repellent spray, it’s time to understand how to use this spray best.

Simply spritzing around the house, not knowing the infested areas, is not at all effective.

To make the best out of this spray, you need to identify the areas which are highly roach-infested and then attack those areas.

The most common areas that coroaches like to infest are usually dark and damp spaces; these are the spaces that you need to identify and target.

Given below are the most common areas where roaches might start an infestation.

• Around the cupboards and behind them
• Under the sink and behind refrigerators
• Kitchen and bathroom drain openings
• Bathroom corners
• Any small openings in the wall
• Any dark corners around the house
• Toilet bowls and drain pipes
• Attics and any unused rooms

Spritz the solution around these areas multiple times to keep roaches away; you can also use peppermint spray to clean countertops.

It will prevent the dirty roaches from crawling all over the place and add a nice smell to it.

Will Peppermint Oil Spray Kill Cockroach Eggs?

In the process of eliminating roaches from your house, killing the cockroach eggs takes the highest priority.

If not eliminated, these eggs can multiply and can eventually lead to the existence of an entire roach colony in your house.

Unless peppermint oil is sprayed directly on the cockroach eggs, it will not kill the eggs. If you want to completely kill the cockroach eggs and the cockroach nymphs, then the first step is to identify their location.

Cockroaches lay their eggs where there is food available, so the areas where you might find the roach eggs include cabinets, dark corners, under the sink, loosely packed food jars, near clutter and food mess, and holes in your walls.

Once you identify and locate the cockroach eggs in your house, spray peppermint oil directly on them to kill them completely; however, if mint oil proves ineffective in killing roach eggs, then the next best way is to simply vacuum or burn them.

Precautions for Using Peppermint Oil Cockroach Spray at Home

Peppermint oil has excellent health remedies and is commonly used in curing stomach pains, bloating and gas, bowel movements in people with IBS, indigestion, and much more.

However, it is also essential to understand that there are a few side-effects of peppermint oil, and one must be aware of them to be safe and healthy.

The first thing to note is that it is safe for children 8 years of age and above. So, while using the cockroach spray, make sure that children are not around.

Along with children, make sure that there are no pets around as peppermint oil can be poisonous to pets.

It is not harmful to humans and may not have severe issues while just spraying it around for roaches.

However, this does not mean that you are entirely safe, as some humans tend to develop side-effects while using mint oil.

Given below are some of the common side-effects caused by the usage of peppermint oil.

• Allergic reactions
• Burning mouth syndrome (when ingested)
• Diarrhea with anal burning (when ingested)
• Headache (through smell and ingestion)
• Heartburn
• Mouth ulcers (when ingested)
• Rash (skin contact)
• Respiratory collapse
• Skin irritation
• Breathing and speaking difficulty
• Acute renal failure (upon overdose)

Do check if you are prone to any of these possible side-effects of peppermint oil, and make sure to wear proper gloves, goggles, and mask while spraying it around the house for better safety and total hygiene.

Alternatives to Peppermint Oil Spray

Peppermint oil spray has proven to be very effective against roaches however it is not the only natural way to deal with them.

Given below are some of the common alternatives to peppermint oil for repelling roaches.

Other Essential Oils

Alternatives of Peppermint oil to repel cockroaches:

• Lavender Oil
• Eucalyptus Oil
• Tea Tree Oil

Apart from peppermint oil, other essential oils that have proven effective against roaches are lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils.

Even though these are not as effective as peppermint oil, they work excellently in driving away from the roaches.

The main reason for roaches to repel from essential oils is because they mask the scent trails that cockroaches use to hunt their food.

Therefore, when roaches smell these essential oils, they confuse and lose their senses, leaving them stranded and vulnerable.

You can substitute either of these essential oils in place of peppermint oil while making your cockroach deterrent and still drive the roaches away from your house.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is another natural substance that is very effective in eliminating roaches.

It is commonly used as a leavening agent while baking cakes and is also an excellent cleaning agent.

However, when mixed with some sugar and sprinkled around the house, it can attract roaches and kill them as they ingest it.

You can also check my other article in which I shared everything in detail about how you can use baking soda and sugar for controlling roach infestation.

Borax

Borax is a very effective natural cleaner and is widely used as a safe alternative to many chemical and conventional cleaners.

Besides being just a cleaner, borax is an extremely effective roach killer; it contains boric acid that can destroy their guts’ cellular lining when ingested, eventually killing them.

To use borax against roaches, create a spray solution by mixing two tablespoons of borax and two cups of sugar in one liter of water.

You can even add 2-3 drops of peppermint oil to the solution to make it much more robust, but even without the peppermint oil, this solution is a solid remedy against roaches.

For more information, you can read this detailed article about controlling roach infestation with borax.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth is a non-toxic substance that is well effective in both killing and repelling roaches.

When roaches come in contact with this substance, their body dries out, eventually killing them.

For best results, mix diatomaceous earth with some sugar and sprinkle a thin layer of the mixture around the entrance of cockroach-infested areas.

To know more in detail, read my other article about how diatomaceous earth kills roaches.

Catnip

Catnip is another widely used insect repellent that is in use for centuries now.

It contains nepetalactone, which is a type of chemical that repels roaches without doing any harm to humans or pets.

To use catnip to repel cockroaches, boil catnip leaves in water for 10 minutes, and then after cooling, transfer the solution into a spray bottle.

Spritz the solution around the house, in the corners, and around the places where the infestation may appear.

Dealing with Roaches Through Pest Control

Peppermint oil is undoubtedly a fantastic alternative to repel roaches and keep them away from your home, however, they may not necessarily work in the case of a heavy cockroach infestation.

At such times, it is better to hire a licensed exterminator who could deal with this problem more efficiently and permanently, making your house 100% roach-free.

To know more about the well-equipped exterminators in your area, fill the below-mentioned form to get free multiple quotes from the professional Pest Control Companies in your vicinity so that you can decide which one to hire for your infestation problem.

Final Words

Cockroach infestation is a common but serious household problem; therefore, it is essential to deal with this situation as soon as possible.

Peppermint oil is indeed a very effective solution that can repel the roaches and keep them away.

And we hope the above-mentioned peppermint oil recipes and alternatives help you in your quest to eliminate roaches from your house quickly and effectively.

However, in case of a serious infestation, it is always better to call an exterminator and deal with the problem more professionally.

If you have any more questions on how to deal with roaches, please reach out to us below!