If you’ve seen one co*ckroach or signs of a fewhanging around your home, you’re probably looking for an easy, natural solutionto deal with them before you start calling the local pest control service.
Could peppermint essential oil be an effective natural way to get rid of co*ckroaches?
Well, there are just a few things to know before you start wiping down every surface in your home with the stuff.
So we put together the scoop on peppermint oil for roaches right here.
Hint: Need more natural ways to control co*ckroaches? Try our Essential Oils for Roaches, Natural co*ckroach Repellent, Borax for Roaches, and How to Keep Roaches Away guides!
How Does Peppermint Oil Repel Roaches?
If there’s one thing no one doubts, it’s that peppermint oil has a strong smell. It’s a refreshing fragrance, one that’s unmistakable and potent with a capital “P”.
Is that enough to send roaches packing? Indeed, several studies suggest it is.
The Scientific Evidence
A 2001 study by researchers at Auburn Universitytested the effects of mint oil on two of the most common species ofco*ckroaches: American roaches and Germanroaches.
What they found is surprising—and great news for themillions of homeowners across the U.S. looking for an easy, safe, natural wayto repel co*ckroaches.
During each day of their 14-day experiment, the mint oil repelled 100% of the roaches. 100%! That’s a significant result.
It’s also big news for anyone dealing with a co*ckroachproblem who’s nervous about using dangerous chemicals or who’s not yet ready tocall a professional pest control service.
Peppermint oil poses relatively little risk to children andpets (though you should still keep them from ingesting it). And it comes withanother benefit: it’ll quickly freshen up an entire room!
What’s really interesting is that peppermint oil has anothertrick up its sleeve: its effects go beyond repellingco*ckroaches.
Does Peppermint Oil Kill Roaches?
Not only is peppermint oil a natural co*ckroach repellent—it’s also toxic to roaches (and for the record, to bed bugs, too).
The same Auburn University study found that mint oil killed both German and American co*ckroaches when they came into contact with it for an extended period.
What Makes Peppermint Oil Toxic to Insects?
Research shows that menthone (which is a compound similar to menthol) is the ingredient that makes peppermint oil a potential roach killer. Menthone is the compound that gives mint oil its “minty” fragrance and it’s present in the oils of most common mint plants.
What does that mean for your DIY pest control system?Unfortunately, you probably won’t killmany co*ckroaches with peppermint oil. In the experiment, the roaches werecontinuously exposed to the mint oil.
Under normal circ*mstances, co*ckroaches are simply too fastto be affected by brief contact. Plus, mint oil is a repellent, so the roacheswill likely stay away from it. It’s possible that co*ckroaches avoid the scentof mint oil because it’s poisonous tothem.
The bottom line is it would take much more physical exposureto kill the co*ckroaches than you’re likely to get with a spray bottle.
How to use peppermint oil to repel roachesin your home
Peppermint oil is super-easy to use in your home. It’s notfoolproof but it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to experiment with to seewhat works best.
You don’t need any fancy equipment to start; just mix 10 to 15 drops of the pure peppermintessential oil with water in a spray bottle. (You can also use other kindsof mint essential oil as they’ll also contain menthone.) Then, spray generouslyon walls, counters and other surfaces where you’ve seen co*ckroach activity.This should be enough to deter roaches, at least for a time.
As an alternative to peppermint oil spray, you can also wet cotton balls with peppermint oil and water and place them in cupboards, along walls or in closets.
You will have to reapply pretty frequently so the fragrancedoesn’t wear off. Since co*ckroaches are nocturnal, your best bet is to reapplyeach night before you go to bed. That way, when the roaches are most active,your peppermint oil repellent is at its strongest.
For a stronger solution, you can even mix in some white vinegar. If you didn’t believe us before, believe us now: that’s a strong scent. Use 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water and then mix in those 10 or 15 drops of peppermint oil. Then, spray away. Don’t be afraid to spray in your cabinets and pantry, your bathroom and other areas where you don’t want to find roaches.
Tip: If you’re also using baits to kill co*ckroaches, don’t spraypeppermint oil on the baits. You might think it’ll make the baits moreeffective but because peppermint oil is also an insect repellent, it will instead convince roaches to avoid the baits. Youcan use both peppermint oil and baits but you should apply them in separateareas of your home. (The same goes for traps: you’ll want to put baits in yourtraps, not a repellent like peppermint oil.)
The Verdict: Will Peppermint Oil RepelRoaches in Your Home?
Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for: does peppermint oil for roaches make sense?
The answer is yes!
Peppermint essential oil can likely deter roaches in yourhousehold.
Like all pest control solutions, it depends on your specificcirc*mstances, the size of your roach problem and the way you apply thetreatment. But with patience and perseverance, there’s a good chance you’ll seeat least some difference by usingpeppermint oil to repel roaches.
Hopefully, you’ll see quick results! You can learn moreabout where co*ckroaches hide, how to keep them away for good and lots more inour other articles.
Good luck!
Sources
- Appel, Arthur G. et al. (2001) Repellency and Toxicity of Mint Oil to American and German co*ckroaches. Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Retrieved from https://scentsoc.org/Volumes/JAUE/v18/149.pdf
- Phillips, Alicia Kyser (2009) Toxicity and Repellency of Essential Oils to the German co*ckroach. Auburn University. Retrieved from https://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/1942/thesis%20draft%209.pdf?sequence=1&ts=1424397356350
