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If you have a roach problem and need to eliminate cockroaches or other pests in your home, the This Old House Team is here to help. We researched the best roach killers on Amazon and created a buyer’s guide to help you make an educated purchase. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 5 Roach Killers
- Best Application Tools: Advion Pest Control Gel
- Best Roach Trap: Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
- Best For Small Infestations: Raid Roach Gel
- Best Roach Fogger: Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
- Best Multipurpose Killer: Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
Compare Top Roach Killers
| Product | Formula | Application | Works On |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advion Pest Control Gel | Gel | Four 1.06-ounce plunger tubes | German cockroaches |
| Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait | Food and water-attracting | Six bait stations | Cockroaches and their eggs |
| Raid Roach Gel | Gel | One 1.5-ounce squeeze tube | German and American cockroaches |
| Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger | Fog | Three 1.5-ounce spray bottles | Ants, cockroaches, and spiders |
| Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray | Spray | Two 24-ounce spray bottles | Common household pests, including ants, cockroaches, and spiders |
| Product | Formula | Application | Works On |
Best Application Tools: Advion Pest Control Gel
Advion Pest Control Gel
- $26.75
- $35
- 24% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes with a video tutorial
✔ Safe for use in sensitive application sites
✔ Kills German cockroaches
✘ Recommended for use alongside other products, such as cockroach taps
✘ Some customers noted receiving expired products
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews for this product noted that this cockroach gel saved their homes from large roach infestations. Many customers indicated that they had tried everything else with little to no success, but this product ended up being the fast-acting defense they needed. Negative reviews said that they received expired products from the Amazon seller.
Best Roach Trap: Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait
- $57.15
- $65.34
- 13% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Begins working in hours
✔ Comes with a money-back guarantee
✔ Uses advanced liquid bait technology
✘ Most expensive option in this review
✘ Doesn’t penetrate cracks and crevices where roaches may hide
What Customers Are Saying
Reviews noted that this product worked quickly and effectively, with many saying that the roach traps were straightforward to use. Negative reviews we found said that their package was missing some roach traps upon arrival.
Best For Small Infestations: Raid Roach Gel
Raid Roach Gel
- $129.99
- $139.99
- 7% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Most budget-friendly option in this review
✔ Effective for up to 12 months
✔ Customers noted that a little goes a long way
✘ Not powerful enough for large infestations
✘ Only comes with enough product to cover a small room
What Customers Are Saying
Customers noted that this roach killer product was a great value for the money, especially considering that a little bit of it went a long way. Reviews also stated that they saw results within a few days of application. We also noted that some unsatisfied customers criticized this product for not working on Florida roaches. They also said that it had a dry formula that was difficult to squeeze out.
Best Roach Fogger: Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger
- $38.36
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Kills roaches, spiders, and ants
✔ Doesn’t stain any surfaces its fog touches
✔ Doesn’t leave messy, wet residue behind
✘ Pets must be removed from the premises before you fog
✘ Requires extensive preparation work before using it
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers we found highlighted this product’s effectiveness on many bugs, including black widows, ants, and roaches. They also said that it was convenient for killing bugs on a trip. People who were unhappy with this product pointed out that its scent was overpowering.
Best Multipurpose Killer: Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray
- $13.85
- $23.05
- 40% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a quick-dry, fast-acting formula
✔ Formulated for both indoor and outdoor use
✔ Provides long-lasting perimeter treatment control
✘ Customers noted that it wasn’t effective at killing or preventing all insects like it promises
✘ Must be continually reapplied
What Customers Are Saying
Glowing customer reviews praised this product for how easy it was to use and how reasonably priced it was. Our team also found many reviews that highlighted that this product had good longevity. In contrast, negative reviews stated that the newer version of this product had a less effective formula.
Buyer’s Guide
Before buying a roach killer, it’s important to understand how its design and specifications impact its user experience and performance. Here are four factors to we recommend keeping in mind before making a purchase.
Type
Roach killers come in a variety of designs, with the most popular being gels, foggers, sprays, and traps.
Cockroach gel is an effective treatment option for homeowners experiencing minor or major cockroach infestations. Gels, including the Advion Pest Control Gel, are applied to cracks, crevices, and other surfaces in your home where cockroaches are spotted for simple ease of use. They attract cockroaches in the area and kill them after being ingested. While gels are unlikely to harm pets or children, it’s suggested that they’re applied to inaccessible, hard-to-reach areas of the home as a safety precaution.
The cockroach fogger comes in an aerosol can. It sprays a wide-reaching pesticide that settles onto surfaces throughout your home. Roaches are killed when they come into contact with the pesticide droplets. While foggers are affordable and easy to use, users can’t target specific areas like they can with a cockroach gel.
Similar to a fogger, roach sprays produce an insect-killing substance that sticks to surfaces around your home. While roach sprays can cover a large area like foggers, they can also be used for more precise targeting. For example, the Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray lets users spray small four-inch insecticide barriers to areas where cockroaches are commonly found.
A roach trap contains roach-killing bait that lures cockroaches in. While some roach traps hold onto the dead roaches for later disposal, most models like the Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait have poisonous bait that kills the insects on contact. These traps are placed on flat surfaces throughout your home.
Efficacy Length
The amount of time a roach killer is effective for is called its efficacy length. Most killers last for about two weeks. However, this timeframe is a rough estimate because a roach killer that’s used outside to treat a large infestation won’t last as long as a killer that’s used inside to treat a few stray cockroaches.
Some models can last longer than a few weeks. For example, the Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger keeps killing for up to two months after initial application.
Targeted Pests
Some roach killers can also target other pests. For example, the Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray can get rid of roaches, ants, spiders, stink bugs, and centipedes. These multipurpose killers are useful for homes experiencing a wide range of pest problems.
Safety
Most roach killers contain harmful chemicals. If you have small children or pets, take safety precautions, such as applying the killer to inaccessible areas, to prevent accidental ingestion. Some models like the Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait also have an enclosed insecticide to further minimize the risk of contact.
Tips for Preventing Roaches From Entering Your Home
Roaches in the home can be a major headache for homeowners. While roach killers can help you get rid of roaches once they’re already inside, our team has found that taking these steps can combat roaches in the first place.
Matain a Clean Home: Keeping a clean living environment can help keep roaches looking elsewhere. Roaches are attracted to things like food crumbs and spills. Regularly sweep, mop, and vacuum floors, and wipe down countertops and surfaces after meals.
Manage Your Trash: Keep trash in sealed bins and take it out regularly. Roaches can be drawn to the scent of garbage, so properly disposing of waste can help keep them at bay.
Seal Cracks and Gaps: Inspect your home for any cracks or gaps in walls, windows, doors, and foundation. Seal them with caulk or weatherstripping to prevent roaches from finding their way indoors.
Store Food Properly: Keep food in airtight containers made of glass or metal to prevent roaches from getting to them. This prevents roaches from accessing food sources and deters them from settling in your kitchen.
Fix Leaks: Roaches need water to survive, so fix any plumbing leaks promptly. Also, ensure that no standing water accumulates in or around your home.
Reduce or Remove Clutter: Roaches love hiding in clutter in your home, so reducing the amount of unnecessary items stored can be a major help. Keeping clutter manageable can also make cleaning your home easier.
Use Natural Repellents: Certain scents like peppermint oil, catnip, or cucumber can repel roaches. Sprinkle peppermint oil around entry points or place cucumber slices in areas where roaches might enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What attracts roaches to my home?
While most people associate dirty homes with infestations, roaches also enter clean homes to search for shelter and water. Therefore, it’s important to not only keep a clean home, but to also remove sources of excess moisture in your home.
How do roaches get in my home?
Roaches are small insects that can enter your home through holes, baseboards, cracks, and gaps in your home’s structure. They can also enter through open doors or windows. If using roach killers doesn’t solve your roach problem, call in a professional exterminator to help solve the issue.
What are the signs of a roach infestation in my home?
Some common signs of a roach infestation include:
- Droppings
- Smear marks
- Unusual odors
- Egg capsules
Additionally, spotting just one roach in your home could indicate that more are in the surrounding area.
Why Trust The This Old House Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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