Cockroaches can easily climb on your bed and crawl on you at night when you sleep. Cockroaches like beds with food crumbs in them. There are many ways how you can keep roaches away from your bed.
How to Keep Cockroaches Away: Top 3 Best Solutions in 2024
Below are the top three ways to get rid of roaches and keep them away. For best effect use gel bait or roach traps to get rid of roaches fast and plug in an ultrasonic repeller to keep away all pests for good.
OVERALL WINNER  |
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
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FASTEST  |
Cockroach Gel Bait
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ALSO GREAT  |
Roach Traps
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How to Keep Roaches Away While You Sleep
1. Electronic Pest Repellers
They’re easy to use, eco-friendly, chemical-free and completely safe for humans and pets.
Electric repellers will not kill the pests but will drive them crazy and have them running from your home.
A good example is the Ultrasonic Pest Repeller which has been proven to be very effective in repelling roaches, rats, mice and more. Having this in your room is a sure way of keeping the roaches far away.
Traps and baits leave dead roaches all over your home which can be quite gross. An Ultrasonic pest repeller is a no-mess solution to your pest problem.
The only downside of this repeller is that it takes a couple of days before it takes effect. For faster results use it in conjunction with either a gel bait or a trap to ensure maximum efficiency.
It’s important to note that an electronic repeller can’t be used if you own a pet mouse or other pet rodent.
2. Exterminate Roaches Using Gel Baits
Simply apply the gel into small cracks, edges along the wall and other places where you tend to find/spot cockroaches in your home.
Recommended treatment plan: for heavy infestation apply 3 to 5 small dots of Advion Cockroach Gel Bait per 10 linear feet, for light to moderate infestation apply 1-3 small dots of Advion cockroach gel bait per 10 linear feet.
Each drop of Advion gel bait should be equal to 0.5 grams (approx. ¼” diameter).
Gel cockroach bait is a great solution that works overnight but it can become messy once the cockroaches start dying.
If you have a hard time picking up dead cockroaches you might have to call in the help of a friend or a neighbor.
3. Cockroach Traps
Roach traps are available in different shapes and sizes but results can be expected overnight.
Roach traps are fast, but cockroach gel bait is a better option if you are looking for almost immediate results.
One of the only downfalls of using a roach trap is the fact that it gets quite messy once the roaches start dying.
If you’re afraid of picking up dead cockroaches then it’s a good idea to start looking for a brave friend that is going to help you to clean it up.
4. Spray
Raid Max Ant and Roach Killer kills roaches on contact and it continues to keep roaches away for up to 6 months.
Roach spray is very effective and it is a great option to use if you happen to spot a roach on the loose.
Roach sprays are also ideal if you are trying to reach a roach that is hiding behind a piece of furniture or in a crack.
Roach sprays do have a downside, dead roaches are gross and many of us don’t want to come near a roach even if it is dead.
Roach sprays are also packed with chemicals in order to kill roaches. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly option then it will be better to use other methods to get rid of cockroaches.
5. Seal Up Entry Points
Cockroaches are gross and nobody wants to run into an unwanted cockroach. One way of reducing the number of cockroaches in your home is to ensure that they don’t have any place to enter.
A door stopper is a great way to seal of the space underneath your door to ensure that unwanted cockroaches can’t enter into your home.
This door stopper will also keep out any other unwanted bugs and it will also prevent hot or cold air from escaping during either winter or summer respectively.
These door stoppers are a low-cost way to deal with roaches and a host of other problems.
If you have gaps or cracks in a window or anywhere else that could be a possible home for cockroaches look no further than Gorilla White Sealant. This versatile silicone sealant dries translucent white and it will close off any unwanted spots where roaches could either enter or hide out in your home.
6. Boric Acid
Boric acid is highly toxic to cockroaches and other insects. Boric acid particles cling to the roaches’ body when they crawl through an area that has been sprayed with boric acid.
The boric acid soaks into the body of the roach and it breaks down the internal systems of the bug once it is absorbed into its body.
Boric acid is fairly harmless to humans and household pets including cats and dogs. Boric acid is very effective in killing cockroaches, but it takes 3-4 days before it takes effect and dead cockroaches around the house can be gross and disgusting.
Boric acid insecticide instructions:
- 2 tablespoons of boric acid
- 2 cups of sugar
- 1 cup of water
Spray the boric acid mixture in cracks and other areas where you have seen cockroaches in and around your home. The sugar will attract roaches and other insects and the soluble boric acid will take care of the rest.
7. Essential Oils
Another way to effectively repel roaches without causing any harm or discomfort to yourself is the use of essential oils.
Though you may love the smell of some of these oils, roaches and other bugs just can’t understand what you love about them because they absolutely hate the smell of it!
Spraying your room and around your bed with a mix of one cup of water, 10 drops of pure 100% peppermint oil and 8 drops of cypress oil will permeate your space with a fragrance that may make you feel relaxed. But, believe me, relaxed is the last thing the roaches that were planning to come pay you a visit will be.
That smell will make it clear to them that you are a bad host and that they are not welcome to spend the night.
8. Don’t Eat in Your Bedroom or Leave Dirty Dishes Standing Around
Cockroaches are scavengers and they love messy dirty areas because chances are that they will find food in such areas. If you are serious about keeping roaches out of your bedroom avoid bringing food into your room.
Crumbs and other food, as well as dirty dishes, are a no-no in the bedroom.
9. Keep Your Room Clean and Do Not Keep Any Garbage There
Cockroaches are attracted to dirty cluttered areas. Roaches will struggle to find a ‘home’ in your bedroom if your room is neat. Dirty rooms and full garbage cans attract roaches are also a no-no.
10. Call a Pest Management Professional
If your roach problem is really bad and nothing else works or you just don’t want to deal with it by yourself you’re going to have to call in a professional.
Can Cockroaches Climb?
Oh yes, they can! Because of its claws, it will climb almost any surface with ease. It will only find it difficult to climb very smooth surfaces like glass because it will struggle to get a good grip.
Do Cockroaches Climb Beds?
I wish I could tell you otherwise but roaches can climb your bed with ease.
There is no part of your bed it won’t be able to climb unless that part is made of very smooth glass.
Do Cockroaches Crawl on You at Night?
Roaches won’t crawl on you while you sleep on purpose, but it is definitely possible for this to happen. Roaches are active at night and if your bed is on their intended path it is very possible that they can crawl over you during your sleep.
Roaches are attracted to damp areas, it is more likely that they will crawl over your toothbrush if you leave it out on a wet countertop next to the basin. Make sure to clean countertops at night and cover up items such as a toothbrush.
Bay Leaves Roaches Myth
The smell of bay leaves does repel roaches. Roaches are irritated by the smell of bay leaves and they will avoid areas where the smell is present. Cockroaches and bay leaves aren’t a myth but do keep in mind that it only repels the roaches, it doesn’t kill them.
Simply put a couple of bay leaves in areas where roaches are spotted in order to repel them. Bay leaves can also be crushed to form an easy to sprinkle powder repellant. Give the bay leaves a go if you are seeking a safe, natural roach repellent.
How to Prevent Cockroaches in Bedroom
The first thing to do is to make your room unwelcome for them. Clean out any food or water sources around your room. Ensure your room is sparkling clean and free of wall cracks and other crevices they will love to call home.
If you must store food in your room, ensure that it’s in an airtight container.
If you have a fridge in your room, be sure the seal around it is tight. This will prevent the smaller roaches from getting into the fridge and hiding there in the midst of plenty of food.
With your room clean, free of food and water sources and also free of cracks and crevices where they can hide, you will have little to no presence of these bugs.
Note however that your clean room may not be enough to stop a traveling roach from passing through your room and over your leg or even body (shudders) on its way in search of food.
Methods described above will help you to keep cockroaches away.
FAQ
Do Cockroaches Like Beds?
Roaches love messy beds with lots of food crumbs in them! Roaches like clutter. If your bed is clean, free of clutter and you don’t eat in it, they won’t like it too much. Cockroach might just walk over it in its search for food.
Do Roaches Hide in Mattresses?
It is very possible for a cockroach to hide in your mattress. But before you freak out, let’s take a closer look at the facts. If your bedroom is clean and you don’t keep any food or dirty dishes in your room it is highly unlikely that they will seek shelter in your mattress.
The use of a plastic mattress cover with a zipper is a great way to ensure that roaches don’t enter your mattress. If you do struggle with roaches in your home I would highly recommend the use of a mattress cover.
Are Cockroaches Attracted to Light?
Cockroaches are definitely not attracted to light. They prefer the dark but over time they get used to their natural surroundings which is why you will spot them during the day.
If you do see a roach during the day it could also indicate that their previous food source is exhausted and that they are looking for a new ‘home’.
Do Cockroaches Like Light or Dark?
Cockroaches are nocturnal and they prefer to be active in the dark. But they do adapt to their surroundings with time and it isn’t uncommon to spot a roach during the day.
Will Keeping Lights on Keep Roaches Away?
Not exactly! When you turn the light on and see cockroaches running away, they are not running from the light but from the threat the light represents.
The light just tells them that a creature that detests them is around so they run.
Do Cockroaches Sleep?
Yes, cockroaches do sleep, but they don’t sleep during normal human sleeping hours. Cockroaches follow a circadian rhythm similar to that of humans, the only difference being that their active time tends to be the same as our sleeping time.
Researchers have concluded that the activity cycle of a cockroach is made up out of 3 stages. The 3 stages include a period of locomotion, a period of limb or antennae movement and a period of immobility. The immobility period of a roach can be equated to sleeping.
Roaches tend to become active roughly about 4 hours after dark (i.e normally the time that humans go to bed). This active period is followed by the immobility (sleeping) period which starts around the time that most humans wake up.
Conclusion
So, how to keep roaches away from bed while you sleep?
So now you know that roaches have no trouble to climb on your bed and they certainly can crawl on you at night too. Especially if your bed is a mess or you have been eating there. That’s exactly what they like and look for.
The fastest way to get rid of roaches is to use gel bait or roach traps. However, these two solutions might not keep cockroaches away.
If you wish to never see these unwanted visitors and other pests, plug in ultrasonic pest repellers at the same time you set up the bait or traps.
The combination of these solutions will keep roaches away from your bedroom and house for good.
Good night!
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I am absolutely terrified of roaches. I do have a cat! Would having my cat sleep in my room keep a roach out of my room?
Your cat might catch and play with it… But I wouldn’t count on it. There are far better ways to get rid of roaches