How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in an Apartment (DIY Tenant Guide)

Finding a roach in your apartment is like discovering your neighbor's cat has been using your laundry basket. Unexpected. Uninvited. And just gross. Whether you're renting a studio in the city or sharing a two-bedroom with roommates who think “cleaning” means pushing crumbs behind the toaster, cockroaches don’t discriminate. They’ll move in like they’re paying rent.

But don’t panic—this guide is your DIY roadmap to getting rid of cockroaches in an apartment once and for all. No need to call in hazmat suits (yet). We’ve got natural tricks, store-bought traps, and some surprisingly satisfying tactics to fight back.

Why Are Roaches Even Here?

Before we dive into the eviction plan, let’s understand the enemy. Roaches are after three things: food, water, and shelter. Your apartment offers all three in abundance, especially if you’re into midnight snacking and “washing dishes later.”

Crumbs, leaky pipes, cardboard boxes—they love it all. And in shared buildings, once one apartment has them, others can quickly follow. Think of roaches like bad gossip: they spread fast and stay too long.

Step 1: Attack the Source – Clean Like You're Expecting Royalty

Let’s start with the obvious but often ignored: cleaning. Really cleaning. Like move-the-fridge kind of cleaning.

Here’s your battle checklist:

• ✅ Wipe down all counters and tables (yes, even that one you only use for piling mail).

• ✅ Sweep and mop floors daily for a week.

• ✅ Take out the trash every single day.

• ✅ Store food in airtight containers. Roaches are Olympic-level bag chewers.

• ✅ Fix leaks under sinks and around toilets. They love moisture like we love coffee.

Pro tip: Don’t leave pet food out overnight unless your cat is also trained to fight roaches.

Step 2: DIY Roach Control That Actually Works

Alright, here comes the fun part—setting the traps. Not the fancy ones with Bluetooth and LED lights. Just simple, effective, DIY tricks.

🟢 Baking Soda & Sugar Mix 

Roaches have a sweet tooth and zero common sense. Mix equal parts baking soda and sugar, and place it in shallow lids near suspected entry points. The sugar attracts them, the baking soda ends them. Boom. Science.

🟢 Potato & Boric Acid Balls 

Mash a cooked potato with a tablespoon of boric acid. Roll into small balls and leave them behind the fridge, under the sink, or wherever you’ve spotted the critters. Just keep away from pets and kids—this isn’t a new Pinterest snack.

📦 Jar Trap

Take a mason jar, line the inside with petroleum jelly, and drop in some banana peel as bait. Roaches climb in, but the slippery walls make sure they don’t climb out. It’s the DIY version of a roach nightclub—great entry, no exit.

Step 3: Seal the Deal (Literally)

Once you’ve started killing them off, make sure no new ones show up for the funeral.

• Use caulk to seal gaps around pipes and baseboards.

• Install weatherstripping under doors.

• Cover drain openings at night with rubber plugs or metal mesh. Some roaches literally crawl out of your sink like horror movie extras.

If your apartment has vents shared with other units, ask your landlord to inspect and seal them. Otherwise, you might just be playing roach ping-pong with the guy upstairs.

Natural Remedies: Helpful or Hype?

Let’s bust a myth real quick:
No, cinnamon doesn’t kill roaches. But it might confuse them, kind of like us trying to use TikTok.

Other natural approaches that do help:

• Bay leaves: Smell nice and deter roaches. Scatter in pantry corners.

• Diatomaceous Earth: Sprinkle in dry areas where roaches roam. It's like walking on broken glass—for them.

• Essential Oils (like peppermint and eucalyptus): Roaches hate them. Humans (mostly) love them. Mix a few drops with water and spray around baseboards.

They won't wipe out an infestation on their own, but they're great as long-term repellent tools once you've cleared the bulk.

Living With Roommates? Here's the Hard Truth

One clean room in a dirty apartment is like brushing one tooth. You all have to be on board. Print out this guide. Host a cleaning night. Offer cookies (sealed, of course). Just get everyone involved, or you’ll be doing this same battle again next month.

True Story Time: The Blender Buffet Incident 🌀

So, one of us (again... not naming names) thought it’d be smart to leave a protein smoothie in the blender overnight. Lid half on. Just a “quick rinse tomorrow” situation.

By morning? Roach rave. They must’ve sent out invites because it looked like a tiny insect brunch buffet—some in the blender, some just hanging on the counter like they were waiting for mimosas.

The worst part?
One was stuck inside the measuring cup, just floating.
Looking smug.
Like it knew it beat the system.

Moral of the story: Roaches don’t sleep.
If you leave it out, they’ll show up.
And they don’t care if it’s “just for the night.”
Clean your kitchen before bed like you’re expecting a health inspector—with six legs.

Final Thoughts: Tenants vs. Roaches – You Can Win

You don’t need a flamethrower or a pest control van parked outside your building to get rid of cockroaches in an apartment. Just consistency, a little creativity, and maybe a dash of vengeance.

Your apartment should feel like your space—not a low-budget bug hotel. Start with cleaning, seal the cracks, lay the traps, and don’t give them an inch. You got this.

Quick FAQs

Can I get rid of roaches without calling a professional?
Yes! If the infestation isn’t out of control, DIY methods like bait traps, boric acid, and sealing entry points can do wonders. Just be consistent and aggressive (like a grandma chasing pigeons off her balcony).

Do roaches only come out at night?
Mostly, yes—but if you’re seeing them during the day, it usually means there's a lot of them and they’re desperate. Time to step up your game and reclaim your space.

👉 Bookmark this page, share it with your fellow apartment dwellers, and if you win the battle—celebrate by leaving a single sugar cube as a trophy.
Just kidding. Don’t do that. They’ll come back.