Cockroaches are notorious for their adaptability and tenacity in almost any environment. If you have a lot of cockroaches, you might wonder if there’s a natural and effective way to get rid of them. Eucalyptus is a plant with a pungent smell known for its many benefits. But does eucalyptus repel cockroaches?
Yes, eucalyptus can repel cockroaches. Compounds in eucalyptus essential oil, like cineole and eucalyptol, kill insects and keep them away. Eucalyptus oil can be a natural insecticide to keep cockroaches away and stop infestations.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at the science behind eucalyptus and how it works to keep cockroaches away from clothes and other things.
What Is Eucalyptus Oil?
Eucalyptus oil is a natural essential oil made from the leaves of eucalyptus trees, which are native to Australia but are now grown in many other places worldwide. The oil has a fresh, camphor-like smell and is often used for many things, such as aromatherapy, cleaning, and medicine.
The primary active components of eucalyptus oil include, among others, cineole, alpha-pinene, and limonene. Eucalyptus oil’s antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties come from these compounds.
It’s important to keep in mind that eucalyptus oil is very strong and should be used with care. Large amounts of oil can be dangerous, so children and pets shouldn’t be able to get to it.
Does Eucalyptus Kill Cockroaches?
No, eucalyptus doesn’t kill cockroaches. Eucalyptus oil may be able to kill insects and keep cockroaches away, but it is unlikely to kill them outright. Some studies have shown that eucalyptus oil can keep mosquitoes away or even kill them, but there isn’t much research on how well it works against cockroaches.
On the other hand, Eucalyptus oil can be an effective component of a more comprehensive plan for managing cockroach infestations. Eucalyptus oil may help reduce the number of cockroaches in your home when used with other methods like good hygiene, sealing cracks and crevices, and getting rid of food and water sources.
How Does Eucalyptus Oil Work Against Cockroaches?
Eucalyptus oil has chemicals like cineole and eucalyptol that kill insects and keep them away. These compounds disrupt the nervous system of insects, decreasing their propensity to approach or remain in a scented area.
As a natural insecticide, eucalyptus oil can be sprayed in places like cracks and crevices, cabinets, and under appliances where cockroaches like to hide. The pungent smell of eucalyptus oil can make these places less appealing to cockroaches and may even kill some insects.
Even though eucalyptus oil might not be enough to get rid of cockroaches on its own, it can be helpful when used with other ways to get rid of cockroaches.
How Do You Use Eucalyptus To Keep Cockroaches Away?
Here are a few ways to keep cockroaches away with eucalyptus:
Eucalyptus Essential Oil Spray
- Put a cup of water and 15–20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a spray bottle.
- Shake the bottle well and spray the solution around cabinets, cracks, and other places where cockroaches like to hide.
- Do this process every day to keep the smell.
Eucalyptus Sachets
You can make sachets out of dried eucalyptus leaves and put them in places where cockroaches like to hide. The smell will help keep the bugs away.
Eucalyptus Oil Diffuser
To spread eucalyptus oil into the air, use a diffuser. This can help keep cockroaches away and make your home smell clean and fresh.
Eucalyptus Cleaning Solution
Mix eucalyptus oil with water and vinegar to make a natural cleaning solution that can help keep your home free of food residue and other things that attract cockroaches.
Is Eucalyptus Oil Effective In Repelling Cockroaches?
There hasn’t been much research on how well eucalyptus oil keeps cockroaches away, but some studies suggest that it may kill and keep them away.
In 2018, a study found that a mixture of eucalyptus oil and lemongrass oil kept German cockroaches away for up to four hours.
Even though these studies are promising, scientists doing more research to find out how well eucalyptus oil works in the real world and against different kinds of cockroaches.
It’s important to note that eucalyptus oil probably won’t be enough to get rid of cockroaches on its own. Instead, it should be used with other methods, such as good hygiene, storing food properly, and sealing cracks and crevices.
What Other Essential Oils Repel Cockroaches?
People think that in addition to eucalyptus oil, a few other essential oils will keep cockroaches away. Here are a few examples:
Peppermint Oil
In recent years, peppermint oil has become more popular as a natural way to kill insects and keep them away. It is thought that its strong smell and active ingredients, such as menthol and pulegone, can kill or scare away a wide range of insects, such as mosquitoes, ants, and cockroaches.
However it needs to be clarified that peppermint oil works as an insecticide, and more research is needed to confirm that it works and is safe to use to get rid of pests.
Lavender Oil
Lavender is a flowering plant with a pleasant smell often used in aromatherapy to help people feel calm. It has also become popular as a natural insecticide because it is said to keep insects away and kill them.
The lavender essential oil has chemicals in it like linalool and linalyl acetate that kill insects, including roaches. However scientists are still looking into how well lavender oil works and if it is safe to use as an insecticide. More research is needed to find out how well it works and if it has any side effects.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a popular essential oil known for killing bacteria and reducing inflammation. But it is also becoming known as a natural insecticide that may work to eliminate cockroaches.
Terpinen-4-ol, the main ingredient in tea tree oil, has been shown to kill many insects. This makes it a promising alternative to chemical insecticides.
Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass oil is a popular essential oil because it smells fresh and citrusy and can be used to treat health problems. It’s also getting more attention as a natural insecticide that might work to get rid of different pests. Citronellal and geraniol, two of the active ingredients in lemongrass oil, have been shown to kill a wide range of insects.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it has been shown that eucalyptus oil is an effective natural way to get rid of cockroaches. It has a strong smell and kills insects, which makes it a popular choice for people who want to avoid using chemical pesticides.
Eucalyptus oil is used to keep cockroaches and other pests away in several ways, such as in sprays, sachets, and diffusers. Studies have shown that eucalyptus oil can kill cockroaches and that its active ingredient, eucalyptol, is poisonous to insects.
Even though most people think it’s safe to use, kids and pets should stay away from it because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
FAQs
References
Totan Adak, Nishant Barik, Naveenkumar Basanagouda Patil, Guru-Pirasanna-Pandi Govindharaj, Basana Gowda Gadratagi, Mahendiran Annamalai, Arup Kumar Mukherjee, Prakash Chandra Rath, Nanoemulsion of eucalyptus oil: An alternative to synthetic pesticides against two major storage insects (Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)) of rice, Industrial Crops and Products, Volume 143, 2020, 111849, ISSN 0926-6690.
