If you’re looking to kill a cockroach, rubbing alcohol might act as a natural pesticide. Our disgust for cockroaches pushes us to explore all possibilities of killing them in desperation. Therefore, let’s ask ourselves this: does rubbing alcohol kill roaches?
- Yes, rubbing alcohol kills cockroaches
- It does not kill all cockroaches and is selective with its damage
- Every cockroach has a shell that doubles when they wish to breathe. This makes killing it with rubbing alcohol difficult.
Now we know that rubbing alcohol can effectively kill a cockroach. Let’s further explore the possibilities that this reality opens up.
Does rubbing alcohol kill roaches?
Indeed, rubbing alcohol does contribute to killing a cockroach. But, the process may be difficult and time-consuming.
If you wish to make rubbing alcohol your main weapon, you’ll have to repeatedly spray the cockroach until it is completely covered with it. This is the only way that you’ll be able to suffocate the cockroach.
Remember that rubbing alcohol doesn’t simply kill a cockroach at the first contact. The chances are that the first spray will cause the cockroach to flee the zone rendering your method ineffective.
If the cockroach is a moving target (normally), you will get nothing out of spraying rubbing alcohol around except for air full of a toxic compound.
Here’s why you shouldn’t use rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can be a dangerous compound if it is sprayed around. The fumes can get into the air and damage air quality. There are many side effects that humans may face if they come in contact with rubbing alcohol, including dryness, rash, and a headache.
Additionally, inhaling rubbing alcohol can irritate your throat or nose. It can also cause your mouth to dry out.
Another disadvantage of rubbing alcohol is that it is highly flammable. If you spray it in the wrong place, you might cause a fire in the house. That might be a big price in exchange for a failed attempt at killing a cockroach!
Another disadvantage of rubbing alcohol is that it is highly flammable. If you spray it in the wrong place, you might cause a fire in the house.
Since this compound is so explosive, it is possible for the cockroach you sprayed to run behind an electrical appliance and cause a fire. That would kill the cockroach but is likely to damage your home.
This method also requires you to be close to the cockroach and spray it several times before suffocating it. This is only really possible if you could trap the cockroach before spraying it.
And remember, even if you spray one roach with rubbing alcohol, there are still countless other roaches living in a nest somewhere that will remain unaffected. This is why most roach baits are designed to poison the roaches in the nest.
Even if you spray one roach with rubbing alcohol, there are still countless other roaches living in a nest somewhere that will remain unaffected. This is why most roach baits are designed to poison the roaches in the nest.
Therefore, although rubbing alcohol can eventually suffocate a cockroach and kill it, there are numerous far more effective ways to handle the infestation.
Do roaches get attracted to the smell of rubbing alcohol?
You might have stood a chance against those cockroaches if they were attracted to its smell. On the contrary, cockroaches are entirely indifferent to the smell of rubbing alcohol. It doesn’t attract them, nor does it repel them.
Spraying it around the doors and windows will do nothing for you.
Alternative methods of killing cockroaches
We have established that rubbing alcohol is not the best method to kill cockroaches. However, there are some other simpler and fast solutions.
If you don’t want to invest in a commercial pesticide or spray can, you can make your DIY spray by mixing water with dish soap. This will be a much more effective way of suffocating and killing a cockroach.
Another interesting DIY spray would be a mixture of sugar and baking soda. Cockroaches are generally attracted to sweet or starch-heavy foods.
Sugar can act as bait. The cockroach will come to eat the mixture and potentially die because the baking soda will expand in their stomachs.
Other methods may include mixing peppermint oil with water and spraying it in cracks, windows, doors, or crevices. This oil is commonly hated by the cockroach species and will repel them from hiding in these spaces or crossing the area to come inside your home.
Here’s how you can use rubbing alcohol as a last resort
If you’re in terrible need of killing a cockroach urgently and are out of all other options, you can try rubbing alcohol, assuming you can find it. These pesky creatures are fast, sneaky, and like the dark, making it very difficult to trap them.
You can use a DIY trap such as a jar to trap the cockroach before repeatedly spraying it with rubbing alcohol. This will eventually lead the cockroach to its demise through suffocation.
However, we would still recommend this method as a last resort — it just won’t work very well, and doesn’t address your roach infestation. It’s best to call up a professional pest control service if you’re dealing with an infestation, or if you don’t want to spend the money, go for a commercial insecticide spray.
Conclusion: rubbing alcohol kills cockroaches… but ineffectively
The bottom line is that rubbing alcohol does have the capability of killing a cockroach.
When it comes to the different methods of putting a cockroach to rest, rubbing alcohol is not a good one.
It is inefficient, slow, and is likely to tire you out. It may also ruin your home’s air quality.
And you’ll still only have taken care of the roach you see, not the ones you don’t see.
An insecticide can is likely much more effective and quicker. One contact with the spray is likely to kill the cockroach, and potentially damage the nest. Moreover, it’s best not to expose your family to the toxins emitted by rubbing alcohol or the possibility of sparking a fire in your home due to the highly flammable compound.
