Okay, so I saw this thing online about using tea tree oil to deal with cockroaches. I live in an old apartment building, and let’s just say those little guys are always trying to move in. I’m not a fan of harsh chemicals, so I figured, why not give this natural stuff a shot?

Getting Started

First, I got myself some pure tea tree oil. You can find it at most health food stores or online. Make sure it’s 100% pure, not some diluted version.

Mixing it Up

Next, I grabbed a spray bottle – a clean, empty one, of course. I poured in about a cup of water and then added like 10-15 drops of the tea tree oil. You want it to be strong enough to smell, but not overpowering. I shook the bottle really well to mix everything up.

The Hunt (or, the Waiting Game)

Now, the not-so-fun part. I sprayed this mixture in all the usual cockroach hangouts: under the sink, behind the fridge, along the baseboards, in the dark corners of the cabinets… basically anywhere I’ve ever seen one of those creepy crawlies.

• Under the sink
• Behind appliances
• Along baseboards
• Inside cabinets

Did it Work?

Honestly, it took some time. I didn’t see dead roaches immediately. But, over the next few days, I noticed a few things. First, I saw fewer roaches overall. It was like they were avoiding the areas I sprayed. Second, the ones I did see seemed… slower? Less lively? That tea tree oil stuff really messes them up, making their shells all messed up and making them dry out. I even found a couple of dead ones, which, gross, but also, victory!

I kept spraying the mixture every few days, just to keep the scent strong and make sure any new visitors got the message. It’s been a few weeks now, and I can definitely say my cockroach problem is way down. It’s not a magic bullet, you still have to keep things clean, but the tea tree oil definitely helped me win the battle!