Everybody knows citronella repels mosquitos. Is there any smell or plant that repels cockroaches?

Question:We live in Spain and there are all kinds of sprays etc supposed to repel cockroaches. None of them work. Is there any plant or fragrance that will stop them coming in from the garden to the house?

Answers:
Yes. Here is some info from the book, "Grandmother's Kritter Ridder", by Dr. Myles H. Bader. I bought mine from QVC.

Paraphrased, beginning page 39:

Natural Roach Exterminator:
1/2 pound borax
30 ounces powdered sugar
1/2 ounce cocoa powder
1 ounce sodium chloride (OR sodium fluride from pharmacy)
Mix and sprinkle this bug poison wher problem exists. **Harmful to pets and children. Use with caution**

Bay leaves, cayenne and also cucumber peelings, all repell cockroaches.

A natural repellant to cockraches is catnip. The chemical in catnip is called nepetactone, which is harmless to humans and pets. Leave small sachets of catnip in locations that the cockroaches frequent, you will never see a cockroach. If you make a tea from catnip, allow it to cool and then spray areas.

Instant kill: 1 tablespoon Ivory Liquid Soap into 1 quart of water. Instantly kills a cockroach when sprayed directly.

Baking soda:. In shallow bowl, mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar. **Harmful to pets and small children**

Take a one pound boffee can and place 2 slices of bread in it that have been soaked with beer. Save the lid to dispose of the canned roaches.

Sprinkle boric acid down any cracks or crevices in non-food areas. This is toxic *harmful to children and pets**

Walking the plank. Place protroleum jelly around the rim of jar, place banana in the jar. Place a ramp to the top of the jar (piece of wood or tongue depressor for instance). Roaches climb in but cant climb out.

1 capful of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap in 1 qt of warm water and spray.

2 tablespoons of tasco sauce in 1 qt water for spray.

Roach dough:
combine 1/4 cup of Crisco with 1/2 cup of 10X powdered sugar, 1/4 red onion, 1/2 cup flour and 8 ounces off fresh baking soda. Add waer as needed to prepare a dough like consistency. Make into small balls and leave out for roaches to find.

Wait one hour after dark and vaccume. Place one teaspoon corn starch in vaccume bag. Empty bag.

Hire a Gecko: (the little lizzards). Loose in an apartment, a gecko will rid you of the roaches in 7 -10 days. Remember NO CATS!

I hope I've helped. Let me know it it works!