How to get rid of rats and cockroaches with rice, An effective and natural home remedy

Most people assume you need expensive exterminators or harsh chemical sprays to eliminate rats and cockroaches. The truth is, you probably already have everything you need sitting in your kitchen. Rice — yes, the same rice you cook for dinner — can become a surprisingly effective tool in natural pest control. When paired with a few common household ingredients, it turns into an eco-friendly, low-cost alternative that works without putting your family or pets at risk.

Here’s how it works, why it’s effective, and exactly how to use it safely in your home.

Why Rice Works in Pest Control

Rice is versatile — not just as food, but as a vehicle for delivering natural pest remedies. Its appeal to both rodents and insects lies in its texture and smell. Cooked rice draws cockroaches, while uncooked rice tempts rats looking for an easy meal. The trick is using rice as bait and combining it with ingredients that target pests internally, disrupting their systems without poisoning the environment.

Cooked rice acts as an attractant. When mixed with boric acid or sugar, it lures cockroaches out from dark hiding spots. Uncooked rice, on the other hand, works best against rats, especially when blended with materials that harden or expand once ingested, leading to effective results without relying on toxic chemicals.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Rice, Sugar, and Boric Acid

Cockroaches thrive in warm, humid places like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. They feed on leftover crumbs, grease, and organic matter. A simple rice-based remedy can draw them out and eliminate them naturally.

What you’ll need:

• Cooked rice (freshly made or slightly leftover)
• Sugar
• Boric acid powder (available at pharmacies or online)

How it works:
The sugar acts as a magnet, attracting cockroaches to the bait. The rice provides bulk and texture, making it easy for them to consume. The boric acid is the key — once ingested, it attacks the insect’s nervous and digestive systems, killing them gradually but effectively.

How to prepare it:

1. Mix equal parts cooked rice, boric acid, and sugar until you get a sticky, moldable paste.
2. Roll small pea-sized balls or drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto small pieces of wax paper.
3. Place the baits in high-activity zones: under sinks, behind appliances, along baseboards, and in dark corners.

Pro tip: Replace the bait every 3–5 days. Cockroaches are drawn to freshness, and stale baits lose their scent quickly. Within a week, you should notice fewer sightings.

How to Get Rid of Rats: Rice with Plaster of Paris

Rats are tougher. They’re intelligent, cautious, and adaptable. But one clever method combines their natural curiosity with chemistry — uncooked rice mixed with plaster of Paris, also known as powdered gypsum.

What you’ll need:

• Uncooked white rice
• Plaster of Paris (found at hardware or art supply stores)
• Optional: cocoa powder or sugar for scent

How it works:
Rats can’t resist the smell of food-like mixtures. When they eat the rice-and-plaster blend, the plaster hardens after contact with water inside their stomachs. This causes internal blockage, leading to a quick but humane result.

How to use it:

1. Mix equal parts uncooked rice and plaster of Paris.
2. Add a teaspoon of cocoa powder or sugar to enhance the aroma.
3. Scatter small portions in lids, shallow dishes, or containers near rat trails — behind appliances, under cabinets, and near garbage bins.

Important: Keep the mixture out of reach of pets and children. Plaster of Paris is not safe for accidental ingestion.

Within a few days, you should notice reduced activity — fewer droppings, less scratching at night, and minimal damage to stored food.

Gentler Alternative: Rice, Sugar, and Baking Soda

If you’d prefer a less aggressive method, baking soda offers a safer option. When mixed with rice and sugar, it becomes a slow but effective way to drive rats away naturally.

Why it works:
When rats eat this mixture, the baking soda reacts with stomach acids, releasing carbon dioxide gas. Since rats can’t release gas naturally, the buildup becomes lethal.

What you’ll need:

• Uncooked rice
• Sugar
• Baking soda

How to prepare:

1. Mix equal parts of each ingredient.
2. Place the mixture in small containers or paper plates around entry points and hiding spots.
3. Replace the bait every few days to maintain freshness.

This method takes a bit longer but is safer for households with pets or young children.

Safety and Practical Tips

Even though these remedies use mostly natural ingredients, safety should still come first.

• Keep baits out of reach. Place them behind furniture, in cabinets, or under appliances where pets and children can’t reach.
• Label your traps. If you live with others, clearly mark bait zones to prevent accidental contact.
• Avoid contamination. Never set traps in food preparation areas. Clean up spills immediately.
• Stay vigilant. Check bait stations every few days and dispose of any dead pests safely using gloves.
• Seal your home. Once you’ve reduced the pest population, close cracks, patch holes, and store food in airtight containers to prevent future infestations.

Extra Natural Deterrents

In addition to rice-based methods, there are several natural repellents you can use to reinforce your defenses:

• Peppermint oil: Soak cotton balls and leave them near entry points. The strong scent drives rodents and insects away.
• Bay leaves: Place dried leaves in cupboards and corners — rodents dislike the smell.
• Cucumber peels and garlic paste: These act as natural cockroach repellents. Leave them overnight in problem areas and replace daily.
• Cleanliness and organization: Regularly vacuum, mop, and wipe down surfaces. Cluttered and dirty spaces are pest magnets.

Why Go Natural?

Most commercial pesticides are filled with toxic compounds that linger in the air and on surfaces long after use. These chemicals can irritate lungs, trigger allergies, or harm pets. Natural remedies like rice-based bait rely on attraction and reaction — not poison — to get the job done.

They’re also budget-friendly. A bag of rice, a small box of baking soda, and a few pantry staples cost less than a single can of bug spray.

The Takeaway

You don’t need to fumigate your home or spend hundreds on exterminators to solve a pest problem. Sometimes, the answer is as simple as combining rice with a few household ingredients. Whether it’s cooked rice bait for cockroaches or uncooked rice blends for rats, these natural remedies are safe, affordable, and surprisingly effective.

With a bit of consistency and care, you can clear your home of pests without toxic fumes or chemicals.

So before you reach for a can of spray, try the rice trick first. You might be surprised by how something so simple — a handful of grains — can restore peace, cleanliness, and comfort to your home.