Many households rely on strong chemicals to fight pests, never realizing that a simple kitchen staple may offer a quieter solution. Recent home tips point to rice—paired with basic ingredients like sugar or baking soda—as an unexpected tool against roaches and rodents. It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, and far less intimidating than harsh poisons.

For cockroaches, a small portion of cooked rice mixed with sugar and a bit of boric powder can be placed behind appliances and in dark corners. The sweetness attracts them, while the boric element works slowly to reduce their numbers and make those areas less appealing over time. It’s a subtle approach, but one that avoids fumes and complicated traps.

Rodents, on the other hand, are targeted using uncooked rice blended with sugar or cocoa and baking soda. Set along walls and known travel paths, the mixture serves as a gentler alternative to commercial bait. It offers control without the risks that stronger poisons can pose to pets or children.

When combined with simple prevention—peppermint oil, bay leaves, garlic, cucumber peels, thorough cleaning, and sealed entry points—these rice-based methods become part of a bigger strategy. The result is a quieter, cleaner home and peace of mind built from ingredients already sitting in the pantry.