
Are you often visited by cockroaches? Do you hate having to do battle with these quick menaces for the sanctity of your home?
At the moment, circling around tumblr, is an intriguing yet simple method to rid your home of cockroaches – possibly forever – and it wouldn’t cost you a dime. It certainly seems plausible, but whether it truly works or not remains to be seen.
Here is the procedure translated from the Japanese as written on tumblr:
To those who hate cockroaches, here is a way to keep them from entering a typical home.
1) At some time between December and February, fully open all the windows. Open all doors and make one big open space.
2) Turn on all vents and fans to circulate the air everywhere.
3) Leave it for 3 hours at the very least. If possible, overnight is desirable.
After that, you will not have a cockroach encounter. The reason is it kills the cockroach eggs. When the cockroach sees useless eggs it moves to somewhere else. Cockroaches seeking a new house to live in will pass yours by, rarely would they stay.
I tried it.
The logic seems reasonable. By lowering the temperature you may not kill an adult roach but it could prevent eggs from hatching indefinitely. One internet user went on to say that if roaches see an egg that lost its ability to hatch then they will consider the area unsuitable and continue searching for another place to live.
They also stress that it doesn’t eliminate the chance of you encountering a roach completely. There is still what’s known as the “drifter roach” in search of a new home. These roaches will still visit your home just to check it out.
However, upon seeing the eggs rendered sterile in your house they’ll get the hint and keep on looking – or so we hope. I really have to wonder if they’re that gullible, though.
Anyways, it wouldn’t hurt to try and doesn’t cost you anything except time.
That being said, leaving all your windows and doors open for three hours (or more if you want to be sure) can’t be fun. This is especially hard since you have to hang around to guard the place while it’s opened up.
If any of our readers has a roach problem and is willing to put up with the cold, give it a try and let us know! You can use the cockroach index to help monitor possible roach encounter times.
Source: tumblr (Japanese)

We visit Tokuyama’s Cockroach Fest to take on the “Cockroach Encounter”【Photos】
They have teeth in their stomaches! And 6 other fun facts about cockroaches
Here are the best ways to kill roaches, according to Japanese experts, and some ways to avoid
Cockroach-Killer Spider (aka Fighting Nope with More Nope)
All the Joy and Splendor of Finding a Cockroach in Your Home Can Now Be Felt Anytime with Roachbot
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
Licca-chan dolls released in North America for first time in nearly 60 years
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
A Kyoto factory vending machine sells gourmet mystery meals at bargain prices
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Beautiful Ghibli earrings allow you to finally reunite two of the studio’s star-crossed lovers
Japan’s prime minister exchanges Dragon Ball kamehamehas with president of France[Video]
What is Teru Teru Bozu? The tragic history behind the Japanese fine weather doll
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro 2026 Corn Gift to its anime store for Mother’s Day
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Tokuyama Zoo celebrates summer with Cockroach Fest!
Get rid of cockroaches easily with clever Japanese lifehack
Keep cockroaches at bay with Japanese bug-hater’s clever, non-chemical idea
Testing a cockroach trap from a clothing website on our 100-year-old house【SoraHouse】
Thai schoolgirl invents eco-friendly method of roach disposal using 3 simple ingredients
When in Nara be sure to stop by the cockroach memorial statue
Japanese woman shows quick-thinking, marginal courage in clever cockroach-fighting plan【Photos】
Canned Ice Blasts Let You Literally Stop Cockroaches Cold
First new Japanese cockroach species in 35 years discovered by scientists【Photos】
Japanese bug spray maker shows it cares with packaging option with no pictures of gross roaches
Smarter, Better, Faster, Stronger: Roachbot 2.0
Three centipede and cockroach species are newly named and placed under protection in Okinawa
Japan’s “strongest roach killer” is frighteningly effective… We mean FRIGHTENINGLY effective
【Rocket Food】 One Piece Chicken! Cook for Monkey D. Luffy at Home Tonight with this Simple Recipe
Japan’s biggest family restaurant chain now lets you take your leftovers home with you