What kills cockroaches instantly?

What kills cockroaches instantly on direct contact includes several household products and commercial sprays, but instant kill of visible roaches alone does not eliminate colonies and can cause scattering if used without baits. For instant contact kill, commercial roach killer sprays containing pyrethroids like bifenthrin, permethrin, deltamethrin, or cypermethrin kill cockroaches within seconds to minutes when sprayed directly, as do many all-purpose cleaners containing ammonia. Household products that kill instantly include soapy water made from one tablespoon Dawn dish soap and one quart water sprayed directly, which breaks down their waxy outer coating and suffocates them within seconds, 91 percent isopropyl alcohol sprayed directly which dissolves their exoskeleton, Windex or glass cleaners due to ammonia, and bleach undiluted sprayed directly which can kill on contact but is corrosive to plumbing and not recommended for drains. Boiling water poured directly on roaches kills instantly though rarely practical. Hairspray can immobilize quickly. However, pest control professionals warn that instant kill methods are not effective for long-term control of German cockroaches and American cockroaches because colonies contain hundreds including nymphs and egg cases hidden in wall voids and under appliances, and killing only visible adults does not stop reproduction, plus repellent sprays cause scattering where surviving roaches move to other areas. Best approach for permanent control is to combine immediate wipe-down with soapy water to remove trails and slow-acting gel baits containing fipronil or indoxacarb that roaches carry back to kill colony within days to weeks.