Cockroach control is the biggest problem that almost everyone faces in modern homes. The problem of persistent cockroaches is very common in households. The peculiar feature of this insect is that it has the ability to survive in all types of weather conditions. This pest can invade any area of your home. This includes your bathroom, kitchen, and other living areas as they look for food. They multiply quickly and intensify the problem.
If your home is infected by these cringe-worthy critters and wants to get rid of them then it is best to prevent them from convenient access to water, food, and shelter. These are the main things that attract them to your property. In this article, we will share with you some easy prevention tips to keep your place free from any infestations.
What are Cockroaches?
Roaches remain active throughout the year. They are dark-coloured insects that are found mostly in laundry rooms, kitchens, and basements. On average, roaches can be anywhere from half to three inches in length. These insects come out at night time in search of shelter, water and food.
They prefer to hide away in dark, isolated and protected spots all around the home. They are drawn to places where they find warm, and humid climates. They can run at a fast pace and often fly when alarmed.
The biggest threat associated with this insect is that it is capable of carrying a minimum of 33 different kinds of bacteria, six different types of parasitic worms, and seven other types of human pathogens. They will leave their droppings usually in pantries and basements. They also lay eggs and multiplies quickly. Cockroaches can exacerbate asthma, and allergies especially in kids and people in populated cities. They carry bacteria that result in food poisoning, allergies, skin rashes and diarrhea. In huge numbers, they can even produce a bad smell.
Types of Cockroaches
Cockroaches come in many types, each with distinct features and habitats. The most common household invader is the German cockroach, known for its small size and rapid breeding. The American cockroach is much larger and often found in warm, damp areas. Oriental cockroaches, also called water bugs, prefer cool, dark spaces like basements. Belonging to the insect order Blattodea, cockroaches also include outdoor species like the Pennsylvania wood cockroach and the Florida woods cockroach, which typically live in wooded or moist environments and rarely infest homes. Understanding these types can help you choose the right method to control or eliminate them.
To get rid of them, it is important to learn about the different types of prevention methods to prevent an infestation. Proper storage of food, and regular cleaning are some of the effective ways to deal with the problem. The sooner you start, the quicker you can prevent their threat to your health and threat.
Cockroach life cycle
The cockroach life cycle consists of three main stages:
- Egg,
- nymph, and
- adult.
Female cockroaches produce egg cases called oothecae, each containing multiple eggs. Once hatched, the young nymphs emerge as smaller, wingless versions of adults. As they grow, nymphs molt several times, shedding their exoskeletons to develop into mature cockroaches. This process can take a few weeks to several months, depending on the species and environmental conditions. Cockroaches reproduce rapidly, and a single female can produce hundreds of offspring in her lifetime, making early control essential to prevent infestations.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Home?
There are several methods to eliminate roaches. We are here discussing a few of the successful strategies that make your place less hospitable for these nasty bugs. You may also want to watch this useful video on how to get rid of cockroaches in your home –
Now, let’s start exploring some effective ways to control cockroach infestation.
1. Identify Cockroach Infestation Issue
Before you implement any cockroach control method, it is advised to examine the home for possible cockroach infestation. Use a flashlight to find popular hiding spots of cockroaches. This includes the backside of the refrigerator, beneath the sink, crevices in shelves and cabinets, bathroom cabinets, closet door corners, and closets.
Use cockroach glue strips to find out large-sized infestations. Depending on the flashlight inspection, find out the most strategic places to keep strips. Examine those locations for some days to a week. The strips placed in high-traffic locations are going to catch the majority of roaches. Such areas will require maximum treatment.
2. Find what attracts the cockroaches
The process of cockroach control begins with identifying what attracts them more. It has been seen that they are attracted to filth and dirt because they are always looking out for sources of food, water and shelter. Now make an action plan to prevent their access.
- Dirty dishes kept in the sink
- Crumbs on the counters or floors
- Garbage
- Pet food present on the floor
- Excessive moisture
- Leftover food in empty containers or cans
3. Remove Cardboard Boxes and Newspapers
Roaches are fond of cardboard boxes and newspapers. If they find them lying around your home, then they treat it as an invite to your home. They are fond of breeding in such items. It is best to clear all cartons and newspapers out of your home.
4. Maintain proper cleanliness
The easiest method to keep cockroaches out of your place is by keeping the area clean. Ensure that you properly clean your home daily.
- Wash dishes immediately after meals
- Clean spills and crumbs at that instant
- Take out the garbage at the time of going to bed
- Remove grease and oiliness from the stovetop
- Seal food inside the containers
- Regularly mop the floor
5. Block their entry
In order to create a mess in your home, cockroaches should be able to enter your house. They get entry to their homes by crawling in beneath cracks and doors in the foundation of your home. The common ways in which these clever pests enter your home are:
- Cracks
- Crevices
- Holes in pipes and vents
- Hooking a ride onto food items
- Around doors and windows
- Along the roof or foundation
- Attic
- Vents
- Around holes for gas, plumbing and electric lines
It is recommended that you examine these problem locations once a year. On noticing any holes, and cracks, it is important to seal them. Use caulk to seal small holes. For larger holes, foam and steel wool would be perfect. For large openings around attic vents, and chimneys, you can use a thin wire mesh to form a barrier.
6. Use Caulk/Cement To Seal Gaps
Preventing their entry in the home is a very effective step in cockroach control. Gaps are one of the hiding points of cockroaches. In order to prevent their invasion in these areas, you need to seal them using caulk. Fill all gaps between tiles, walls, skirting boards, entry holes, electrical sockets or small crevices with it.
7. Don’t Feed the Cockroaches
Cockroaches are remarkable scavengers. In an urban setting, roaches depend solely on the food human beings leave behind. Their diet comprises of sugar, carbs, and protein. The ideal way to prevent them is to remove potential sources of foods that lie around the business or home.
Do not leave uneaten pet food lying around as it can attract bugs to your place. Use a dog food dispenser to remove food that your pet did not eat. Clean the floor immediately so that cockroaches don’t have quick access to food.
8. Declutter the place
The droppings of cockroaches have pheromone in it. It signals to other bugs that they have located a safe area to survive. The right strategy for the roach control is to keep your home organized. Ensure that there are fewer places for them to hide during the day. Removing excess clutter that includes packaging, piles of old magazines, and newspapers, will prevent the accumulation of cockroach droppings.
9. Liquid Concentrates
There are several products available in the market that can help prevent roach infestation and help with cockroach control in your home. One of them is a liquid concentrate. It is designed to eliminate roaches from the house. Dilute it and spray the liquid into crevices, cracks and other regions where roaches tend to hide. Wipe counters and mop the floor with this solution.
10. Store-Bought Traps
Traps are another device that is easily found in supermarkets. The device uses a bait or a scent to attract roaches. When they enter into the device while investigating the bait, they get caught up in a sticky substance. You need to periodically check the trap to find if cockroaches have got stuck inside it.
11. Store-Bought Baits
Another way to prevent cockroach infestation is by using a store-bought bait. Chemical baits attract cockroaches by hiding insecticide as a food source. Upon ingestion of the insecticide, coaches return to their shells and die. Place these baits closer to sinks, garbage cans and cabinets in bathrooms and kitchens where there is maximum possibility of finding cockroaches.
12. Use a Gel Bait
Another thing that you can do is to place Gel Bait for cockroach control. Such baits are an effective cockroach killer. It comes in tube form. You can apply it beneath your baseboards, crevices, in cracks and locations that are likely to entice roaches. Gel bait is an effective technique to eliminate roaches.
13. Boric Acid
Boric acid is the simplest DIY home remedies to get rid of roaches. It is a chemical combination of boron and water. This substance is present in a toothpaste, and clothing detergent. It is a highly useful roach killer. But care should be taken at the time of applying it. If misapplied, the powder can displace by air and can come in contact with your pets and children. Boric acid is highly toxic and deadly to cockroaches.
Mix equal quantities of three ingredients in a bowl as boric acid, sugar and flour. Prepare dough and make small balls out of it. Place it near those places where you usually find cockroaches roaming in your home. Where the sugar and flour attract the cockroaches, the boric acid destroys them.
14. Call a Licensed Exterminator
Cockroaches are persistent in nature. If you find that the above tried-and-tested DIY solutions aren’t working then you should not wait and take immediate assistance from a licensed and well-trained pest control exterminator.
These specialists treat a cockroach infestation that can help increase safety to its users. They offer very effective ongoing methods to get rid of cockroaches. It also eliminates the requirement to traps that are scattered throughout the home to control the infestation.
15. Inspect and Fix Leakage
Moisture attracts bugs a lot. This is because cockroaches require water for survival. Homeowners who have leakage issues attract bugs. Get them fixed quickly. Inspect the faucets, refrigerators, sinks, and other appliances to ensure there is no leakage in them.
16. Remove liquid
Cockroaches have the ability to survive without for a week or two provided that the food has high moisture content. To prevent them from entering your house in search of water, you should remove standing water sources that include buckets, sinks etc. Cockroaches are greatly attracted to humidity and moisture. They like to live in damp areas. When you eliminate standing liquids, it can make the business/home less appealing.
17. Store food away
Cockroaches are attracted to smell. The smell of food invites them to your place. You can lessen this attraction by properly storing your food. Use airtight containers to store pet food and cereals to lock the smell inside the container.
Discard empty bottles, plastic containers and cans:
Leftover residue in bottles, cans, and plastic containers allure cockroaches. Make sure you put them in the dustbin and keep your home clean. This will stop roaches from transiting from the garbage into your home. For maximized protection, rinse containers thoroughly before you dispose of them.
18. Empty bins regularly for Cockroach Control
Bins are seen to be the prime source of attraction for cockroaches. They offer them a wide range of foods to consume. It is advised to empty your bins daily. It will prevent them to enter your home and breed. Dispose of waste before it overflows the garbage bin. Regular water disposal will prevent the accessibility of food to cockroaches.
Besides food, cockroaches also eat paper, and glue. So, keep it in mind to not keep these items lying here and there in your house. The more difficult you make the food accessible, the more efficiently you can prevent them from entering your house.
19. Maintenance
Ensure that your premise is well maintained. General building maintenance denies the route of cockroaches into and everywhere around the property.
a) Pipes and Drains
Cockroaches love moist and damp areas. So, you can find them mostly near drains, and pipes. It is required that you regularly inspect the area to look for signs of cockroaches. Repair damaged pipes and clear blocked drains as an effective roach prevention measure.
b) Shelves
Cockroaches thrive on wooden shelves. The cracks present in the wood grains provide a fabulous hiding spot. One of the ways to prevent cockroach infestation is to varnish or paint wooden shelves. This closes the crevices and cracks and reduces the areas where a cockroach can hide. You can even consider replacing wood with metal or plastic.
c) Inspect and Process all deliveries
Properly examine all incoming shipments for roaches. Don’t accept cockroach-infested deliveries. Remove corrugated packaging materials from the business quickly. Avoid clutter. Don’t store any supplies beyond thirty days. Processing shipments quickly. It will help reduce risks.
d) Install Pest Monitors
It is easy to get rid of cockroach invasion if you detect it early. Cockroach control becomes easy this way. The most likely place where you can find cockroaches are warm and moist areas. Install pest monitors in those areas to find out the starting levels of an infestation. If you are able to detect cockroaches using the monitor, then contact the pest control provider quickly. It will help you find out the species and recommend adequate control measures.
Conclusion
Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures that remain active at night to obtain water and food. Though they don’t bite you, can spread infections. They can cause a health hazard. If you are tired of these hardy insects in your home, then the above tips will definitely help. It will help eliminate them and keep them out from home. If the above tips fail to prevent cockroach infestation, then take immediate assistance from a professional pest exterminator.
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Cockroach Control – How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Home?