Every home has cockroaches. They are one of the most prevalent household pests. Cockroaches are commonplace in homes with urban or apartment dwellers, including bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Infestations of cockroaches may be quite frustrating since they are hard to eradicate without expert assistance. Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to keep them from ever entering your house!
Seal all gaps, cracks, and holes with access outside your home
To prevent cockroaches from entering your home, seal up all gaps, cracks, and holes on the outside of your home. This includes:
- Gaps around doors and windows
- Gaps around pipes and vents
- Electrical outlets, such as strip light circuit breakers or receptacles for electric cords (this will help keep them out of reach).
Keep food sealed
If you’re going to leave food out on the counter or table, seal it in an air-tight container or store it in the fridge. Roaches love to eat the grease that sticks to their bodies, so giving them access to leftover food will cause them to thrive in your home.
Don’t leave food out overnight. Cockroaches are attracted by certain odors as well as fresh foods like bread and meat but not other items such as cheese and milk products—they’re more likely to go after these foods if they’ve been sitting around for a while. Make sure all leftover meals are consumed or stored before calling it a night.
Repair water leaks
Cockroaches are attracted to moisture and water, so fix any leaky faucets or pipes immediately. You can also help keep them away by not over-watering your plants or leaving the faucet running while you’re not home.
Don’t leave pet food out overnight
Cockroaches are attracted to the smell of pet food and will try to get it when you’re not looking. Keep your pet food in sealed containers. Use an air-tight plastic bag for containers that are difficult to seal, instead of leaving it open. Keep your pet food in the kitchen! In addition to being a great place for storing groceries, kitchens also have high humidity levels which make them ideal habitats for roaches.
Clean up right after dinner
Clear the kitchen of dishes, food, and leftovers. Avoid attracting roaches searching for a snack after dinner by never leaving food out overnight. Throw away or recycle all packaging right away, including cans, jars, and boxes, to prevent cockroaches from having a chance to crawl inside while the packings are in storage. Clean up spills by using a damp cloth or sponge.
Practice good sanitation
To prevent roaches from entering your home, you must take care of the food and water sources.
- Remove the food source: Cockroaches are attracted to sweets. Exposing these out in the open will attract them. Cockroaches can see (and smell) food better than humans do.
- Remove the water source: Cockroach eggs hatch into nymphs when they’re exposed to moisture—and there’s always moisture around us even if we don’t realize it. Make sure there aren’t any leaks around pipes or drains in your bathroom; otherwise, those little guys will start breeding up a storm.
- Remove harborage sites: Roaches need somewhere warm and dark where they can hide during cold months.
Keep clutter under control
Cockroaches like to hide in clutter. If you have too much stuff around your home, cockroaches will find someplace to live out their lives without you knowing they’re there. Clean up the clutter regularly and keep things organized.
Keep your home dry and humidity to a minimum
If you have low indoor humidity levels, cockroaches may be attracted to your home. The cooler the temperature is indoors, the less likely cockroaches will find their way in.
Use light-colored surfaces like wood or tile instead of darker ones like brick or concrete when possible; this will help keep moisture levels up so that roaches don’t feel as comfortable within your walls or flooring material. Fix leaky pipes in bathrooms that could lead water into cracks around windows. This can help prevent an infestation from spreading throughout your property.
Get rid of cardboard boxes and keep papers out of the kitchen
Cockroaches love to hide in small spaces. Keep cardboard boxes and other garbage out of the kitchen and make sure there are no crumbs on the floor to attract them.
Keep papers away from food in the refrigerator or freezer. If you have leftover food, put it in an airtight container before putting it back into the fridge. This will prevent cockroaches from getting into those containers as well. For spoilt leftovers, wait until the next day to throw them away. It will be easier on you against unwanted guests who might get tempted by the smell.
Contact a professional exterminator if the infestation is out of control
if cockroaches are infesting your home uncontrollably, it’s time to call a professional exterminator. A professional can help you identify the type of cockroach and give you advice on how to get rid of them and prevent future infestations.
Live Free Without Cockroaches
There are many options for controlling cockroaches at home.
- Professional exterminators are the best option, as they have access to the latest technology and techniques for fighting these pests. They can use a variety of methods from traps to baits, sprays, and chemicals like boric acid or diatomaceous earth (DE).
- If you can’t find a local exterminator near your home, it’s worth considering hiring professionals who work with other kinds of pests like termites or ants instead. These insects share certain similarities with cockroaches including their nesting habits.
It’s never too late to start living free of cockroaches. With these tips, you’ll be able to keep them at bay and keep your home safe from these pests that have been a nuisance for so long.
