How to keep cockroaches away from your home

Cockroach infestations are not just bothersome, they are extremely resilient and adaptable, and hence, removing them becomes difficult. Cockroaches are known to carry and spread diseases by contaminating our food. Their presence also triggers allergies and asthma.

These cringe-worthy critters multiply too fast, which intensifies the problem. So, if you too are tired of sharing your home with these icky critters, then keep scrolling!

This blog shares the top tips to get rid of roaches. But, before we jump into the tips, let’s understand the reasons that attract cockroaches to your home.

Let’s begin!

What brings cockroaches?

Figuring out what attracts cockroaches to your home will help you to remove these things and prevent a cockroach infestation.  Cockroaches crawl into your home for 4 main reasons, which are:

• Food: Any leftover food on the counter, dirty dishes in the sink, crumbs on the floor, and milk left in the jug are things that invite cockroaches.
• Water: Moisture is a lure for cockroaches. Therefore, any source of moisture, either from the leaky pipes to spills in the kitchen, will attract cockroaches.
• Shelter: Cockroaches mostly stay hidden, and therefore they choose to nest in undisturbed places such as gaps and crevices in walls, clutter such as a pile of cardboard or wood.
• Warmth: Cockroaches can be active all year-round. However, summer is preferable for them to thrive and breed. So, in warmer months, more cockroaches will seek shelter. And if your home is warm and humid, it will attract cockroaches.

Gateway to Your Home

Okay, so now we know the reason. But how did they manage to sneak into your home? Well! The most common way for these sly pests to get access to your home and wreak havoc include:

• Hitching a ride onto items
• Cracks and crevices
• Holes in vents and pipes

Prevention

There are lots of ways to remove cockroaches. Listed below are a few prevention tips to make your house less hospitable for these cringe-worthy cockroaches:

• Newspapers & Cardboard Boxes: Roaches love cozy shelters like cardboard boxes and newspapers and breed in these places. Remove these items from your home as they may be inviting cockroaches.
• Remove Clutter: Keep your house clutter-free by removing all the hide-out places for cockroaches so that they no cover to hide. Keep your home is clean and in tip-top shape, and remove all unnecessary items lying around.
• Seal Cracks and Close Gaps: Cracks and gaps give easy access to cockroaches in your home. Look for gaps and cracks along with the foundation or roof, attic, and crawl space vents. Close the electric, gas, and plumbing lines holes. You can also use stripping to caulk the gap around the windows and doors.
• Fix Any Plumbing Issues: Moisture is a bug magnet. Any leaks or water problems in your home, therefore, attract cockroaches and other bugs. If you notice plumbing issues, fix them as soon as possible. Also, inspect the sinks, refrigerators, faucets, and appliances in your home regularly.
• Use baits and traps: Baits uses scent to attract cockroaches and trap them in a gluey material. Some chemical baits are masked insecticides in the name of food. Cockroaches eat them and die. Traps are also useful, but it can take up to 2 weeks to show results. The positioning of the bait and traps also plays a critical role. It should be placed near dirty and undisturbed places such as garbage cans, under cabinets, under sinks, or in places with heavy roach activity.

Wrapping Up

The effectiveness of the above prevention tips depends on the level of the cockroach infestation. Also, cockroaches are extremely resilient, and getting rid is always a challenge. If you suspect a severe cockroach infestation, contact a licensed pest control service to get your home inspected and get rid of cockroaches for good.