Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests, but they don’t just live in homes. They can also be found in restaurants and other commercial buildings.
In fact, cockroaches are believed to have been on Earth for at least 100 million years, so it’s not surprising that they’ve adapted to living with humans.
Although these bugs can spread diseases like salmonella and dysentery through their droppings or by simply biting you, there are several ways to keep them away from your home.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Cockroaches are a common household pest that can be a major health hazard. |
| Preventing cockroach infestations requires maintaining a clean environment, sealing off entry points, and eliminating sources of food and moisture. |
| Effective solutions for cockroach control include natural remedies, chemicals, and professional pest control treatments. |
| Identifying the species of cockroach infesting your home can help determine the best course of action to eliminate them. |
| Building a support system and seeking professional help can help cope with the emotional toll of dealing with a cockroach infestation. |
Spray Your House
It is important to use a spray that is effective against cockroaches. Spray the areas where you have seen them, as well as any places they may travel.
You want to make sure and spray under sinks and behind appliances as well, since these are where they like to hide during the day. You may want to reapply the spray once or twice a week if there is still activity around your house.
If you’re looking for effective ways to control cockroach infestations in your home, check out our guide on Cockroach Control: Natural Remedies vs Chemical Pesticides. This article provides a comprehensive review of natural and chemical pest control methods, helping you decide which option is best for your situation.
Seal All Cracks
The most important step to take is sealing all cracks and crevices around windows and doors. Use caulk or sealant to plug holes, especially in the corners of door frames.
When applying the sealant, use a toothpick to get into all those hard-to-reach places. In addition, use your flashlight when walking around your home looking for cracks in walls, floors and ceilings that need to be sealed.
| Location | Sealant Material |
|---|---|
| Windows | Silicone caulking |
| Doors | Weatherstripping |
| Attic and basement spaces | Expanding foam |
| Foundation cracks | Hydraulic cement |
| Plumbing and electrical pipes | Expanding foam or silicone caulking |
Fix Leaks
If you have a leak in your home, it can be a source of food and water for roaches. Leaks are also a source of moisture that attracts bugs.
A leak can come from anything: pipes, faucets, toilets…etc., so try to fix as many things as possible in your home before moving on to other methods of getting rid of roaches.
Are you tired of having unwanted cockroach guests in your home? Visit our guide on 15 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Your Home for practical tips and tricks to eliminate them for good. From using boric acid to keeping a clean home, there’s a solution here for everyone.
Clean Your Home
- Don’t leave food on the kitchen countertop.
- Keep your home clean and tidy to stop cockroaches from hiding places.
- Clean up any spills immediately, especially if they’re in high traffic areas and near the corners of walls or cabinets (cockroaches love those dark spots).
- Vacuum your floors regularly, especially under furniture where you can’t see all the crumbs that are accumulating!
- Wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth or spray glass cleaner to remove grease and fingerprints from door frames, baseboards and around sinks etcetera.
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Sweep and mop floors | Once a week |
| Vacuum carpets | Once a week |
| Wash bedding | Once a week |
| Dust surfaces | Twice a month |
| Wash dishes | Daily |
| Take out trash | Daily |
| Clean countertops and appliances | Daily |
| Scrub toilets and showers | Once a week |
| Wipe down bathroom surfaces | Daily |
Use Boric Acid
If you’re tired of cockroaches in your home, you’re not alone. Cockroach infestations are common in both residential and commercial properties worldwide.
While it’s important to take steps to prevent a cockroach infestation from happening in the first place, there are also steps that can be taken when an infestation occurs.
Boric acid is one such step that can be used to keep cockroaches away by killing them or preventing them from reproducing.
Boric acid is made up of boron and oxygen—two elements that are essential for life on Earth but toxic when combined with other substances.
This makes boric acid effective at killing cockroaches because it interferes with their ability to carry out vital functions such as eating and reproducing.
When applied correctly, this substance will kill most adult roaches within 24 hours without posing any danger to pets or humans who come into contact with it (though some people may experience mild skin irritation).
Boric acid should always be used together with other methods of prevention so as not only keep your property free from bugs but also treat any existing ones quickly if they do show up!
Cockroach infestations can pose serious health risks to you and your family. That’s why it’s crucial to take preventative measures to keep them out. Check out our article on The Dangers of Cockroach Infestations, and How to Prevent Them for helpful tips on how to keep your home roach-free and avoid potential health hazards
Get Rid of Food Sources
You can also keep cockroaches away by getting rid of the food sources they need. The following are some tips to help you get started:
- Keep your food in sealed containers and store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Keep your food in airtight containers when storing it at room temperature, and clean up crumbs and spills immediately so that they don’t attract roaches later on.
- Remove all food from countertops, cabinets and other places where it might be accessible by cockroaches (such as near sinks or drains).
- Make sure that there is nothing edible lying around for these insects to consume; whether it’s alive or dead won’t matter—the fact remains that these creatures will eat just about anything!
Trash It Properly
Keep your trash can clean. Cockroaches are attracted to the smell of food, so make sure you empty your trash can as soon as you finish eating.
If a cockroach gets into the trash, it will crawl around the kitchen and spread its pheromones that attract other roaches. This is why it’s important to keep all food-related items away from the sink, like plates and glasses.
Don’t leave dirty dishes for too long in or near the sink. While water is fine for cleaning fruit or vegetables, don’t use it on meat or dairy products because they will put off smells that will attract cockroaches (and not just in your kitchen!).
Dishes left overnight may also give off an unpleasant odor when they’re next used again.
Not all cockroaches are created equal, and identifying the species infesting your home can help you determine the best course of action to eradicate them. Learn more about The Most Common Species of Cockroaches Found in Homes through our informative guide, which covers the characteristics, habitats, and behaviors of the most prevalent species found in North America
Pay Attention to Humidity Levels
When it comes to keeping cockroaches away, humidity is the key. Cockroaches love high humidity and will seek out areas of your home that have a higher level of moisture.
If you want to keep them at bay, try increasing the amount of moisture in your home by running the air conditioner or keeping a dehumidifier in your basement (you can also use fans). This will increase their chance of survival and keep them from becoming pests in your house.
Get Rid of Cardboard Boxes
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes in your house.
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes outside.
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes in the garage.
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes in the basement.
- Don’t leave cardboard boxes in the attic.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a powder made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae.
It’s been used for centuries to control pests in homes, gardens and farms. While it can be dangerous to humans, when applied correctly diatomaceous earth is one of the most effective natural methods for getting rid of cockroaches.
Because roaches breathe through their exoskeletons and have sensitive respiratory systems, they’re particularly susceptible to this organic insecticide.
Diatomaceous earth works by cutting open their bodies with its sharp edges, causing them to die quickly but without suffering any pain or discomfort.
It also has no odor or taste so your family won’t even know it’s there—and since it’s made from natural materials (rather than chemicals), you don’t need to worry about harmful side effects either!
Preventing cockroaches from entering your home is much easier than dealing with an infestation. Our guide on How to Keep Cockroaches Out of Your House offers a variety of useful tips and strategies to keep these pesky insects at bay. From sealing off entry points to keeping a tidy home, follow these tips to prevent a roach infestation from ever occurring.
Try Bay Leaves
If you want to get rid of cockroaches naturally, try using bay leaves. You can use them on countertops or in cabinets and drawers.
Bay leaves will repel the roaches when they walk by the scent. Remember, if you’re going to use bay leaves in your kitchen pantry or drawers, make sure that there are no other food items nearby for them to get into (like flour).
Inspect Groceries Before Bringing Them Home
Checking your groceries before bringing them home is a great way to keep cockroaches away. You can do this by checking the packaging of non-perishable food items, such as cereal or chips, by shaking each item and looking for evidence of cockroach eggs.
If you see an egg sac or if there are any dead cockroaches in your bag (and I mean all of them), don’t buy that product.
The same goes for perishable items as well—if you see even one live roach in your grocery store or on top of the bagged vegetables at the checkout line, put those back and get something else instead!
This step is especially important if you live in an apartment building where many different people have access to communal storage areas like garbage rooms and laundry facilities; these places will often attract large numbers of roaches that feed off scraps left behind by humans living nearby.
Keep the Drains Clean & Dry
When it comes to preventing cockroaches, one of the first things you should do is make sure that your drains are clean and dry. If there’s water in the drain, it can provide a breeding ground for cockroaches.
To prevent this from happening, put a strainer over the drain to catch food particles and other debris before they can clog up your drain.
You can also use chemical drain cleaners or vinegar or baking soda if you have clogs. Even if you don’t have any clogs, these methods will help prevent them from forming down the line!
Another way to keep drains clean and dry is by using a plunger every three months or so: just plunge away until no more gunk comes out of your pipes!
Conclusion
If you want to get rid of cockroaches in your home, you have to be committed to doing it. You can’t just expect that one or two steps will do the trick because sometimes they don’t!
You also have to have realistic expectations about what kind of work needs done and how much time it will take before seeing results.
Further Reading
How to Get Rid of Roaches in Your Home: This comprehensive guide offers a range of effective strategies to eliminate cockroaches from your home, including traps, sprays, and DIY solutions.
How to Keep Roaches Away: This guide provides practical tips and advice on preventing cockroach infestations, such as keeping a clean home, sealing entry points, and monitoring for signs of roach activity.
7 Remedies That Prevent Cockroaches and Bugs in Kitchen: This article offers natural remedies to prevent cockroaches and other bugs from invading your kitchen, such as using lemon, vinegar, and cinnamon.
FAQs
What are the health risks associated with cockroach infestations?
Cockroach infestations can lead to a variety of health problems, including allergies, asthma, and the spread of diseases such as salmonella and E. coli.
How can I tell if I have a cockroach infestation?
Signs of a cockroach infestation include droppings, egg casings, a musty odor, and visible sightings of roaches.
What are some natural remedies for getting rid of cockroaches?
Natural remedies for eliminating cockroaches include diatomaceous earth, boric acid, and essential oils such as peppermint and lavender.
What should I do if I find a cockroach in my home?
If you find a cockroach in your home, it’s important to act quickly to prevent a potential infestation. You can use traditional traps or bait, or opt for natural remedies like sticky traps and essential oils.
How can I prevent cockroaches from entering my home?
To prevent cockroaches from entering your home, keep a clean environment, seal off entry points like cracks and crevices, and eliminate sources of moisture and food. Regular inspections and professional pest control treatments can also help keep roaches at bay.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
