Cockroaches are a common pest found in many homes. They usually enter homes through small cracks and crevices, but they can also be brought inside by packages or groceries.
Cockroaches are most active at night, so it’s best to look for signs of them during the day when you’re home.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Keep your home clean and free of clutter to reduce the risk of cockroach infestations. |
| Use natural methods, such as boric acid and diatomaceous earth, to get rid of cockroaches when possible. |
| Fill in any gaps or cracks around doors and windows to prevent cockroaches from entering your home. |
| Keep food storage areas clean and free of crumbs to reduce the risk of attracting cockroaches. |
| If you’re experiencing an infestation, consider calling in a professional pest control service. |
Don’t Leave Food Out In The Open
Cockroaches are attracted to food and can eat through plastic and glass containers. Make sure you close them tightly when they aren’t in use, or put them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Cockroach populations have been known to grow in basements, where they can live behind walls, under floors or inside pipes.
If you see cockroaches around the perimeter of your home, check these areas first (in addition to other potential hiding places) before treating your kitchen area with baits or sprays.
Looking for a natural solution to your cockroach problem? Our guide on natural remedies vs. chemical pesticides can help you decide which method is best for keeping your home pest-free.
Store Food In Airtight Containers
Next, make sure your food is properly stored. Cockroaches can survive on almost anything from grease to crumbs, but they have a preference for sweets and starches. If you’re storing cookies or crackers, make sure the containers are airtight.
Also cover bowls of cereal with plastic wrap before putting them in the cupboard—this will keep out any roaches that may be lurking around!
If you don’t have access to plastic wrap or other similar packaging materials, try replacing your paper bags/boxes with glass jars—it’s a much more effective way of keeping your food safe from roaches.
If you live in an apartment building where there is no central heating system (and thus no exhaust vents), it would also be wise not to leave food out for more than an hour at a time; otherwise those pesky critters could easily find their way into your home through cracks in floors and walls!
| Benefits | Examples |
|---|---|
| prevents cockroaches from accessing any food sources | mason jars, Tupperware containers, plastic bags with zipper seals |
| makes it harder for cockroaches to detect food sources | glass containers with fitted lids, plastic containers with snap-on lids, metal cans with tight-fitting lids |
| can help keep food fresher for longer | vacuum-sealed containers, airtight canisters, ziplock bags with air valves |
Keep Pet Bowls Filled With Water Inside
One of the reasons cockroaches are attracted to our homes is that they’re looking for water. They’ll travel through almost any part of your home to get to it, which means they can end up in places you might not expect—like your bedroom or kitchen.
Avoid this problem by keeping pet bowls filled with water inside. While it’s true that cockroaches love stagnant water and dirty dishes, the presence of a bowl will attract them less than leaving dishes out on the countertop or sink.
Sweep Up Crumbs
Sweeping up crumbs daily is a good habit to get into. Cockroaches will eat almost anything, so it’s best to keep food out of reach at all times.
If you have crumbs lying around on the floor, sweep them up with a broom and put them in your trashcan. Don’t sweep up crumbs with a vacuum cleaner because they’ll just get sucked back out again when you turn it off!
Don’t let a cockroach infestation put your household at risk. Learn about the dangers of cockroach infestations and how to prevent them with our informative guide.
Fill Cracks In Cabinets, Walls And Floors
Caulk is ideal for large cracks that are more than an inch wide. Use putty for holes smaller than 1/4 inch and steel wool for holes smaller than 1/4 inch.
To fill small holes, use a pipe cleaner or even a matchstick end to distribute the putty evenly over the surface. After filling each hole with the appropriate material, smooth it down with your finger until no rough edges remain visible (and make sure you’ve gotten all of them!).
Heat up steel wool if needed by holding it over a flame on your stovetop until it glows red-hot; this will force out any moisture trapped inside of it as well as slightly expand its size so that it fills larger gaps more easily when pressed against them–if you’re using regular steel wool without flux in it (which would make this step unnecessary), be sure not to hold onto it too long since doing so can burn your fingers!
Check That Doors Are Sealed Around Weather Stripping When Closed
Doors should be sealed around weather stripping when closed.
This is especially important for older homes with more drafty doors, and it’s easy to do: just close the door tightly, then put your hand on each side of the door frame and feel if you can feel a draft coming in through any gaps (you may need to lift up a corner of the rubber or foam seal).
If you can feel air moving under your hands, then there’s a gap somewhere — so find where it is and use some silicone caulk to seal it up!
| Benefits | Examples |
|---|---|
| prevents cockroaches from entering through small cracks around doors | adhesive-backed foam tape, rubber weatherstripping, silicone caulk |
| helps to reduce heat loss or gain, saving you money on energy bills | vinyl weatherstripping, door sweeps, draft stoppers |
| ensures that you have proper insulation, making your home more comfortable | self-stick fiberglass tape, V-strip weatherstripping, threshold seals |
Check Window Sills For Any Tiny Holes
Check window sills for any tiny holes
If you find a hole, use duct tape to seal it up. It’ll keep roaches from entering your home through that spot.
Tired of trying different tactics to get rid of cockroaches in your home? Our guide on 15 effective ways to get rid of cockroaches can help you find an approach that really works.
Avoid Keeping Piles Of Paper On Floors Or Counters
Cockroaches love paper. They like to go under papers, hide in them and eat the glue on the back of envelopes.
Cockroaches can also get into your home through cracks in walls, so having piles of paper will just make it easier for them to find their way inside.
Avoid keeping piles of paper on floors or counters by storing them in containers. If you have to leave papers out on the countertop or floor, put it in a plastic bag and tie it shut so there is no opening for cockroaches to crawl through!
Clean Out Your Cupboards Occasionally
Keeping your kitchen clean and tidy can help you prevent cockroaches from becoming a problem. Cockroaches are attracted to clutter, so keeping your cupboards neat will make it less likely that they’ll find a place to set up shop.
If there’s food or anything else in the cupboard, it becomes more attractive to them. You should also remove old newspapers and junk periodically especially if they’re not being used anymore to cut down on clutter.
Clean out your pantry regularly as well by removing old food products that may be attracting cockroaches in the first place (and keeping them around). And don’t forget about the sink and countertops: they need regular cleaning too!
Different species of cockroaches can require different strategies to keep them out of your home. Learn about the most common species of cockroaches found in homes and how to identify them with our expert guide
Wash Dishes Straight Away
Washing your dishes straight away is a good way to prevent cockroaches from settling in. The problem is that many people leave dirty dishes in the sink or on the countertop, which gives roaches an opportunity to take up residence.
Don’t leave dirty dishes on the table or in cupboards either—you never know where they might end up!
It’s also a good idea to scrape off any bits of food before putting them into the kitchen garbage, so that little pieces don’t start rotting and attracting bacteria-loving insects like flies and roaches.
Wear Gloves When Cleaning The Trash Can
If you handle your trash can, you should also wear gloves. If a cockroach gets into your home and finds itself in contact with some food or water, it will release an allergen into its trail that sets off an allergic reaction in anyone who is sensitive to them (which most people are).
This could cause respiratory distress or other issues for some people, so if you want to avoid this kind of situation altogether, keep your trash can covered at all times and wash your hands thoroughly after touching it.
Remove Clutter From Your Home
As you probably know, cockroaches are attracted to clutter. They like to hide in dark corners and spaces and will make themselves at home in a pile of old magazines or newspapers.
It’s tempting to save the items that are cluttering up your home, but the truth is that it’s better for you (and your house) not to do so.
When you have many things piled up in one place, it becomes an ideal location for cockroaches because they can easily find a hiding spot if they need it.
Clutter can also become a breeding ground for germs if people aren’t cleaning regularly enough—this includes both human germs as well as insect feces.
And finally, having too much stuff makes it harder for you to move around freely inside your own home!
If you’re having trouble spotting and deterring cockroaches in your home, check out our guide with pro tips for luring cockroaches out of hiding. These helpful hints can make all the difference in keeping your home pest-free
Conclusion
We can’t say it enough: clean, organized spaces are the best way to keep roaches out! If you follow the tips outlined in this article and keep your home tidy, you’ll never have to worry about a cockroach infestation.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you can check out to learn more about keeping cockroaches out of your home:
How to Keep Cockroaches Away: 9 Easy Methods to Keep Bugs Away: This article provides tips and tricks for keeping cockroaches away from your home, including natural and chemical solutions.
7 Remedies that Prevent Cockroaches and Bugs in Kitchen: This resource provides kitchen-specific ways to keep cockroaches and bugs out, including using bay leaves and bleach.
10 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Cockroaches Naturally: This article outlines ten natural remedies for cockroach control, including using coffee grounds and fabric softener.
FAQs
What are some common ways cockroaches enter a home?
Cockroaches can enter your home through small cracks in doors and windows, pipes or drains, or even hitching a ride on furniture or appliances.
What are some signs that my house has a cockroach infestation?
Some common signs of a cockroach infestation include foul smells, droppings, skin casings, and physical sightings of the insects themselves.
What are some natural ways to get rid of cockroaches?
Some natural ways to get rid of cockroaches include using boric acid, coffee grounds, catnip, and diatomaceous earth.
Are chemical pesticides safe for use around pets and children?
Some chemical pesticides can be toxic and should be used with caution around pets and children. Always follow instructions carefully and keep these products out of reach of children and animals.
When should I call a professional pest control service?
If you have tried several methods to get rid of cockroaches and are still experiencing an infestation, it may be time to call a professional pest control service. Additionally, if you have concerns about using pesticides in your home, a professional can help you find safe and effective solutions.
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!
