Cockroaches are one of the most difficult and annoying pests to eradicate. They can consume almost anything and can survive in the harshest conditions. They often invade homes in search of food, water, and shelter, and the easiest approach to preventing cockroach infestation is to deny them access to these primary necessities.
Fortunately, you can easily prevent a cockroach infestation by following the tips below.
Clean & Disinfect Your Home Regularly
The first and most important step in keeping cockroaches at bay is to properly clean and disinfect your home. This involves not only cleaning up after meals and snacks, but also keeping the entire house clean and tidy at all times. Be sure to clean your kitchen and dining room counters, stoves, and floors, as well as wipe them down after each use.
Store Your Food Properly
Since cockroaches are attracted to food and leftovers, leaving them outside is an invitation for these pesky insects to enter your home. Be sure to carefully store your food in plastic containers and don’t leave leftovers on counters overnight.
Try to cover your food properly and don’t let dirty dishes pile up in the sink. Fruits and vegetables should also be stored properly as they will attract cockroaches and other insects as soon as they start to rot.
Eliminate Any Entry Point to Your Home
Cockroaches are more likely to enter your home to avoid the harsh conditions of winter or the scorching heat of summer. They invade living spaces using cracks and crevices in doors, windows, and foundations. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your home does not have entry points that cockroaches can easily access.
To avoid infestation, always inspect your doors and windows for cracks, crevices, and holes, and seal them with weather stripping. Also, be sure to seal around utility pipes and other crawl spaces that roaches can take advantage of.
Make Sure to Dispose of Garbage Daily
Garbage containers give cockroaches access to a wide range of food scraps, leftovers, and dirt. Therefore, do not let the garbage accumulate in your trash can and dispose of it regularly. Always cover the trash can with a tight-fitting lid to keep bugs out of the waste.
Inspect Items Before Bringing Them Home
Always examine bags, packages, and containers before bringing them home from the store or grocery store. Cockroaches often lurk in these items, making it much easier to inadvertently transport them into your home.
Dry Wet Areas
Cockroaches are often attracted to readily available sources of water, such as dripping faucets and leaky pipes. That’s why getting rid of these leaks and removing standing water from kitchen and bathroom sinks is essential to prevent an infestation from occurring. Also, keep an eye out for moisture throughout the basement and other areas of your home and use a dehumidifier to dry out the moisture.
Get Rid of Clutter
When a cockroach locates a food source or finds a safe place to dwell, it leaves pheromone trails through its droppings to signal other roaches about the haven. To prevent cockroach droppings from building up, make sure your home is tidy. You can do this by removing outdated magazines, newspapers, and paper scraps from your home, as well as cardboard boxes and other cardboard items.
Vacuum Your Entire House Regularly
Vacuum your entire home regularly to prevent cockroaches from accumulating in your bedrooms, kitchen, and living room. Vacuuming also helps remove manure, body parts, and roach egg sacs, all of which contain pheromones that can attract new roaches to your home.
Hire a Professional Pest Control Company
If you’ve tried everything and still have a cockroach infestation in your home, it’s time to hire a professional pest control company. At Vista Pest Control, we’ll help you get rid of cockroaches by applying best-in-class pest control solutions that are completely safe for your pets and family. Timely eradication helps prevent harmful diseases and saves you thousands of dollars in medical expenses.