One of the many kinds of pests a homeowner really rates are cockroaches. These creatures are not seasonal. In fact, they are a problem all year round and in the entire world, save for Antarctica. Roaches are creatures we normally see at home or in our business. If there is a cockroach, the first thing that comes in people’s minds is that their house is filthy.
It makes them go crazy and makes them want to find the area where the infestation probably started so they can immediately get rid of these pesky little creatures. But that is not the case here. Although we usually find cockroaches in not so clean places, there is still a 50% percent chance that you will find them in spotless homes.
Prevention
Our homes indeed are a perfect respite for cockroaches. Cockroaches are attracted to food, water, shelter, warmth and moisture - all of which can be found in your home. They can find food and water in your kitchen area, cupboards, behind appliances, cracks and crevices for shelter. They also hide in water pipes, bathroom and under the sink for warmth and moisture.
There are surely ways to prevent having these unwanted creatures in our homes, and having a clean space is one of your very first protection against a cockroach infestation. Keep your place, especially the kitchen or pantry area clean as much as possible. Sanitize if you can. This is the area where all your food can be found so you better put your food in the refrigerator if you are not yet going to consume them. Or you can put them in an airtight container where the cockroaches cannot easily gain access.
Wipe any crumbs left on the counter, table and never ever leave dirty dishes in the sink as cockroaches can easily find these. Vacuuming the floors, carpets and couches also helps. Let us admit it, we love eating while watching our favorite movies or working from home, right? You may not know it but chips and cookie crumbs are sometimes left in the living room when you eat so vacuuming from time to time will help you ensure that there is nothing left for the cockroaches to eat.
However, if it is too late for you now to prevent them from coming and there are already roaches living in your home, then your next step is to perform pest control and make sure these annoying creatures will back off your home.
Control
There are many different ways to eliminate cockroaches but here are the 6 best ways to do so:
- Identify where the cockroaches are hiding. If you know their possible hiding spots it will be easier for you to perform pest control as you would know where you should leave baits and traps, where you would apply the insect spray and many more. These creatures hide under the sink, behind the fridge, shelves, crevices, closets and cabinets, and bathrooms.
- Boric acid is used to kill many different pests, not just roaches. When used or applied correctly, it will solve your pest problems efficiently. Creating a solution for roaches is very easy. Just mix the boric acid with water and sugar and you are good to go! The sugar content will attract roaches as well as other insects like ants but the boric acid you put in the mixture will kill those pests before you know it. Sprinkling some boric acid in their shelters can also kill the roaches or make them back off.
- Fix or close all available gaps to prevent further infestation. Using caulk or sealant will help you cover gaps and crevices which serve as cockroaches entry points. Without these entry points, roaches won’t be able to get inside your home.
- Use baits and traps to control or reduce the roach population from increasing. There are several types to choose from. Roach sprays and pesticides, gel bait, and sticky pads are just some of your options and all these can be purchased in stores.
- Repel roaches naturally by having or storing some of their most hated smell of all time inside your home. Roaches are born with an incredible sense of smell and we can use this to make them go away. One example is citrus. People love the smell of fresh citrus but roaches really hate them! Using citrus freshener or placing a few citrus peels can do the trick. If you see a cockroach in the kitchen and you have some fresh citrus in your fridge, remove its peeling and place it on the counter or table. For sure cockroaches will not dare go near it. Aside from this, they also hate the smell of eucalyptus and lavender so if you love planting try to have some of these in your yard or garden.
- Last but not the least, hire a professional to help you get rid of your pest problem completely. There is no better way to eliminate these pests safely and effectively than letting a professional or a pest control technician do the job. Pest control technicians are people who do not just kill pests in a way home or business owners might do it. They are trained and knowledgeable enough to handle pest cases from minor to severe pest infestation.
After the pest control, your last step is to observe and check if roaches are really gone.
So, How Would You Know If Roaches Are Completely Eliminated?
The answer is very simple, look for the signs. Same signs that you looked for when you first suspect roach infestation. There are unmistakable signs of roaches one must know:
- Seeing them physically crawling in countertops, walls, and floors. This is obviously one of the most common and undeniable signs that there is a cockroach living in your home. As much as possible, roaches do not come out during day time. They are normally seen in the evening so if you spot a cockroach during the day, it could be that the infestation has been going on for some time and it has leveled up so you must take actions the soonest you can. You wouldn’t want your house to be invaded by these creepy and annoying creatures, do you? So before it’s too late, do whatever you can to eliminate these roaches. The places where they normally hide are in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, basements, and drains.
- Unpleasant smell. I am not sure if you would agree but I bet everyone knows what a cockroach smells like. Cockroaches produce lingering and very musty smell on things they get in contact with. If a cockroach crawls on a dining plate, utensils or glass, you will surely smell this as soon as it gets close to your nose. In fact, it can even leave an awful taste on your food or drinks if you use any stuff that a cockroach crawled on.
- Seeing roach feces or droppings. Cockroach produces brown or black droppings in places they go. The feces size depends on the type of roach you are dealing with and can look like a tiny speck of pepper, coffee grounds or oval pellets. A large amount of feces is an indicator of a large roach infestation. Seeing an unusual number of droppings in a specific area will also help you track where the roach shelters are. Best to cut off any water or food source near this location so prevent further infestation. Remember, roaches will not be able to survive without food, water, warmth, and moisture.
- Roach eggs and cases. Roaches are aggressive breeders. They multiply fast so if you see an oblong, brown casing that looks like a coffee bean, get rid of it immediately. You may think that there is nothing to worry about since you’ll normally just see one of these from time to time. But the truth is, this little bean-like casing has many roach eggs on it. This is called ootheca. An ootheca can actually store up to 50 eggs so just imagine how many roaches they can produce when maturity day comes. Let us say there just 1 in the entire house, do you see yourself battling with 50 cockroaches all at the same time? You may be able to defeat them but it would take too much of your time and effort, right?
However, if you are overwhelmed by roach infestation problems, do not worry. You can count on the best pest control company in Columbia. Finding the best pest control management is important if you want to completely eradicate these troublesome pests in your home safely and efficiently. For your pest control needs, people trust only one name: Go-Forth Home Services.
Let Go-Forth Home Services Handle The Job
No pest is the same. At Go-Forth Home Services, we have professionals who will examine your home and evaluate your needs.
For more information, or to request a quote, call us now!