TIPS FOR PREVENTING COCKROACHES IN YOUR HOME

Discovering cockroaches inside your home can be very unsettling:

• They have an extremely high ‘ick’ factor that makes the hair on one’s arm raise.
• They contaminate whatever they touch.
• They can quickly multiply if not addressed promptly. 

Overall, getting rid of a cockroach infestation is often challenging as these insects are resilient and sneaky.

Fortunately, there are effective measures that can be taken to prevent cockroaches from infesting a living space. We’ve shared below some straightforward tips to help keep your home cockroach-free.

4 Tips for Keeping Your Home Cockroach-Free

1. Keep Your Home Sanitized & Clean

• Cockroaches are attracted to food sources and crumbs left around the house.
• To deter them, maintain strong sanitation practices and cleanliness by regularly cleaning up spills, crumbs, and food debris.
• Pay special attention to kitchen counters, floors, dining areas, and under and behind large and small appliances. It really is astonishing to see how many crumbs can collect under a toaster or how thick food residue can accumulate down the side of an oven range.
• We also recommend that you store dry food in sealed containers in your pantry and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.

2. Remove Clutter & Reduce Hiding Places

• Cockroaches thrive in cluttered environments where they can find dark, secluded places to hide.
• Declutter your home by getting rid of unused boxes, stacks of paper, and old newspapers.
• Store items in plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes, as cockroaches can feed on cardboard and use it for nesting.
• We also recommend avoiding using cardboard boxes from grocery stores and markets to bring home food in as this is a common way cockroaches are brought into homes.

3. Seal Cracks & Entry Points

• Cockroaches can enter your home through tiny cracks and gaps in walls, windows, and doors.
• Inspect your home for potential entry points and seal them with high quality caulk or weather stripping.
• Focus on areas such as around pipes, vents, and utility lines where cockroaches can easily gain access.

4. Fix Moisture Issues

• Cockroaches are attracted to moisture and water sources.
• Repair any leaky pipes, faucets, or appliances that could create damp environments (which they thrive in).
• Ensure there is proper ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens to reduce humidity levels, which can help discourage cockroaches from settling in and making your home theirs too.

For more information about the different species of cockroaches and advice for getting rid of cockroaches, visit our Pest Library.

Cockroach Pest Control & Prevention

Implementing these tips consistently can significantly reduce the likelihood of cockroaches infesting your home, but sometimes infestations happen and professional help from a cockroach pest control expert is needed.

You can count on Environmental Pest Control for effective and safe solutions to get rid of cockroaches!