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How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

YESpestpros • January 21, 2020

Cockroaches are some of the most common household pests around the world, and they’re everywhere. It is estimated that there are more than 4,600 species of cockroaches in the world, but here in Indiana, you’re most likely to encounter only two or three of these species.  

Two or three species out of 4,600? That doesn’t seem too bad, right? Sure, but I wouldn’t leave it to chance.  Cockroaches are notoriously hard to get rid of. After all, they’ve found a way to survive on this planet for 350 million years! Roaches are some of the most quickly-reproducing pests and they can live up to two months without food or water. If you’ve spotted a couple cockroaches in your home or business, it’s time to act. Here are a few tips to get rid of cockroaches. 

Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches 

Before we get too far, we want to point out that cockroaches can carry bacteria that can result in diarrhea, allergies, rashes, and food poisoning. Once they have infested an area, they can multiply quickly and pose a threat to your comfort and health. It is important to get rid of cockroaches before an infestation occurs. Please be sure to contact a professional for help if you should need it. 

That said, there are certainly some methods you can try to get rid of cockroaches on your own. 

Identify problem areas 

Start by examining your home for possible roach infestation sites. This is most easily done using a flashlight and roach glue strips. Use the flashlight to search in popular roach hiding spots, like under the sink, behind the refrigerator, or in bathroom cabinets. Most types of cockroaches prefer warm, dark, moist areas like bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, and drains. 

Based on your flashlight inspection, decide on the most strategic areas to place roach glue strips. Monitor these areas for a few days. The strips in high-traffic areas will catch the most roaches, so these areas will need the most treatment. 

Use bait stations 

Once you have found the areas with the highest roach populations, you can try using bait stations as a roach killer.  

Bait stations usually work by attracting roaches into stations to feed on poison. The poisoned roach then travels back to its home where it dies from poisoning and is eaten by the other roaches (yuck!). The poison is then transferred to other roaches, and the cycle repeats.  

Gel roach bait usually comes in a tube that can be applied under baseboards and in cracks and crevices in the areas that you identified during step #1. While bait can be an effective way to get rid of cockroaches, it can also result in lots of dead roaches lying around your home. They also only work to partially get rid of roaches and do not target all roaches in the home. For a larger-scale infestation, DIY pest control approaches may not be effective. 

Eliminate their food sources 

One of the best ways to reduce populations of cockroaches (or any pest, for that matter) is to simply cut them off from food. Do this by being diligent about cleaning up anything that may serve as a food source for them – even crumbs. Be sure to keep the home, counters, and sink clear of any dirty dishes. Take out the trash nightly, and keep it covered with a tight-fitting lid. Keep food in sealed containers. Clean up spills quickly.  

Remember to clean behind areas that don’t get a lot of attention, like behind the fridge and under the sink. These areas are often appealing to pests but don’t get cleaned regularly. 

Eliminate entry points 

Taking steps to eliminate areas that may serve as points of entry can help to get rid of cockroaches as well. Shut out any future invaders by sealing up gaps around your doors, windows, and even gaps in tile. Install new door sweeps and use clear caulk around windows. Repair torn window screens and seal any areas that may be possible entry points. 

Eliminate hiding places 

Cockroaches love to hide in cluttered areas where there are lots of nooks and crannies, especially around cardboard and paper. Cleaning up clutter and reducing hiding spots for them will deter roaches from taking up residence in your home.  

Hire a professional 

Lastly, the best way to be sure any cockroach infestation is taken care of is to contact a pest control professional. As we mentioned above, going the DIY route certainly can be helpful in some cases, but this isn’t always reliable. While taking steps to prevent infestations is always a good move, there are circumstances where more help is needed. Especially since cockroaches can pose a threat to your health, this may not be the time to keep your fingers crossed. 

Your YES Pest Pros pest control specialist will thoroughly inspect the area to determine where the roaches are coming from and the severity of the infestation. This allows your pest inspector to create a customized plan specific to your needs. This is done in conjunction with our environmentally-responsible  Integrated Pest Management program. 

Not only is hiring a professional to take care of the problem the most reliable way to get rid of cockroaches, it also provides you with valuable insight on what you can do to prevent them from returning. You’ll know any vulnerable areas and will be able to keep an eye on them to prevent another infestation in the future. And with a professional, you won’t have any unsightly roach hotels lying around your home!

If you’re struggling to get a pest control problem under control, give us a call today! 

The post How to Get Rid of Cockroaches appeared first on Yes Pest Control.

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