Maybe you’ve heard the joke about cockroaches - there could be a disaster that wipes out all of mankind, but roaches would find a way to survive. These pests can threaten your peace of mind in your home, can potentially be dangerous to your health, and are really just plain gross. Prevention and monitoring are key to avoiding a cockroach infestation. If you want cockroaches to steer clear of your home, check out these 7 tips on how to keep them out:
1. Keep Your Home Clean
Food crumbs are a welcoming trail for cockroaches to find their way into your home. Keeping a clean home is one of the easiest ways to keep cockroaches out. Properly cover your food in the pantry, keep your trash cans (both inside and out) securely sealed, and make sure dirty dishes do not sit in the sink for too long. Be sure to vacuum and wipe down frequently, including between and below appliances and even areas that you might not be able to see very well. Don’t tempt roaches with a food source!
2. Fix Cracks And Holes
Cracks and holes can be an open, welcoming door for a cockroach. Your home has exactly what these pests are looking for, and they have no hesitation taking any open entryway in. Even though it might not seem like a problem area, be aware that roaches
can fit into extremely small spaces. As surprising as it may be, cockroaches can fit into spaces as little as 1.5 millimeters or 1/16 of an inch! Seal any possible entry points with caulk or another sealant.
3. Rid Your Home Of Standing Water
Cockroaches thrive in moist, damp environments, so they might raid your home in search for water. Remove any standing water in buckets, sinks, storage areas (like your basement) and even your backyard. Eliminating any stagnant or standing water can remove that temptation for these pests.
4. Keep Spaces Cool
In addition to moisture rich areas, cockroaches are also attracted to warmth. This might be why you spot them more frequently outside in the heat of summer or inside in the winter when the outside temperatures drop. Maintaining your home’s temperature, and
keeping it cooler than normal might help protect your home from the outside in. Cooler spaces might remove some of that unwanted moisture as well!
5. Try Natural Remedies
Sometimes it’s worth giving a natural remedy a try. It can be a simple and cheap way that might discourage cockroaches from making your home their own. Bay leaves give off a smell they strongly dislike and could be effective when placed in areas they frequent. You can also create a soap and water mixture to spray on their bodies when they do pop up. The mixture helps suffocate them since they breathe through their skin (creepy!).
6. Stay On The Lookout
Sometimes cockroaches can enter the cleanest of homes with no reason at all. They can invite themselves in on a bag or an item you carry inside. And since they are nocturnal, you may not see them until there is a full-blown infestation. In this case, there is really nothing you can do to prevent the spread of roaches. Instead, keep your home in the best condition it can be, and keep your eyes open for any signs. If you begin to notice an increase in cockroaches in your home, bring in the experts!
7. Bring In The Experts
When the cockroaches seem endless, the do-it-yourself treatments have not worked, and you’re just plain frustrated, it may be time to call in the experts. Our team at Hoffer Pest knows how important your home comfort is to you. When you put your trust in us, we will provide fast and effective treatments so you can relax alone in your home in no time.