Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches
Ways to prevent the appearance of cockroaches.
Getting rid of cockroaches is always more difficult and expensive than taking preventive measures. If you have never had cockroaches, you should stay alert because they can appear at any time. The roach infestation may be disastrous, especially if you live in an old apartment building.
First of all, you should take into account that cockroaches do not come out of nowhere. This means they must somehow get into the house. For example, you can bring them with your purchases or with your stuff when you return from the trip. To avoid the roach infestation of your home, follow several simple rules:
- Seal all cracks and crevices, through which cockroaches can penetrate.
- Check door and window seals, as well as the integrity of jambs and frames.
- Do not eat in other rooms except the kitchen. The crumbs will attract cockroaches.
- Wash the dishes immediately after eating – do not leave them in the sink.
- Put pet food in hermetically sealed containers.
- In the evening, take out the garbage. Wash the bin, wipe it dry and cover it tightly with a lid. Even small pieces of food are a good meal for cockroaches.
- When coming home from travels or business trips, check your stuff. Cockroaches could get into your bag in hotels or transport.
- Cut flowers and branches that come in contact with your windows (cockroaches may leave the basement and come to your apartment, walking on the ground and branches).
- Eliminate plumbing leaks – cockroaches need water.
- Remember that hungry and dehydrated cockroaches do not multiply (they can even eat each other). Deprive them of food and water, and they will leave or will not appear in your house at all.
How to Get Rid of Roaches in 5 Easy Steps, According to Pest Control Experts
Seal up any potential entry points.
Roaches can flatten and scuttle their way through small cracks, holes, or screens, so shut out any future invaders by sealing up gaps between the interior and the outdoors (or other apartments or condo units) with materials like door guards, clear caulk, or steel wool. Hartzer advises getting down on floor-level and looking at your entryway. “If you can see daylight underneath your door, that means roaches can get in,” she says.
Leave out roach bait — but don’t spray.
While sanitation and housekeeping is key, you can also employ some other tools in your war on roaches. “Baits are the ideal option for homeowners to use, because they’re simple to apply,” Goldstein says. “You do not want to spray a pesticide in large areas because it may contaminate surfaces that you do not want contaminated: countertops, appliances, etc. Baits, including Combat Roach Killing Bait, are a cleaner and less risky way to control the problem.”
Eliminate any and all hiding places.
In addition to food, roaches need harborage to thrive. Their favorite nooks and crannies include stacks of paper and cardboard boxes, so recycle any materials you have laying around. Cleaning up any clutter will deter roaches from hanging around — or coming back.
Cut cockroaches off from their food supply.
Just like people, these pests need sustenance to survive. Unlike people, they can live off almost anything left out for them, like unopened food, debris, and even crumbs.
Identify the problem area and seek professional help if needed.
Out of over 4,000 cockroach species in the world, most Americans encounter only one or two types: German cockroaches and American cockroaches.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches
How Roaches Enter Your Home
Roaches are attracted to your home for a variety of reasons (listed above), but attraction is only the first part. They have to actually be able to get INTO your home to wreak havoc. The most common way these sly pests enter your home include.
What Attracts Cockroaches to Your Home
No matter the type of pest – whether it’s roaches, ants, termites, or rodents – they’re all most likely searching for food and water sources which they can easily find in your home. Roaches, in particular, are drawn to warm, humid climates like Florida and are usually attracted to.
Most Common Cockroaches in the US
There are a few different species of roaches that are present here in Florida, with the most common being the German cockroach and the American cockroach. German roaches are dark brown and usually 1/2” – 5/8” in size, while American roaches are darker and bigger at 1-1/2” to 2”. Both types of roaches are active year-round, using coming out predominantly at night to find food and water. Roaches are nocturnal creatures and usually spend their days hiding away in dark, protected spots around your home.
How to Get Rid of Roaches
Monitor Cockroaches with Glue Boards
Depending on the level of cockroach infestation in your home, it can take anywhere from three weeks to six months to eliminate cockroaches.
Unfortunately, a roach infestation will not go away overnight. You can monitor the progress of your cockroach treatment with glue board monitors. Place glue boards in the following areas.
Use a Concentrated Insecticide: Measure, Mix, Spray
Select an insecticide labeled for cockroaches, then measure and mix according to the product label. Apply in the following areas around your home.
Use Insect Growth Regulators to Prevent Roach Infestations
Even if all adult cockroaches are successfully killed with your baiting treatment, a new cockroach infestation may appear once the hidden cockroach egg capsules (oothacae) hatch. Any successful cockroach treatment program must include an insect growth regulator, also known as an IGR.
Bait Your Kitchen, Bathroom, and Home for Roaches
Bait is one of the most important and essential components of an effective roach control program.
Roaches are communicative pests, frequently interacting with other roaches. One roach that feeds on a poisoned bait can contaminate up to 40 other roaches by contact, feces, or other roaches feeding on the now-dead roach’s poisoned carcass. The domino effect of baiting gets rid of roaches at an incredibly quick rate, greatly reducing an infestation.
Use Baits, IGRs, and Sprays to Kill Cockroaches
Once you have completed the sanitation process to prepare for treatment, you can begin the process of using professional grade products to eliminate the roach infestation. We recommend using three key products during your roach control program
HOW TO KILL ROACHES AND GET RID OF THEM IN JUST 1 WEEK!
Exterminators – Definitely works, but helluva expensive. Cost can easily go over $100 depending on how extensive the infestation is. Eradication of nest is certainly possible with the help of exterminators. If you decide to go this route, click here for pest control services in your area.
Adhesive-based traps – These traps work like glue. Cockroaches will be attracted to them and get themselves stuck when they get in contact with the adhesive. Works for trapping the occasional roaches but doesn’t eliminate problem because the nest will be unaffected.
Poisonous roach baits – Works best and at low cost because the entire nest can be eradicated if done properly.