Everyone detests the cockroaches and wants them to be dealt with swiftly and permanently. These insects have survived unchanged for millions of years. Cockroaches were rumored to have survived atomic bomb tests in Nevada. Be that as it may, cockroaches have been present virtually everywhere for longer than we have and they seem determined to stay.
Sadly, the cockroach is one bug that can be hazardous to your family’s health. That is why it is so vital that you eliminate the threat as soon as you see they have moved in. Cockroaches are known to carry diseases, germs and bacteria and have also been linked to asthma and allergies. Thus, it is wise to take every possible step to prevent a cockroach infestation because once they are entrenched, it’s almost impossible to completely remove them.
Cockroaches normally live outdoors, but can make themselves quite at home in your walls, under refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, under kitchen sinks and anywhere else they can hide. Normally, cockroaches stay well out of sight until after lights out, when they emerge to search for water, crumbs of food, and other edibles. It is also not uncommon to turn on the lights and open a kitchen cabinet in the wee hours, only to be met by cockroaches crawling over things inside your kitchen cabinets. These giant bugs will eat just about anything and by allowing crumbs, water (especially dripping water pipes), pet food and other things to be open and accessible, you are inviting an infestation.
Just like with rats, a clean home is the best way to keep cockroaches at bay. It’s a good idea to sweep up the kitchen floor before going to bed to be certain there are no loose crumbs lying about to attract cockroaches. Don’t forget to close any open trash bags under your kitchen sink as well. The German cockroach is the most common type and is found all over the US. This particular variety drinks a lot of water so sponge up any standing water in the kitchen sink and don’t leave out dirty dishes with scraps of food affixed after you go off to bed. If you have a leaky pipe, be sure to get it fixed as soon as possible because even the smallest thing like this can draw the cockroaches. Remember that by denying cockroaches the food and water they seek, you are taking a major step toward avoiding an infestation.
More than one individual has moved to escape a cockroach infestation that just couldn’t be vanquished. Be very sure if you move that you aren’t transporting cockroaches in any of your moving cartons. Keep a can of pesticide on hand and if you spot any, spray them immediately or you’ll have brought the infestation with you to your new home or apartment. Moving again would be awfully expensive, so do all you can to make sure none made the trip with you to the new house.
Here are some good general rules to prevent a cockroach infestation:
- Be certain to store food in tightly-sealed containers or in your refrigerator.
- Sweep floors and wipe down kitchen counters every night before bed.
- Never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight are any bowls or plates filled with water.
- Take out all garbage every night. Make sure kitchen trash receptacle is sealed.
- Use caulking to seal up any small cracks in walls, baseboards, around pipes and anywhere else cockroaches might gain entry or hide.
- Make sure you have weather stripping around doors and windows. This will keep cockroaches from entering.
- Fix all leaks and keep areas under sinks clean and dry.
- Clean up piles of clutter everywhere in the house but especially in the basement or close to the kitchen area.
- Spray roach killer frequently under sinks, in the basement and around and under the refrigerator, washer and dryer. These are favorite cockroach hiding places.
Exterminators and other professionals believe that controlling a cockroach infestation also requires the addition of bait or dust insecticides which are available in spray cans. A spray or aerosol mist that has pyrethrum or some other flushing agent is effective because it will easily penetrate into crevices and cracks. This material does not actually kill cockroaches, but it can make them come out into the open where they will come into contact with a residual surface spray or dust poison that is lethal. Baits usually work very well to control a cockroach population when used after and in addition to an insecticide. It is recommended that homeowners install a reasonable number of baits and place them in places where roaches live such as under sinks, in basements and in crawl spaces.