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How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

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By Paul Dube, A.C.E.

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Prevent Cockroach Infestations on Your Property & Stop the Unsightly & Unsafe Critters from Putting Your Family at Risk

Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in the world, with Florida being home to over 70 different species of roaches.

Keeping this in mind, it is extremely likely that people will encounter cockroaches at some point in their home. This skeevy pest excels at adapting to new environments and can bring disease-causing germs into your home that can lead to allergic reactions, food poisoning, hepatitis, and diarrhea.

Facts About Cockroaches

If you see one cockroach, it’s likely there are more. And if there are more, you’ve likely got yourself a cockroach infestation.

If you’ve found yourself with an infestation, there are a number of things worth knowing about the pest.

First, cockroaches are small and sometimes hard to see, with dark brown or black bodies that are only 1/2 to 3 inches long.

Cockroaches prefer warm and humid environments (like Florida, especially Southern Florida) and they are scavengers in every aspect. They’ll eat almost anything; glue, the material in book bindings, and dead skin flakes are just a few of their odd-ball favorites. Some species of cockroach even eat their own young.

German cockroach found walking on a yellow dish sponge near the kitchen sink

Cockroach Infestations

Cockroaches are nocturnal and spend their days hiding in small cracks and crevices.

Hiding places for these critters varies depending on the species, but as a rule of thumb, cockroaches will fit themselves in extremely small cracks and feel most secure when they’re being touched by surfaces on all sides.

Once roaches have infested an area of your home, they multiply quickly and become harder to eliminate.

How to Get Rid of a Cockroach Infestation

To practice the most effective cockroach control, it typically requires more than one type of treatment method.

One of the most effective ways to control a cockroach infestation is roach spray, but it must be sprayed directly onto the roaches. To use this method, you must be able to see the cockroaches, and react quickly as the pest will scurry away.

To identify where cockroaches are hiding, examine your home for potential entry points.

Use a flashlight to search popular hiding spots, including under the sink, closet corners, crevices in cabinets and shelves, as well as behind the refrigerator.

After you’ve examined your home, an application of roach glue strips or glue boards will help to ultimately determine where the roaches are hiding. Leaving these in place for a week or more will help to ultimately determine if you have found the cockroach infestation.

When you’ve found these areas, another solution to getting rid of a cockroach infestation is to use gel bait. Gel bait comes in the form of a tube and can be applied in places where cockroaches are likely to hide. It is and extremely effective method for removing a cockroach infestation.

How to Prevent Cockroach Infestations

To prevent future cockroach infestations and control current ones, the most important things that you should practice in your home are cleanliness and proper sanitation.

Some basic guidelines for that are:

  • Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight, keep food stored in closed containers, and clean the areas behind and along large kitchen appliances like stoves and refrigerators.
  • Immediately clean up spills and vacuum cracks and crevices in your kitchen.
  • Take the garbage out frequently and store it in a covered trash bin outside of the home.

Externally, seal any cracks that cockroaches could use to enter your home. Fix any leaky pipes and install dehumidifiers in your basement to eliminate areas of excess moisture.

Benefits of Professional Cockroach Pest Control

If your home or office in Southwest Florida has a cockroach infestation, it’s imperative to have it taken care of before it gets out of hand.

Contact a pest management professional as soon as you spot a roach in your home, especially during the day. These insects are usually only active at night, so if they are out during the daytime it is an indication of a large-scale infestation lurking in your house.

The pest-elimination professionals from the premium pest control provider in the area will ensure your home is protected from cockroaches and cockroach infestations with a complete removal plan that has been customized to eliminate the issue you are faced with.

By Paul Dube, A.C.E.
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