Get Rid of Roaches
I can’t think of anything worse than turning on the lights in the kitchen and seeing swarms of cockroaches scuttling all over the floor, cabinets and countertops. They make my skin crawl and I’m certainly not the only one who feels this way. Apart from contaminating your food they also spread dangerous bacteria on surfaces they touch so you cannot afford to take an infestation lightly.
In terms of size, most cockroaches range from one to three inches in length. In North America, the American and German cockroaches are the most common.
Because of the resilient nature and breeding prowess of this creature, getting rid of cockroaches will need a multi pronged approach.
Eliminate hiding places.
They love cardboard boxes and piles of paper. They find these very cozy so getting rid of these and other clutter will discourage cockroaches from staying around.
Boric acid
Make a potent and cheap bait that cockroaches are unable to resist. Mix a couple of spoons of boric acid with same amount of powdered sugar. Then put it on a piece of paper and place it where there’s a lot of cockroach traffic. Place several of this around the roach high traffic areas. This will help decimate their numbers in a big way.
Cut off the food supply.
These pests can live on almost anything left lying around, like crumbs, unopened boxed food and dirty dishes.
Clean out cabinets and wipe them to get rid of any spilled and broken bits of food. Check behind the cabinets also. Don’t leave any unclean dishes in the sink or counter, especially at night time when going to bed.
Cockroaches can’t survive without water for more than a few days but the can go for a long time without food. So repair all the leaks and mop up any pooled water.
Checking behind your fridge regularly is a good idea. That is because the refrigerators emit heat creating a cozy warm environment for roaches to flourish. This area is also ideal for roaches because it largely undisturbed.
Getting a bin with a tight fitting lid for your garbage is a helpful measure. Make to clean the bin including the bottom to remove bit and pieces of food. Air and sun-dry the bin frequently.
Cockroach baits.
Spraying pesticides in large areas of your home could contaminate areas you don’t want contaminated like countertops and appliances. Baits would be a better way to go about it. They are cleaner, very easy to apply and their effectiveness will last longer. When the cockroaches eat the bait they go back to their hideouts and die and they are then eaten by other cockroaches passing on the poison.
Entry points
Cockroaches will hitch a ride in the things you bring to your home without you realizing it. Old furniture will most likely habor a few cockroaches, so do a thorough inspection before installation. The other culprits are deliveries and groceries.
Cockroaches are built to fit into very small holes and tiny cracks. If light is visible under your door, cockroaches can get in. Prevent any potential invasion by sealing any entry points like gaps between walls using clear caulk. You can use door guards to seal the space between the outdoor and the interior.
Conclusion
If cockroach numbers do not reduce even with these measures consider calling a pest management professional to help you with the problem before it becomes unbearable.
