Cockroaches thrive in the lush, warm conditions of summer. If you’re experiencing a cockroach invasion in your home, expect the problem to grow worse as the warm season progresses. When you want to win the war against cockroaches this summer, start by launching the three attacks described here.
1. Embrace Minimalism and Organization
A cockroach infestation isn’t necessarily a sign of poor housekeeping. One German cockroach female may be hiding in a paper container you bring home from the store. She lays her egg sac in your house, and now you have 48 cockroaches in your kitchen. However, cockroaches of all types take advantage of clutter, messy countertops, and dark, unmaintained spaces.
Nearly all cockroach species are thigmotropic. Thigmotropic creatures feel safest when all outer surfaces of their bodies are in contact with other objects. Look at the flattened, streamlined body of a cockroach, and you can see how easily the insects fit behind picture frames, under appliances, and inside other nooks and crannies where they feel more secure.
Your first step in cockroach eradication is removing the nooks and crannies. Organize the clutter you intend to keep. Sort and put away all scattered belongings to remove hiding places for cockroaches and their eggs.
Eliminate piles or collections of the following items to reduce hiding places for cockroaches:
- • Dirty and clean clothes
- • Sports and camping gear
- • Toys and games
- • Magazines, newspapers, and books
- • Cardboard boxes
- • Opened disposable food containers
- • Trash bags
- • Paper bags and totes
- • Firewood
Throw out opened food containers in which cockroaches may have fed or placed egg sacs. Purchase covered, roach-proof containers for unopened food. Consolidate dry ingredients in a safe location outside of the pantry at first, and never allow opened boxes, tubs, cans, or other containers of food to remain unsealed when you wage your war against the cockroaches. Clean cabinets and use disinfectant to wipe down all kitchen surfaces.
2. Begin the Purge
After your furnishings are organized and your food cabinets are clean, empty all of the cabinets under desks, bookcases, and bathroom sinks. Go through your home, room-by-room to discover cockroach hiding places.
Look for signs of cockroach activity, even if you see no actual cockroaches. Pepper-like droppings and small brown egg sacs are some of the signs of cockroach infestations. Other signs are pieces of the insects’ shed skin inside cabinets and on surfaces.
Cockroaches love to hang out with each other, so they emit pheromones to attract more roaches to their hiding spots. Note the places where you see signs of cockroaches for later pheromone-removal attention.
A few favorite cockroach hiding places include:
- • Inside, behind, and under appliances and electronics
- • Behind picture frames and wall decor
- • Under and behind baseboards and crown molding
- • Inside and under furniture
- • In between paper products
Have a swatter or vacuum in hand to deal with roaches that inevitably scatter when you find their hidden hangouts. Wash all surfaces where you see signs that roaches have traveled, hidden, or fed. Use a mild bleach solution or other surface-safe disinfectant to remove the disease-causing germs and pheromones spread by the cockroaches.
3. Call for Expert Assistance
If you have a serious cockroach issue in your home, contact a qualified, trusted pest control company to inspect your home. A pest control pro will find out the exact species of cockroaches in your home, and will custom-design a treatment and deterrent regimen for your residence. Complete cockroach eradication may take a series of visits from your pest control team to accomplish, but your peace-of-mind is worth the patience.
Call for backup in your battles against cockroaches by contacting A-Alert Exterminating Service Inc today. We offer comprehensive pest control to eliminate cockroaches and other household bugs in homes throughout the Greater Chicago, IL, region.