Here are a few tips to prevent cockroaches from infesting your home.

Having a cockroach infestation in your home is a surefire way to go into panic mode. No one wants these nasty invaders anywhere near them, but many people don’t know how to prevent roaches from getting inside. That’s why we’ve put together some quick tips to help you out with pest prevention.

Keep Food in Designated Areas

Like many other bugs, cockroaches are attracted to food. The more food sources that are sprinkled around your home, the more spots they’ll try to enter. Keeping your food in designated areas such as the kitchen and dining room as much as possible will reduce this problem. We understand that this can be a bit tricky, especially if you have kids, but try your best.

Remove Sources of Moisture

In addition to food sources, cockroaches will be attracted to sources of water. If your home has leaky faucets or dripping pipes, they’ll come a’running – or should we say a’skittering. Routinely check your faucets and pipes in your kitchen and bathroom, and then get them fixed as soon as possible if there’s a problem. You’ll also want to clean up any standing water that’s outside, especially after it’s rained.

Seal Vulnerable Points of Entry

Adult cockroaches aren’t the smallest insects in the world, but they can still get into your home through cracks and crevices. Common problem areas include around your doors and windows, but you should examine the entire exterior of the house just to be safe. Depending on their severity, these spots can be filled in with caulk, weather-stripping, or spray foam.

Routinely Clean and Disinfect

Keeping your home clear of dirt and debris is important, but what you’re primarily looking for is removing food residue. At least every week or so, you should go on “crumb patrol,” which basically means to clean up any crumbs that have fallen into cracks in your kitchen’s tile, counters, toaster, microwave, etc. Disinfecting your kitchen and bathroom will work wonders, too.

Take Out Trash When Needed

How often you need to take out the trash will vary from household to household depending on the number of people and how quickly the trash fills up. The first rule of thumb is to take out the trash every few days, but if you put something in there that’s especially gnarly (how’s that for a blast from the past?), then you should probably take it out that day. Make sure outside containers are properly sealed.

Store Food in Plastic Containers

It may sound like we’re a broken record, but trust us, removing food temptation is essential when it comes to cockroach control. As soon as you’re done with your meal, put any leftover food in sealed, plastic containers. This will prevent odors from wafting into the air and attracting these nasty insects.

Use Natural Roach Repellents

If you don’t have any roaches in your home or maybe just a few, you can try a few natural roach repellents. These include peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil, which you’ll basically just want to spray around in areas where cockroaches might go. You can actually kill them with a soap and water concoction in a spray bottle, but you’d have to see them first.

Clean Up Clutter in Your Home

One of the reasons cockroaches have survived for millennia is because they’re great at hiding. Most people reading this have probably discovered a cockroach or two when moving something around, thereby eliciting a shriek that we’re often too embarrassed to admit. Keeping your house decluttered will reduce their hiding spots and increase the chance that you’ll see one before an infestation begins.

Hire a Professional Exterminator

The best way to stop an infestation is to contact a professional who knows how to prevent roaches. An exterminator will know what signs to look for and exactly how to kill cockroaches in a very short period of time. While there are do-it-yourself methods, such as the roach repellents listed above, they’re not very effective in removing an infestation.

Contact ProHealth Pest Control to Learn How to Prevent Roaches

The exterminators at ProHealth Pest Control have spent years learning how to prevent roaches and other pests from invading homes and businesses. If you’re in need of a cockroach treatment or have any other pest problems, reach out to us at (727) 472-9420 today to schedule a free consultation.