7 Tips to Keep Cockroaches Away This Hot Summer

While many of us humans dread the onset of hot, humid weather, there are certain creatures that thrive on it - particularly, the cockroach. Just the thought of a cockroach is enough to send shivers down your spine, but what's worse is that according to the National Pest Management Association, cockroaches can trigger asthma and allergy attacks, along with other diseases. This is why it's important to take steps to prevent a cockroach infestation in your home.

If you have a cockroach problem in your New Jersey home that you need help with, Cowleys offers effective cockroach control and preventive solutions.

Dangers of a Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches like to nest near their food source and are commonly found living in kitchen and bathroom areas typically under stoves or refrigerators or in cracks and crevices nearby. They are not typically seen during daylight hours unless populations become very large. You want to make every effort to control this pest that is known to spread disease and dangerous bacteria. As this pest crawls through bacteria and decaying matter in different areas of the home they transfer these germs onto food surfaces when they forage for food during the evening hours. Cockroach saliva, droppings and shed skin and body parts are also known to cause more serious problems since they are found to be allergy and asthma triggers, especially in children.

Now that we know just how dangerous a cockroach infestation can be, let’s take a look at how to control it. Cockroaches need three things to survive: food, moisture, and shelter. By eliminating the sources of these necessities we help to create an inhospitable environment for cockroaches. Sanitation is key to cockroach control. Let’s take a look at the best ways to keep this pest out of our homes.

Tips for Controlling Cockroaches in Your Home

Cleaning

1. Do not allow spills, crumbs, and food scraps to lie around the home.  Clean these food items up immediately as they will attract cockroaches into your home.
2. Store all food items, including pet food, in sealed containers. Do not leave pet food in the bowl; only serve up portions that your pet will eat at this meal. 
3. Wash dishes immediately. Never let them build up in the sink. Also, ensure you rinse out the sink and strainer from food particles when you are finished. 
4. Move and clean behind the refrigerator, stove, and other appliances regularly. An overlooked area of the kitchen is often that area between the stove and the counters where food particles and grease may build up. 
5. Clean out cabinets, pantries, and other food storage areas. Vacuum up crumbs and ensure all stored food is kept in sealed containers.
6. Remove trash from the home regularly and always put garbage away in sealed containers both indoors and out.
7. To cut down on allergic reactions and asthma triggers after an infestation, regularly vacuum and mop floors to remove the allergens that may be present. 

Moisture Control

Don’t underestimate the importance of moisture control to stop an infestation. Look for water sources throughout the home including:

1. Leaky pipes throughout the home should be fixed, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom areas. 
2. Consider how your pet’s water bowl may be a water source for cockroaches.
3. The refrigerator condensation pan may be another source and should be emptied and examined. 
4. Consider any standing water throughout the home and even those outside of your home.

Prevention

Consider where cockroaches may be hiding in the home.  Eliminate their places of shelter.

1. Remove clutter.  Clutter provides areas for cockroaches to hide and contributes to the problem.  Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom and remove clutter in those areas first. 
2. Seal cracks and crevices, particularly in the kitchen and baths of the home.  Cockroaches like to live near their food and water source and are likely hiding within these rooms of your home.
3. Look around the perimeter of your home for outside shelter.  Cut back vegetation, do not store firewood near the home, and remove clutter. 

Cockroaches can be a very difficult pest to control. Over the years we seen cockroaches build up a resistance to many insecticides, particularly those sold over the counter, which makes for do-it-yourself methods of control to be very difficult.  If you have a cockroach problem in your home, contact the professionals at Cowleys and we'll evict these disgusting pests from your home or business.