And now there is even a Cockroach Hall of Fame Museum in Plano, Texas run by Michael Bodhan. Don’t we all wish that cockroaches could be confined to a museum only? Photo Courtesy: Perry Quan
What’s so scary about roaches is how great they are at hiding. If you happen to see one scurry through your kitchen while switching the light on, there are many more nearby and it’s imperative that you get rid of them as soon as possible.
Clutter Means More Places to Hide
While this is probably the last thing you want to hear, you know all of those boxes in the garage? The accumulated paperwork and clothing in the attic that you never quite made the time to sort through? Well, all of these areas are perfect hiding places for roaches. Not able to find any roaches? You’ll generally find droppings in your cupboards and throughout your kitchen, as those are the areas they will find most food during the evening when they come out to scavenge.
Roaches Enter Through Surprising Areas
Roaches can enter your home through drains, so it’s important that you block off your tub when not in use, close the toilet lid and block any other areas that offer them easy access to your home when you have a roach problem. It’s impossible to seal everything, and this is why getting rid of them is so important. In time, they will take over your home.
Beginning the Cleanup Process
Roaches hate bleach. Begin cleaning your property, your clothing and linens from top to bottom with the stuff. You may want to also opt for the roach trap method so you won’t have to see the little guys. These traps are generally closed containers with openings that lure roaches inside. The base contains adhesive, which causes them to become stuck upon entry. There are also many bug sprays and pesticides that are similar to those that a professional would use that can be used throughout your property.
The only problem here is you want to make sure you are selecting a solution that will not harm your family or your pets. Read each product carefully and if there ever comes a time where you are unsure whether the products are working, it may be time to call in a professional. They are going to have the most up-to-date solutions and can work with you so your family doesn’t become affected.
Keeping Those Pesky Critters Away
Now that you have kicked your unwanted guests to the curb, it’s important that you maintain a clean home where new roaches won’t want to come in and wreak havoc yet again. Make sure your trash is emptied regularly, your floors are swept and vacuumed and that any opened food containers are put away immediately.
Seal any cracks that may be easy access entries for the little buggers and take away water sources, such as leaky pipes, as roaches are attracted to water. If you have wood piles in your yard, keep them as far away from your home as possible, because the pests love to hide within them and as the weather cools down, will move into your home to stay warm. Many exterminators offer bi-monthly or other regular treatments where they will check in and make sure your roaches are truly gone for good, while looking for signs of new intruders.
Jonas Grant is an exterminator in Calgary. The problem of cockroaches is nothing new for him and has dealt with it successfully for a number of years. Apart from his on field work, he also writes articles suggesting measures to get rid of those pesky creatures.
Alan Stanton says
Hi Jonas,
I wondered about your view of this research from Quebec about possible dangers of commonly used insecticides.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/common-insecticides-may-be-linked-to-kids-behavior-problems/
Alan