How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches In Your Home

Best way to get rid of cockroaches

It’s almost an Australian rite of passage to experience the pure horror of having a cockroach skittering across your floorboards or, worse yet, flying directly at you. And they’re not just unsightly, cockroaches can carry harmful pathogens and their presence can exacerbate allergies and asthma

What are cockroaches

While there are approximately 4,000 species of cockroaches around the world with 450 of those found in Australia, only very few of them are pests. Phew. The types you’ll most commonly creeping the bejesus out of you are the German cockroach (small and light brown), the Australian cockroach (large, brown with yellow streaks near its wings) and the American cockroach (large and reddish-brown)

What attracts cockroaches

Understanding why cockroaches are infesting your home is essential for removing them, and preventing their return in the future. Cockroaches are attracted to easily accessible food sources whether it’s human food, pet food or even cardboard, glue and soap. Don’t leave food, dirty dishes and plates around, clean under appliances regularly and ensure your garbage bin is well covered and removed regularly. Try to keep pet food dishes clear and clean overnight. Cockroaches also love warm and humid environments, which is why they’re attracted to kitchens and bathrooms. Check around sinks and drains for leaks.

How to get rid of cockroaches

While it might be an urban legend that cockroaches could survive a nuclear holocaust, they are an incredibly hardy creature. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to get kill cockroaches once they’ve made themselves at home.

Cockroach baits and traps

Cockroach traps and baits are an easy and effective way to kill cockroaches once they’ve entered your home, working for up to three months. They attract cockroaches, killing the critters and their eggs with a single feed from the bait, breaking the breeding cycle. When they return to the nest and die, they will also contaminate other cockroaches and their eggs. They’re best placed around hot water systems and under fridges, bathroom cabinets and washing machines. The benefit of cockroach baits is that there’s no fumes or mess involved, working away out of sight and out of mind. Keep in mind that while the baits don’t release any harmful chemicals, they can be hazardous if your pet chews them.

 

Dos & Don’ts of DIY Cockroach Prevention

Why are we so nauseated by roaches? It is reasonable due to the fact that most people depicted cockroach as an unsightly and disgusting pest because of their filthy habits and bad smell.

A roach infestation could be a problem for every homeowner. Once they make themselves comfortable in your home, it is very likely to raise the bar in controlling the problem. This is because cockroach tend to hide in hard to reach or cited harborages. Besides that, female cockroach also breeds and reproduces rapidly, which can increase the population of the cockroaches quickly.

Take care of your trash – Cockroach is associated with garbage disposal. Make sure you clear your trash regularly to avoid providing a food fest for roaches

Move your garbage externally, instead of locating right beside your home and ensure it is tightly closed – This is one way to stop cockroach access and transiting from the outside garbage to your home

Not sure when it is the right time to engage professional help to manage your cockroach problem? It is always good to seek advice and recommendations from our team of experts whom will do a site survey and home inspection to identify potential risks and infestation symptoms. Base on the severity and infestation level, our specialist would then recommend an ideal cockroach solution for your home. Practical steps and housekeeping tips are also available to guide home owners on how to prevent roaches in your property

 

Tips to Keep Your Car Cockroach-Free

Cockroaches are a real inconvenience. Not only do they cause distress but they can also transmit numerous diseases, which is why it’s only natural that we try to keep these pesky insects out of our homes. Cockroaches will come inside vehicles for the same reason they come inside our homes: to find food, shelter, and a place to lay their eggs.

Avoid Eating in the Car

Food is the number one lure for cockroaches. As much as we try to eat carefully in the car, food residue or crumbs are enough to attract roaches to your vehicle, regardless of how little. This may be a hard rule to implement, especially with children, but it is something that will prevent these pests from getting attracted to your vehicle. If you can’t avoid it completely, make sure to always do a thorough clean-up afterwards.

Clean the Car Regularly

Regular car cleaning is one of the most reliable ways car owners can do to keep their vehicle cockroach-free. Don’t overlook areas such as carpets, in-between car seats, and sides of the door. These areas are often neglected and can collect waste and food particles, which attract cockroaches. It’s important to thoroughly vacuum and disinfect these areas regularly, including secondary transfer of cockroaches externally. In addition, cockroaches feed on garbage, so make sure you throw out any garbage every time you leave the car. Cockroaches are also attracted to humid environments including water, so make sure that any spills in the car should be wiped up right away.

Avoid Clutter in the Car

Whether it is old receipts, piles of newspapers, cardboard, or sports equipment, clutter is one area they like to hide out in, especially in the boot of the car. The boot of the car actually creates ideal conditions for cockroaches to hide and breed in with its dark and humid environment. If you must keep items in your car, store them in a hard plastic container with a tight lid to keep cockroaches out.

Close Vents, Windows, and Doors Properly

No car is completely airtight, but making sure that you block primary entryways is a must. Before leaving your vehicle, make sure you close all windows, doors, and A/C vents properly. Air conditioning vents are one of the main entry ways cockroaches use to enter the car.  Apart from this, avoid parking in places where they thrive such as drainage openings, sewage drains, and near garbage bins.

 

How to Find a Cockroach Nest (and Get Rid of it for Good)

You’ve probably heard warnings about how quickly cockroaches can reproduce and spread through a house. When cockroaches take up residence in a home, it’s because they’ve found conditions they like. A lot.

What Does a Cockroach Nest Look Like?

A roach nest isn’t a tightly wound basket of twigs and grass like you might expect from a bird. And it’s not the sort of carefully gathered nest of materials that you might expect from a mouse or rat.

Cockroaches “nest” wherever they find a hiding place near food and water. A better word is colony: cockroaches live in colonies and their “nest” is simply the colony’s hotspot, where the roaches lay their eggs and hide from daylight (and people).

Where Do Roaches Live?

Most cockroaches love humid places. Depending on the type of cockroach, some like it hot and some stick to cooler, damp places. But one thing just about all of them have in common is a need for moisture.

How to Find a Roach Nest

Brace yourself for this one, because finding roaches means thinking like them too. You’ll need to get down on your hands and knees and poke around places that are hard to reach, and sometimes aren’t pleasant. You’ll probably get a little dirty, so put on some old work clothes and possibly a pair of gloves – because ready? You’re going in.

 

How Do You Get Rid of Cockroaches?

The last thing anyone wants to find in their kitchen or bathroom at night when they turn on the lights is tiny, skittering cockroaches trying to hideaway. Cockroaches are dangerous, quiet pests; sadly, sometimes you don’t know they’re there until you’re overwhelmed by the amount. Not only are they a revolting sight, but they can cause real harm if left alone. They can contaminate your food, transmit bacteria, and they can be extremely tough to deal with. Unfortunately, if you don’t know how to handle them, a cockroach infestation can keep coming back again and again. If you want to stamp out these pests, here are seven proven tips to help you conquer those cockroaches.

Identify Your Invaders.

There are so many different cockroaches, over 4,000 to be exact, which can make getting rid of them difficult. Identifying what you have is a key step in getting rid of them. It can be hard to get a look at what you’re dealing with, but if you do happen to spot an invader, keep in mind what they look like. Two of the most common cockroaches are German cockroaches and American Cockroaches.

Seal All Entry Points.

The best way to stop an invader is to not let them in. This sounds easier said than done, but if you perform regular checks on your home, you can stop all manner of pests from getting in.

Don’t Give Them A Place To Hide.

Cockroaches don’t like to come out in the open. They prefer dark, quiet places, so they are always on the lookout for places to hide. A way to keep them out is to clear out all hiding places.

Cut Out The Food Source.

No bug is going to leave if they have a smorgasbord ready for them. To get rid of any pests, eliminating their food source is crucial. Without a food source, cockroaches won’t stick around. Be mindful of where you have your food and how you store it, including any pet food. Any room where food is stored, prepped, or enjoyed should be cleaned thoroughly