You take pride in your home: you wash the dishes, wipe down your kitchen, vacuum and sweep up, and take out the trash before it piles up. So why do you have cockroaches? Well, contrary to popular belief, you don't need to have a dirty home to have a roach infestation.
If you're experiencing a cockroach problem in your clean home, these three reasons are most likely why.
1. They're Searching for Shelter
When not looking for food or water, roaches are searching for some shelter. When you're as small as a bug, there are a lot more ways into a human home than one might think. Even the smallest gap can be an entry point:
- The space between the floor and an exterior door
- The gaps around a window AC unit
- Vents to the outdoors
- Holes in your walls made for cables and pipes
- A tear in a window or door screen
Cockroaches can even sneak into your home while you're making a few trips back and forth to bring in your groceries. You can minimize the likelihood of a roach infestation (and other types of pest infestations) by performing regular perimeter checks around and throughout your home and sealing up any small gaps.
2. They're Attracted By Water
Did you know that roaches can live for up to a month without food but only a week without water? No matter how clean your home is, if there's some excess moisture somewhere, it could very well be an attractive invitation for your neighborhood roaches. This is one of the reasons why you'll commonly find roaches hanging out in your bathroom and laundry room or around an appliance that produces condensation.
To prevent this issue, make sure to repair leaks around the house, even small ones that don't seem like they'd make a major impact. If you notice standing water around your yard, improve the drainage in those areas so that the moisture won't attract roaches and other pests to your property.
3. They're Foraging
Even if you tidy up your kitchen and dining area after each meal, it still might not be enough to prevent a roach from foraging through your home. Roaches often detect crumbs that have been missed under the refrigerator and microwave and food that hasn't been adequately sealed in the pantry. They will also eat food that's left out for pets. Additionally, roaches can digest cellulose, which allows them to eat things like paper, cardboard, and wallpaper.
Roaches in the kitchen (or anywhere in your home) are nothing to take lightly. These bugs can contaminate your food and water and are known to carry Salmonella typhimurium, Entamoeba histolytica, and the poliomyelitis virus. Furthermore, cockroach allergens trigger allergies and aggravate asthma. Research is currently underway to study evidence that early exposure to cockroach allergens can actually cause pre-school-aged children to develop asthma.
Trusted, Sustainable Pest Control Services
At Greenix Pest Control, we want you to feel comfortable and secure in your home so that you can enjoy peace of mind and more time with your family. For help with cockroaches on your property, don't wait to contact our pest control experts: (888) 800-7181.
DIY Cockroach Prevention Steps
1. Remove all items from beneath the sink.
2. Wipe down surfaces with disinfectant.
3. Check for leaks or moisture and repair if needed.
4. Seal cracks with caulk or expanding foam.
5. Place natural deterrents like bay leaves or baking soda.
6. Store items in sealed plastic containers, not cardboard.
