Roaches are one of the most annoying infestations that we will experience but did you know that it is also one of the most dangerous? The truth is that roaches carry a number of dangerous diseases that can be spread so it’s important that you address the problem immediately. You will need to learn what to do when you see roaches. Give these nasty pests a permanent eviction notice!
Take Away their Food and Water Supply
You should always start by removing food and water sources. Like all living creatures, roaches must have food and water in order to survive. When you take that away, they will move on and look for other sources. Clean behind all appliances. Fix all water leaks. Do not leave dishes in the sink. When roaches do not have a primary source of food, they are far more likely to eat any bait that you sit out.
Thoroughly Clean your Home
Having a clean house is essential to keeping all infestations away. For roaches, the best place to start is the kitchen. Always wash dishes right after a meal rather than letting them sit in the sink. Thoroughly sweep and mop the floor. And pat attention to your stove. Roaches love grease so it’s important that you take apart your stove to clean all of those hard to reach areas.
Seal Away Food
Cereal should be stored in air tight containers rather than being left in their packaging. Foods stored in the refrigerator should be sealed. Fruits should be placed into an air tight container. Never store food on the counter for an extended period of time. It should be put away as quickly as possible.
Take Out the Trash
You should take out the trash on a regular basis rather than letting it pile up for days. In fact, you can take it a step further by freezing all leftover food instead of tossing it directly into the trash and letting it sit there for days. Store it frozen until garbage day.
Set out Bait Stations
Bait stations can be quite an effective roach killer but only if you follow through with all of the above methods. No extermination method will work if you keep leaving food out. It will only attract more roaches. Place the bait station in difficult to reach locations like behind the refrigerator or under counters. The only downside of bait stations is that you might see quite a few dead roaches lying around your home. Clean these up immediately.
If All Else Fails…
Consult with a professional exterminator. They have experience in dealing with infestations and have the tools to quickly eliminate the problem. Again, this is only going to work if you have thoroughly cleaned and removed all food sources. Otherwise the roaches will just come back.
Exterminators are going to provide you with a list of things that you will need to do after they have sprayed. Roaches are probably the most difficult infestation to eliminate so it’s important that you follow through with all of these items.
