How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

While dozens of terrible pests can make their way into your home, the idea of roaches likely strikes you with a unique sort of fear. That’s because we’re scientifically wired to hate roaches. They hiss, they’re dirty, they’re covered in filth and oil, and they can be huge.

Luckily, there are ways that you can get rid of cockroaches when they enter your home. Read on to learn some tips on preventing a cockroach infestation the second you notice one on your property.

Call a Pest Control Service

Cockroaches aren’t just creepy. They’re a problem that gets worse and worse the longer you ignore them.

They lay eggs quickly that will hatch within just a couple of weeks. They also lay up to 40 eggs at once, so you could have hundreds of roaches in a very short time.

The only real way to prevent the problem from getting worse is to call in extermination experts. They’ll know how to assess your home, figure out where the problem is coming from, and identify feeding points.

They’ll then use poison bait, insecticide, glue traps, and gel to get rid of roaches. The treatment will depend on your specific problem, which is hard to do without expert knowledge.

That’s why making an appointment for a professional inspection is the first thing to do immediately after noticing a roach or eggs.

Identify Your Invaders

But what can you do in the meantime?

The first step toward figuring out short-term fixes to stave off your problem is identifying the cockroach type. Sometimes you won’t be able to do this if you don’t see the physical roach. You also may not want to get up close and personal enough to determine this, which is more than understandable.

But if you do want to do this, do some research and learn about common cockroaches in the US. The American Cockroach is a reddish-brown water bug, and it’s the most common roach that invades US homes. They reproduce fast and have a long lifespan.

However, you also might be contending with the German cockroach. This is a staple in some areas of California because it thrives in warm weather. If you live up north, though, it may not be as big an issue in a colder or rainier area.

Oriental cockroaches, smoky brown roaches, and brown-banded cockroaches are also strong possibilities. The latter is especially common in bathrooms and living rooms because it doesn’t need a ton of moisture to live.

Identifying the problem may help your exterminator resolve it faster.

Clean Up Your Home

Cockroaches thrive in filth. That’s why a lot of infestations happen in kitchens. If you have food lying around or dishes piling up, cleaning them might help to solve your roach invasion.

Like humans, roaches need food to survive. Sweep, get rid of any crumbs on tables, and seal up everything in the pantry. They also eat things like soap and hair, so do a deep cleaning and get rid of anything that the roaches might consider eating.

You also will want to check out attics and crawl spaces. When there’s moisture in your home, especially in dark places, roaches will thrive there. Put a dehumidifier in there and patch up any areas that might lead to leaks.

This isn’t going to totally get rid of roaches. You’ll need professional tools for that, especially because of eggs. But it may kill some of them for a short-term solution.

Look for Entry Points

Cockroaches don’t just magically appear in your home. They come in through entry points such as:

• Cracks in the walls
• Holes in attics and crawlspace
• Gaps between doors and walls
• Ceiling holes and gaps
• Open windows

Try to find some of these points of entry and patch them up. Door sweeps and sealants like spackling paste will help you here. If you find any more significant entry points, you also might want to board them up.

Note that some problems may be foundational. After exterminators come and resolve your current problem, you might want to invest in home renovations. This will keep roaches from coming back later.

Put Out Glue Strips

Glue strips are a safe and effective way to get rid of roaches. In fact, they’re one of many professional tacks that experts use.

These glue strips are just small paper sheets or tubes coated in a gluelike substance. They’ll start catching roaches almost immediately. They work well for small invasions, but they’ll have no long-term effect once they become huge infestations.

Note that none of these solutions are permanent fixes. They’re just things you can do while you wait for your professional extermination appointment. They’ll stop more roaches from coming in from the outside in the meantime (though they won’t stop eggs from hatching and existing roaches from reproducing).

These quick fixes might also kill some of the roaches because they’ll starve without food and wither without moisture. All you can do then is wait for exterminators to come within just a couple of days after making your appointment with Fast Action Pest Control.

Beyond How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

While a cockroach invasion can lead to a difficult and disgusting infestation, taking action ASAP can help to nip the problem in the bud. Now that you know how to get rid of cockroaches quickly, it’s time to call in the experts to assess your situation.

Fast Action Pest Control is committed to speedy service that keeps bugs from nesting in your home. Our Northern California experts will come in quickly, inspect your living space, and determine how to best eradicate roaches. Get a free inspection today to begin the process of having a clean and pest-free home.