How To Remove Roaches From Your Home

It has happened to all of us – you walk barefoot into the kitchen at night only to hear a crunching sound under our feet. Yuck! It is – or was – a roach. If you’ve had this gross experience, you probably are wondering what you can do to get rid of roaches in your home. Here’s how.

Remove Food Sources

Roaches, either German Cockroaches or Oriental Cockroaches, like to be anywhere there is food. Crumbs in the kitchen or even food particles in the sink or dishwasher are all food sources for these nasty bugs. Be sure to wipe down the outside of jars and bottles of syrup and jellies because roaches will otherwise be attracted to the sticky residue. These bugs are also attracted to meat juices, so be sure to wipe down all counter tops after preparing meats.

It might be time to deep clean your kitchen. This is certainly a time-consuming chore, but it is worth it. Take everything out of your pantry and wipe down shelves and cabinets, being sure to clean up any spilled food. Seal foods like grains, crackers, rice, baking ingredients like flour and other foods in plastic bags or sealed containers so roaches can’t get in. Also be sure to clean your oven – roaches are attracted to the greasy buildup.

Vacuum and sweep all floor surfaces — particularly under kitchen cabinets – to remove food particles. If you’ve been eating crackers in bed, make sure to change your bed linens, too.

Plastic Bags and Water

Surprisingly, roaches and roach eggs come into your home via plastic store bags or cardboard boxes, so be sure to discard or recycle packaging rather than storing it in your house or garage.

Roaches love water. Check all sinks for leaks. By doing so, you are removing any potential water sources that could draw in roaches. Also, don’t leave standing water in your dishwasher or sinks. Finally, roaches can use pet water bowls as water sources, so many pet owners will pick those bowls up at night when roaches often come out.

Seal Holes

Walk around your home on the outside and the inside and seal up any holes you may have in windowsills, doorways or walls. Roaches are masters at squeezing through even the tiniest of spots. Many homeowners find gaps around plumbing and sinks, so be sure to seal those with caulk. Use weather stripping to seal doors and windows.

Maintain Your Home

Once you do all this deep cleaning, you have to maintain your home by cleaning these areas regularly. Be sure not to let trash pile up – take it out regularly and try to store your outdoor trash cans as far away from your home as possible. Of course, one of the best ways to maintain your Southern California home is to have regular pest control experts from Premium Termite and Pest Control service your home to prevent roach infestations. We will come out and do a thorough inspection, treating as necessary while stopping roaches in their tracks. We guarantee it. Contact us today.