4 ways stop cockroaches getting into the house

Finding a live cockroach is enough to set alarm bells ringing for many people. However, these insects are actually more than just unpleasant to look at. Cockroaches are usually linked with dirt and filth, and even worse, cockroaches can spread disease and illness around your home.

Need professional cockroach removal? Contact Rentokil to schedule an appointment with a licensed cockroach control specialist.

No matter what type of pest problems you might have had in the house, cockroach have some simple reasons just like other household pests such as ants and flies when scuttling into your house:

• Searching for foods
• Seeking for water and moisture
• Shelter

Unfortunately, our house provides the things that the cockroach needs to thrive easily - starting from food crumbs scattered on the floor, or even piles and stacks of unused items that are ideal for a cockroach breeding site.

Nobody wants to live and share things with cockroaches under the same roof. But then again, the question is how to stop this filthy pest from getting into your house?

Seeing cockroaches on the kitchen floor or, worse yet, in the house during the daytime, may take you into a panic mode. Because, if you can see the cockroach infestation during the daytime, this could be a possible sign for the heavy cockroach problem you have at home right now.

There are some preventive measures you can try to cockroach proof your house, including:

1. Eliminate food sources
2. Close off any entry points
3. Keep your house dry
4. Declutter any unnecessary items

Cockroaches are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will take and eat anything available to them. Nevertheless, cockroaches have their own interest in several types of food, especially kind of foods that contain sugar, starchy foods and foods that contain high nutritional value.

Find out more about what do cockroach eat here

They enjoyed any delicious food that humans eat as well as share the same taste with humans. Thus, no wonder if you find a cockroach in your house in a location where the human food is available to them, like a kitchen or dining room.

When some of their favourite foods are not available around your house, cockroaches can still find other ways to find any kinds of foods that you might not even think of can be consumed by cockroaches, such as glue, toothpaste, paper and even waste materials.

What can you do to eliminate cockroach food sources?

• Remove food remains – Immediately clean up all the food crumbs, grease and spills of sweet drinks on the floor as well as kitchen counter and dining table. Cockroaches only need small amounts of food for a meal, so any crumbs or liquids are of course become the main attraction for cockroaches to come immediately.
• Store food away – Cockroaches are able to smell strong food odours, thus by storing foods into tightly sealed containers, you can reduce the attractants for them to come.
• Don't leave food out on your kitchen counter –  Leaving food left open is a really bad idea because the exposed food has certainly become a temptation for a cockroach that can't resist. On the other hand, cockroaches can spread disease by contaminating human food that is left open through bacterias on their body. 

Just like what rats can do when they cause problems in your home, cockroaches are also good enough to be able to squeeze through the smallest of cracks and crevices to enter your house.

Cockroaches are known for their extremely strong and flexible exoskeleton that let them fit through the smallest gaps and cracks as small as a quarter of their body height by flattening their flexible exoskeletons and splaying their legs out to the side.

Therefore it’s certainly not a big deal for the cockroach to sneak into your home in order to find the food and water sources around.

Cockroaches can go undetected in finding ways to gain entry into your home, including:

• Cracks
• Crevices
• Small gaps between the window and door frame

What can you do to make cockroach difficult to find any entry point at your home?

• Immediately seal up the cracks and crevices on the wall with cement or joint compound
• Make sure that all windows or doors are closing properly all the time
• Eliminate any opening around plumbing pipes and drains
• Properly trapped floor drains

Moisture and humidity are one of the main attractants for cockroaches to come to your house.  Cockroach needs plenty of water to drink in order to survive. In fact, they are able to live up to a month without food, but they can’t live more than a week without water.

Cockroaches will be able to sense the plentiful supply of water or moisture from your home and prefers damp, dark and wet places to live and lay their eggs. 

They will generally find open water sources around your home from places like:

• Leaky faucet under the bathroom sink
• Standing water in the kitchen sink
• Pet water bowl
• Plumbing leaks

What can you do to avoid any source of water or moisture that can be a potential lure for cockroaches in your house?

• Fix leaky faucets
• Sealing cracks, gaps & holes around drain pipes
• Repair any water leaks on your ceilings and roof

Cockroaches just like any other pests that love a good place to hideout. Don’t be surprised if the more clutter of unused or excess items you have at home, the more hiding places available to be used by cockroaches. Therefore, you have to ensure that your home is free from any unnecessary clutter that might use for a cockroach to hiding and breeding.

Some of the clutter that cockroaches might use for hiding and breeding you have to get rid as soon as possible, including:

• Stack of old newspaper and magazine
• Stack of paper
• Unused electronic household appliances
• Unused cardboard boxes
• Stack of storage bins
• Piles of clothing

Cockroach love to hide in various humid and dark areas, thus some areas you should also take a look which usually can be full of clutter throughout most homes, including:

• Garage
• Warehouse
• Attic

If you have already spotted signs of a cockroach infestation, these steps will help to control an existing problem. Nevertheless, you will also need the help of a reliable pest control professional for a long-term cockroach control solution.

Cockroaches may spread a range of diseases. Thus, a quick response is essential to prevent cockroaches from putting your family member at risk.

If you think you have a cockroach problem in your home, contact Rentokil today to discuss your requirements for effective cockroach prevention in your home.