12 Tips to Keep Cockroaches Away This Summer

With summer steadily approaching, there are a few things you can look forward to, hot weather and rainy days being among them. Also, on the list is the sudden surge in cockroach populations brought on by heat and humidity, here are tips to keep cockroaches away.

Companies specializing in pest control Albury and in other towns claim that cockroaches are the most common household pest in the summer. Albury Wodonga pest control companies suggest taking a few general precautions when it comes to preventing a cockroach infestation. This includes the following.

Clean Your Outside Areas

Don’t assume that these pesky little critters only live inside your house. Cockroaches will congregate and inhabit any area that provides them with food and shelter. They can easily live under cardboard or plastic that provides enough shelter from the elements.

Get Rid of Garbage

Avoid keeping trash either in the house or outside for long periods of time. Get rid of it as soon as possible. Cockroaches will feed off the scraps.

Repair and Seal Cracks

Did you know cockroaches can enter your home through any open spaces or crevices in your walls or windows? Repair these by sealing them off. Remember to check drains, utility pipes, and any other points of entry on your premises.

Have a Spotless Kitchen

Since the kitchen is a general hot spot for roach activity, it’s important to maintain a spotless kitchen. Tiny crumbs on counters and tables are a welcome treat for roaches, so wipe down surfaces regularly.

Clean Behind Kitchen Appliances and Cupboards

Regularly check for crumbs that may have fallen from counters or spilled behind appliances. The heat generated by appliances that run continuously such as your fridge, is an ideal attraction and creates a welcome spot for cockroaches to nest.

Sealed Containers

Since cockroaches are able to fit their flat bodies into the smallest openings, food in packets and open boxes is equally at risk. Make sure all open food packets and boxes are stored in containers with tightly sealed lids. No one wants to eat something that was nibbled on by a family of cockroaches!

Clean Before They Feed

Since cockroaches feed at night, one of the best ways to prevent them from moving into your kitchen is to tidy up every night. Wipe down countertops, clean the floor, wash the dishes, and remove any garbage. If there’s nothing for them to feed on, they’ll most likely not stay.

Declutter Your Whole Home

Just because roaches are commonly only found in the kitchen, doesn’t mean they can’t migrate to other parts of the house. They can use cardboard, plastic, or paper for shelter so having a good old-fashioned spring clean before summer will go a long way to ensuring they have nowhere to live.

Vacuum Your Carpets Often

Roaches can also live under loose-fitting carpets. This makes it important to vacuum your carpets every three days at least.

Limit Where Everyone Eats

Wherever possible, limit eating to one room in your home. This will make it less likely for cockroaches to find food sources in other areas of your house.

A Few Common Cockroach Repellents

Many people have their own tried and tested methods of getting rid of roaches. Here are a few of the most common:

• Garlic powder: Supposedly garlic is very effective in the eradication of roaches. Sprinkle garlic powder liberally around infested areas. Replace the powder every month until the cockroaches are gone.
• Borax: Place borax in a jar lid where you’ve seen the most cockroaches. You can also sprinkle some behind appliances and cupboards. However, ensure pets don’t have access to the powder.
• Neem: This natural herb has many traditional uses, and killing cockroaches is one of them. It’s believed it can deter adult roaches from laying eggs.
• Soapy water: A solution of soapy water sprayed onto the cockroach’s head and abdomen slows down its ability to breathe and suffocates the insect.
• House gecko: If you can catch a gecko, release it into the room where the cockroaches are and it’ll eat its way through your infestation in no time. Geckos eat the heads off of roaches that are too big to swallow.
• Tea tree oil: Simply mix a quarter cup of vinegar with a quarter cup of tea tree oil and mix this solution with two cups of water. Spray this around the infested area.

If All Else Fails, Call a Pest Control Specialist

There are times when all the cleaning and vacuuming in the world just won’t send these irksome little critters packing. Instead of continuously spraying your home with store-bought chemicals that are toxic to your family and pets, call a professional.

The pest control Albury Wodonga and other towns have on offer will eradicate cockroaches in no time. These companies use chemicals that are safe for the other creatures living in your home, like you and your pets!

In Conclusion

In general, good sanitation is the fundamental key to keeping cockroaches away this summer. By enforcing a few daily routines and disciplines, you’ll be able to enjoy your summer without worrying about a roach invasion!