How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Cockroaches are creepy and carry pathogens like salmonella. Unfortunately, by the time you begin to see roaches in the home, the infestation has been fully established. Roaches tend to come out by night but will come out during the day if the infestation is particularly heavy. At night, they will crawl on you. This writer once woke up from a nap to see a six-inch black roach on her chest. It’s taken a lot of pharmaceuticals and therapy to get over that nightmare.

Cockroach Killing Plan

Killing cockroaches needs a two-pronged attack to kill existing roaches and making sure they don’t come back. Keep food in sealed containers and regularly clean up any messes that could feed roaches. Vacuum often and don’t forget to vacuum the furniture where crumbs accumulate. Clean up any puddles on the floor to deprive roaches of an easy access water supply. Fix any leaky pipes or fixtures that provide a water source for the roaches.

For severe infestations, contact a professional pest control management company. They are able to get access to pesticides that are not available over the counter. These insecticides also include insect growth regulators (IGRs) that helps prevent juvenile roaches from maturing into adults. If they can’t mature, they can’t breed.

Using Bait Stations

Over the counter roach baits and traps work very well in reducing cockroach populations. Place bait stations in dark hidden corners of counters, under sinks and behind large appliances like refrigerators. Also place them anywhere cockroaches have been seen. This will be the best chance of making sure cockroaches come into contact with the baited food inside of the traps.

Roaches live in colonies. They share food among themselves. If a roach brings back food laced with insecticide, then this food is shared with other colony members. This kills roaches more quickly than with conventional sprays. Bait stations can be used in combination with over the counter sticky traps. Replace traps and bait stations according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The University of California recommends moving bait stations around to different places if they do not seem to be effective.

What About Roach Sprays?

Roach sprays work by coming into direct contact with a roach’s body. The problem with sprays that is that they are a very slow way to kill roaches one at a time. Fumes from roach sprays may also sicken children, people with asthma and pets. At best, sprays only work for a short period of time because the surviving roaches quickly breed replacements for the dead roaches.

The University of California also notes that roaches have become resistant to some over the counter pesticide sprays. Go with the bait stations and checking your home to remove anything that would attract roaches.