How to Keep Cockroaches Out of Your Home

A cockroach infestation can be the worst nightmare of any homeowner. In addition to simply being unsightly, cockroaches transmit a number of allergens and diseases, are notoriously difficult to control, and can cause damage to your property. So in order to keep cockroaches away from your home, it’s necessary to implement proper preventative measures that will make your home less attractive to infest. 

While DIY methods can be cost-effective initially, they may not always be sufficient to handle a larger or more persistent infestation. Over-the-counter sprays and traps might handle small groups of roaches, but they fail to address the root of the infestation: hidden nests and entry points that roach professionals are better at effectively identifying and treating.

Roaches don’t have to be part of your household, no matter what the weather brings. If you find yourself in the midst of a cockroach invasion, contact your local pest control professionals right away.

Tips to Prevent Roach Infestations

• Refrigerate unsealed food.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Avoid leaving pet food out overnight.
• Completely seal trash or take it out nightly.
• Wash or put unwashed dishes in the dishwasher.
• Get rid of any cardboard boxes or old grocery bags.
• Wipe or sweep away spills and crumbs immediately.
• Keep your oven, microwave, and counters debris-free.
• Seal all cracks and gaps around pipes and in your home’s exterior.
• Clean up cluttered piles of newspapers and any other potential roach habitats. 
  

Why Do I Have Cockroaches?

These resilient pests find garages to be ideal shelters due to the availability of dark, damp, and cluttered spaces. They slip in through small cracks and crevices in the garage door, windows, or walls. In addition to the warm temperature inside, your house is full of tasty food to sustain the local roach population all winter long. 

A roach can survive under unbelievably harsh conditions, so not even the frigid winter climate can keep these pests down. Most cockroaches hibernate during the cold months and will spend their time outdoors, often in wood piles near your home, and are then brought inside with the firewood. 

So if you think you’re off the hook because you don’t have a fireplace, the bad news is that some roaches will inevitably seek shelter in your cozy home anyway. Often, they are also brought in accidentally with boxes, grocery bags, and other items moved from outside or other infested areas.

Seeing just one cockroach in your home is often a big indicator that you already have many more. 

The Dangers & Health Risks Caused by Cockroaches

When it comes to household pests, cockroaches might be at the very top of the list of being the most dreaded for good reasons: 

• Cockroaches are infamous for triggering asthma and allergic reactions in people. 
• Aside from being a fearsome thing to behold when spotted inside, they can cause significant damage to your property and its contents. 
• Roach populations can explode out of nowhere due to their incredibly quick reproductive abilities. Each fertilized female can produce four to six of these egg sacs in their lifetime.
• Cockroaches may contaminate your family’s food supply with E.coli and Salmonella.
• They can also easily transfer harmful bacteria from filth to the food you eat, which can trigger symptoms much like food poisoning.
• When roach nymphs shed their exoskeletons as they grow, those exoskeletons become dry and brittle. Small bits, along with cockroach feces, can become airborne and produce respiratory issues when inhaled. This is especially troublesome for children living in urban areas with unchecked cockroach infestations.

Terminix Anderson, Your Cockroach Exterminator Experts

Midwestern residents from all walks of life and in every neighborhood can experience cockroach infestations. 

With the help of a professional roach control company like Terminix Anderson, cockroaches can be a thing of the past. We’ve eliminated pest populations in countless Illinois homes and businesses, and we’re proud to use effective and safe solutions to control cockroach infestations. 

Count on us to provide you with safe, effective cockroach control all year round! Get started today with a free service quote by giving us a call or filling out a contact form here.

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