February is getting nearer, which means we only have one or two months left before we begin to see truly warm temperatures again. With the promise of spring in the air, we also have to consider what other things begin to show up when warm weather rolls around. Sure, there are the seasonal allergies that many people will be fighting. However, your sniffling and sneezing could be caused by more than just increased levels of pollen in the air. Did you know that your allergy issues could actually be due to cockroaches? In this post, we will tell you more about how cockroaches emerging this spring could cause you not to feel your best and how to prevent these symptoms from occurring.
Cockroaches Carry Bacteria
While this may not be surprising to you, considering how truly disgusting these critters are, cockroaches carry a good amount of bacteria. Many times, people will experience a number of symptoms, all of which seem to be allergy or asthma-related. These can be anything from a runny nose to itchy eyes, leading you to believe it may be time for you to visit your local drugstore or pharmacy. However, what you may not be aware of is how common it is for cockroaches to cause these same sorts of symptoms in people. Not only can these pests trigger these symptoms, but they can also carry a number of different bacteria (33, to be exact). These range from Salmonella to E.coli. This probably gives you a better idea of why it is important for you to eliminate areas within your home that could be accessed by cockroaches.
Keeping Cockroaches Out Of Your Home
Just as we advise with the majority of other pests you are trying to prevent from entering your home, the main key to ensuring that cockroaches are not infesting your home is to keep it clean. Cleanliness is the best practice across the board when it comes to remaining healthy. Not only will you be able to know that your home is pest-free, but it will become a place where you truly do enjoy spending your time. For now, however, let’s uncover the best way to keep cockroaches out of certain areas in your home.
Kitchen
The first step you should consider is to keep your counters, tables, sink, and floors as clean as you possibly can every single day. Make sure that you are cleaning up crumbs and spills as soon as they make their way onto your kitchen surfaces. You should also store all of your food in airtight containers that will keep it fresh for as long as possible. Cleaning your cabinets with soap and water every once in a while is also a fantastic idea if you want to keep pests at bay. Additionally, make sure that you are checking underneath your sinks and appliances to ensure there is no additional water or moisture where there should be none. All of these steps will keep your kitchen free of cockroaches.
Bathroom
The bathroom is also a fairly common place where cockroaches are found in homes. This is because they are attracted first and foremost to moisture as they need it to survive. In fact, a cockroach will not make it longer than seven days without water before they meet their end. This is why it’s important that you wipe up any water that may be present around your sink, tub, or toilet. If you have a leaky faucet, you should consider fixing it as soon as possible. Cockroaches are nocturnal, and having a leaking sink that drips all night long is definitely going to attract these critters.
Basement
Many people have basements that act as a sort of storage room. If you use your basement for this purpose, we suggest you reconsider. It’s time to get rid of your clutter once and for all if you don’t want cockroaches taking advantage of your space. You should also pay close attention to any windows that may be in your basement, as worn down weather-stripping is often an easy entry point for cockroaches. If you discover that your windows do have cracks or crevices, be sure to quickly seal them with caulk or steel wool.
DIY Strategies for Dealing With a Cockroach Infestation
Handling a cockroach infestation requires proactive measures and the right tools. Here are some DIY strategies to help manage and potentially reduce roach infestations in your home:
- Boric Acid: A common method for killing roaches, boric acid can be sprinkled in areas where cockroaches frequent, such as under sinks, behind appliances, and along baseboards. However, it must be used carefully to avoid areas accessible to children and pets.
- Roach Traps: Placing roach traps around your home can help monitor and reduce the population by capturing roaming cockroaches. These traps are often baited with an attractant to which roaches are drawn.
- Seal Entry Points: To prevent further infestation, seal cracks in walls, gaps around windows, doors, and any other entry points where cockroaches might enter from outside.
- Proper Food Storage: Cockroaches are attracted to food sources. Ensure that all food, including pet food, is stored in sealed containers and that kitchen areas are clean and free from food debris.
Considering Safety in Approaching Cockroach Control
When dealing with a cockroach infestation, it’s vital to consider the safety of your household. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:
- Choose Safe Products: Opt for pest control products that are safe for indoor use and less toxic to humans and pets. Always follow the label instructions carefully.
- Ventilation: If you must use chemical sprays or foggers, ensure proper ventilation to avoid inhaling toxins.
- Avoid Overapplication: Using too much of any pesticide can lead to hazardous residues that can affect your family’s health. Use the minimal effective amount.
- Child and Pet Safety: Store all pest control materials out of reach of children and pets and ensure they avoid areas treated with chemicals until they are completely dry.
Hire The Professional Pest Management Team At Earthwise
If you want to make sure that your Sacramento home is free of cockroaches once spring arrives, your course of action is very simple. Simply call the expert pest removal team at Earthwise Pest Management. We will do everything we can to ensure that your home is free of these creepy critters, which will not only make your home a safer place but one in which you don’t have to worry about coming down with an illness.
Contact Us for Cockroach Control Services in Sacramento, CA, and Nearby Areas
If your home or business is battling a roach infestation, Earthwise Pest Management is here to help. Our team of skilled pest control professionals is experienced in handling all types of cockroach species, including the elusive brown-banded cockroaches. Serving Sacramento, CA, and the surrounding areas, we offer tailored cockroach control solutions designed to effectively get rid of roaches and prevent future infestations. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and reclaim your space from these unwelcome guests.
Quick Cockroach FAQ
Q: How do I get rid of American cockroaches?
A: This type of cockroach is known to thrive in damp and warm environments. Most commonly, they will be found in sewers, steam tunnels, basements, boiler rooms, and crawl spaces. This is why spaces like this are where pest control almost always begins if you want to get rid of American cockroaches for good.
Q: How do I get rid of German cockroaches?
A: The German cockroach is a real challenge to get rid of for good as they are prolific breeders and will hide in places that other cockroaches typically would not. Whether it be your bathrooms or your kitchen, this type of cockroach will risk being seen to be closer to food and water.
Most of the time, buying products off the shelf won’t solve this cockroach problem, and you will likely have to hire a pest control company to solve the issue for you once and for all.
Q: Is it possible to get rid of cockroaches and keep them from coming back?
A: While it is perfectly possible to get rid of cockroaches, infestations can occur easily depending on the type of cockroaches that are calling your home theirs.
Cockroaches that are known to reside outside, like smoky browns in the Southwest or Oriental cockroaches in the Midwest and Northeast, will likely continue to try time and time again to enter your home.
This is why it is imperative that you make sure your home is prepared to defend against these critters on the exterior. Making sure that cracks are sealed and that there are no holes in your walls can help prevent future invasions.
Q: How effective are baits for controlling cockroaches?
A: While cockroach baits are effective in a certain way, they also take a long time to kill roaches, and that is not by any means a guarantee. In order for baits to work, every cockroach in a population would have to feed on the bait for the infestation to be over. If you want to buy baits, we say, “Go for it!” But also, give us a call so that our pest control team can remove the cockroaches quickly and efficiently from your space.
Q: What sorts of illnesses can cockroaches bring about?
A: As we mentioned above, cockroaches can spread a number of different illnesses. Below are just a few of the most common ones:
- Food poisoning: Believe it or not, because cockroaches like to eat food that has gone bad and crawl around unsanitary areas, they can track germs across the food that is in your cabinets or on your countertops. This can lead to the development of food poisoning.
- Dysentery: This is a disease that comes from ingesting fecal matter, which cockroaches often walk through and transfer elsewhere, including into things you will ingest.
- Tapeworms: These can cause serious illness and issues with digesting food in both humans and animals.
- Roundworms: These are parasitic organisms that can cause illnesses like trichinosis.
- Fungus: Cockroach droppings, skins that have been shed, and other materials can develop fungi that are known to have negative effects on a person’s lungs, eyes, and overall health.
