Cockroaches are one of the most common insect pests. The key to getting rid of an infestation is not just killing the roaches but removing the factors that attracted them in the first place, such as leaky pipes and the continuous presence of leftover food. Cockroaches can live for about six months without food so if you want to prevent them from coming back, it’s important to make sure there aren’t any food sources available.
Cockroaches will eat basically anything, but they prefer starches and sugars. They also like grease and meat. You might find them in your kitchen or pantry where there are plenty of food sources. Food items attract roaches and eliminating food crumbs will give you a chance of preventing cockroach infestation
As a leading cockroach pest control provider in London, we are well placed to offer advice.
How to get rid of cockroaches?
Roaches are gross! And if you’ve ever had to deal with them, you know how hard it can be to get rid of them. But we’re here to help! We’ve rounded up a few ways to kill roaches and get rid of those nasty bugs for good.
Removing their food sources.
Roaches want to eat a lot, and they are especially fond of grease and sugar products. To get rid of roaches, you should stop leaving crumbs on your countertops or dirty dishes in the sink overnight. If you have pets or small children, it’s also important to keep pet food away from where they roam so that they don’t attract cockroaches inside your home by accident.
Removing their shelter.
Cockroaches need somewhere warm and dry during winter months when it gets cold outside (or if there’s no more sunlight) because their bodies can’t regulate temperature internally like we do. The easiest way is simply keeping doors closed all day long, whenever possible, so these pests won’t find any reason at all to come inside. If doing this isn’t realistic then try cleaning up clutter around baseboards or under furniture instead which might be providing nesting material for breeding females that are already inside.
Sometimes it’s difficult to keep your home clear of clutter and debris, but whenever possible try to keep vacuuming on a regular basis so that you can prevent pests from being attracted inside. The best way to prevent pests from coming inside is also the easiest–keep your home clean and clear of clutter! Pests are attracted to food and water, so whenever possible keep things stored away in airtight containers or sealed bags. This will help prevent them from finding any reason to come inside at all!
Roach Traps.
If you want to get rid of roaches without using harmful chemicals, trapping them is an effective option. There are many types of traps available. Some are designed to attract and kill the roaches, while others are used to monitor their activity. You can purchase traps or make your own using materials found around the house. The type of trap you choose depends on the type of roach infestation. For example, if you have a severe German cockroach problem, you’ll need to purchase professional traps that use a chemical bait. These types of traps are designed to kill the roaches quickly in order to prevent them from spreading further and reproducing.
Bait stations.
Bait stations are the best way to eliminate roach infestations in your home or apartment because they’re simple and easy to use and don’t require any maintenance after the pests have been eliminated.
You simply place bait stations near areas where you’ve seen roaches or their droppings and wait for the pests to feed on them. The bait contains a slow-acting poison that will kill roaches over time. You can usually purchase bait stations at hardware stores and home improvement retailers, or order them online.
Boric acid.
Boric acid is another good option to kill adult roaches. It’s an effective, all-natural insecticide that you can buy at home improvement retailers or online. You’ll need to apply it directly to the roaches’ bodies by sprinkling it onto surfaces where they’re likely to crawl or walk through.
Boric acid is slow-acting and can take several days for killing roaches. It’s best used in conjunction with other methods of pest control in London, such as baits and traps. But be careful if you have children and pets in the house- Boric acid is a dangerous poison.
Baking Soda
Another way to kill roaches is with baking soda. Baking soda works by causing the internal organs of roaches to explode when they come in contact with it.
You can sprinkle some baking soda around your house where you’ve seen evidence of roaches and leave it there for a few days before vacuuming it up after it’s done its job!
Use diatomaceous earth to kill cockroaches naturally.
Diatomaceous earth is a powder made from fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It’s an effective insecticide because it works by cutting through the exoskeleton of insects, causing them to dehydrate. You can buy diatomaceous earth at most garden supply stores or online-it kills cockroaches mercilessly!
Diatomaceous earth can be used in many ways around your home to help kill roaches:
- Apply it directly on top of cracks and crevices where cockroaches hide during the day. You can also sprinkle this dust around baseboards or along walls where they may travel frequently.
- Sprinkle food-grade DE over beds and couches where you’ve seen roaches during the day (not on mattresses). Bedbugs don’t seem to like crawling over this stuff very much either!
- If you have a problem with bedbugs, diatomaceous earth is a great option for getting rid of them too. This will help in cleaning the bug infestation. This dust can be applied directly to the mattress to kill any existing bugs. You may also want to sprinkle some under your bed and around the frame for extra protection against future infestations.
Clean your kitchen thoroughly and regularly with soap and hot water.
You should also clean your kitchen frequently with soap and hot water, as this will help prevent roach infestations from getting worse. Doing dusting or even throwing out the garbage regularly can help in controlling the pest problem.
Cleaning the kitchen every night before sleeping is incredibly effective because roaches come out at night, Wipe down kitchen countertops, wash all the dishes and dry them out. Clean the sink and dry out the water, and sweep the floor well. Make sure to wipe out all the water and food crumbs from the floor to deter roaches.
All this fuss is just because roaches eat whatever is leftover on shelves.
If the above methods still do not work, your last resort should be to contact the pest control service.
Seal gaps in your home or apartment
When it comes to cockroach control, sealing gaps and cracks in your home or apartment is the most important step. You have to seal all areas where they might come in, including gaps around pipes and vents, any holes in the walls or floors of your home or apartment building, cracks between window frames and sills, and so on. They can even crawl space vents. This makes roach control necessary.
The best way to do this is by using caulk or weather stripping tape. If you want a more permanent solution that won’t let the roaches back in after you leave for work every day (which is what happens when you use caulk), then putty will be better suited for permanently sealing gaps bigger than 1mm in size—like those between window frames and sills.
For smaller openings like a quarter-inch gap under a threshold (or doorjamb) you should use some sort of insect barrier material instead like Gore-Tex fabric which blocks insects but lets air flow through freely enough so that mould doesn’t grow inside the wall when humidity levels rise high outside. Humidity levels rise high during springtime rains or summer humidity levels start getting higher after winter has passed.
When dealing with larger openings like pipes going through walls/floors etc., consider using stainless steel mesh tape which allows water and vapour through while blocking insects from getting inside as regular pipe insulation does! Also, make sure anything touching wood trim against walls has been caulked tight—this includes baseboards at floor-level intersecting with drywall sheets at ceiling height plus any crown mouldings above windows & doors too!
Repel roaches naturally by feeding them cucumbers
You may have heard, or even tried yourself, the famous “cucumber trick”: put slices of cucumber near your roach-infested areas. This will help repel cockroaches away from your home. The theory is that these pests are repelled by a substance called odorous materials, which is found in most fruits and vegetables.
Caulking
Caulking is a great way to seal gaps in your home or apartment. It’s also an easy and affordable way to get rid of other roaches. Caulk around windows, doors and other places where there are gaps in the wall. This will prevent roaches overnight from getting into your home or apartment. If you’re not sure how to do this, call a professional or check out some online tutorials.
If you don’t already have caulking on hand, check with your local hardware store for all kinds of options: paintable latex caulk, silicone caulk that’s waterproof and mould-resistant (this one can be painted over) and clear vinyl window sealant that won’t yellow over time as some other versions do.
Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is a simple and effective method to keep out American cockroach and German cockroaches. You can get weather stripping at your local hardware store, and it’s easy to install. Weather stripping can be installed on the bottom of doors, around door frames, and along windowsills. It will help keep roaches out by providing an airtight seal. If you’re not sure how to do this, call for a professional pest control service or check out some online tutorials.
Weather stripping keeps bugs like cockroaches from getting into your home by sealing holes around doors and windows. It also helps keep warm air during the winter months, saving you money on heating bills. If you have gaps around your door and windows, try using foam weather stripping. This is a good option if you’re looking for a temporary solution that can be removed when the weather warms up again or if you don’t want to permanently alter your home’s appearance with other types of caulking or sealants.
Store food properly.
Store food properly if your roach traps do not work. Roach species are attracted to food, and they will eat anything you leave out. To repel roaches from getting into your food, store it in airtight containers with tight-fitting lids. Wash dishes and utensils immediately after using them; don’t leave dirty dishes sitting around on the counter or in the sink. If you have pets, make sure to clean up any pet waste as soon as possible. Roaches consume pet waste because of its high water content and the fact that it’s typically left outside where there are fewer predators than inside homes.
Keep food sealed in airtight containers and store it in a cool, dry place. If you have access to a freezer, store food there if possible. Clean up after yourself; don’t leave dirty dishes or crumbs sitting around on the counter or in the sink.
Myth: Put aluminium foil on the floor will deter all the roaches
Some people believe that putting foil on the floor can help keep them away. It’s thought that they will not cross the foil because they see their reflection and get confused. However, this is not true. Aluminium foil won’t get rid of roaches because it’s not possible for roaches to see their reflection, let alone become confused.
Conclusion
There’s no magic solution for getting rid of cockroaches.
If you have an apartment building, make sure that your landlord knows about the problem. If everyone in the building is working together to keep their homes clean and free of food waste, it will be much easier to prevent cockroaches.
If you have a bad infestation, call a professional exterminator. They can provide you with advice on how to get rid of cockroaches, and they can also help with the cleanup process. If you don’t want to hire professional exterminators, there are some steps that you can take at home.
Try following the steps above.
And don’t miss the few basic rules- make sure that your home is clean and free of food waste. If possible, keep food in the refrigerator or freezer whenever possible. If you do have to leave food out, be sure to cover it with plastic wrap or aluminium foil so that roaches cannot access it easily.
