Why roaches in house

Keeping your house free of clutter means there are less places for roaches to hide out during the day. With no cover for their midday scurrying, these bugs will have to work harder to hide their presence.

You may not even notice the easy access areas as they can be hard to see, but a professional should be able to identify entry points for you. Problem areas include:. We recommend you inspect these problem areas at least once a year and if you do notice cracks and holes, make sure to seal them. You can use caulk to seal small ones, while steel wool and foam are best to fill larger gaps , especially around pipes.

For bigger openings around chimneys or attic vents, you can use a fine wire mesh to create a barrier. Moisture is a huge attractant for bugs — just like humans, they need water in order to survive. If you do notice leaks or plumbing issues, get them fixed as soon as possible.

It's not a bad idea to regularly inspect the faucets, sinks, refrigerators, and appliances in your home to make sure they aren't leaking or producing excess moisture. If you leave treats like an uneaten dog or cat food lying around, you are bound to attract a bug or two. Because roaches are such a problem pest here in Florida, prevention can only get you so far.

The truth of the matter is, most homeowners are going to deal with a roach infestation in their home at some point. While there are many things you can do to make your home an inhospitable environment for bugs, nothing prevents a pest infestation like employing professional exterminators.

Here at Anti-Pesto Bug Killers, we offer the highest-rated pest control in Tampa and surrounding areas. If you are tired of sharing your home with roaches, our experts can help you.

Most Common Cockroaches in the US There are a few different species of roaches that are present here in Florida, but the most common are the German cockroach and the American cockroach. Roaches are attracted to: Dirty dishes in the sink Crumbs in the floors or counters Garbage Pet food on the floor Excess moisture 1.

Dirty dishes in the sink Dirty dishes in the sink often have leftover food on them, which is exactly what cockroaches are looking for. Crumbs on the floors or counters Leaving crumbs on your floor or counters is another source of food that cockroaches will be attracted to. Garbage Garbage is yet another source of food, so be sure to take your garbage out consistently and keep your garbage can sealed so there are no access points. Pet food on the floor Pet food on the floor is a big cockroach attraction that is often overlooked.

Excess moisture Cockroaches need moisture to survive. Get a Free Roach Control Quote! How Roaches Enter Your Home Roaches are attracted to your home for a variety of reasons listed above , but attraction is only the first part. Here's how roaches enter your home: Cracks and crevices Holes in vents and pipes Hitching a ride onto items 1. Cracks and crevices Cracks and crevices in your windows and doors are some of the most common ways cockroaches will find their way into your home.

Holes in vents and pipes Another common way these pests will make an appearance is by coming through your vents and pipes. Hitching a ride onto items While not as common, cockroaches have been known to hitch a ride onto things like old furniture if you're moving it into your home. How to Get Rid of Roaches If you want to get rid of cockroaches in your home, there are a few different effective methods. Here's how to get rid of cockroaches: Clean your home Use traps Use baits Liquid concentrates 1.

Make sure to do the following: Wash dishes and put them away after meals Clean crumbs and spills immediately Take out the garbage before going to bed Remove grease from the stovetop Seal food in containers Mop on a regular basis 2.

Unfortunately, some locations are just more appealing to roaches than others. Leaky pipes and faucets are common attractants. Standing water in birdbaths, gutters, and flowerpots will all attract roaches, as will food sources like birdseed or fruit plants. There are a handful of effective home remedies that will send these nasty critters packing and many of them are not harmful to children or pets.

Diatomaceous earth , or DE for short, is an excellent natural insecticide. When roaches come into contact with DE, it damages their exoskeletons and dehydrates them to death.

Cons: Messy, requires re-application, you will have to locate and dispose of dead roaches after each DE treatment. To make a DIY roach bait, dice a handful of onions and sprinkle them with baking soda. Cons: Pets may consume the onion mixture onions are toxic for dogs , messy, requires you to locate and dispose of dead roaches. Boric acid is a naturally-occurring compound.

A mixture of water and boron, it shows up in fruits and plants. When cockroaches come into contact with boric acid, it sticks to their legs and wings. To use boric acid to get rid of roaches, sprinkle a light dusting onto a paper plate. Cons : Can be messy, requires several applications or treatments, may not be ideal for homes with pets or young kids, requires you to track down and dispose of dead roaches.

For best results, combine equal parts borax and white table sugar. When the roaches consume the borax, it will dehydrate them and kill them rapidly. Cons: Can be messy, requires re-application, requires you to track down and remove dead roach bodies. The smell of lemons, specifically, deters roaches. Add a few drops of lemon oil to the water you use to mop your floors. Essential oils are a great natural roach repellant. For best results, purchase peppermint or lemongrass essential oil and mix it with a bit of water.

Looking for more conventional options to solve your roach problem? Here are some of the fastest ways to get rid of roaches:. Glue strips are an effective way to identify roach problem areas. The smell of the trap lures roaches in and, once they step on the strip, the glue traps them.

Pros: Effective, safe for kids and pets as long as the strips are hidden , fast-acting. Cons : You must monitor strips for a few days or weeks and change and replace them when they become filled with dead roaches. What kills cockroaches almost instantly?

Bait stations. Packaging should also contain helpful information as well. Just remember that doing one thing alone will not kick roaches to the curb. When you're up against insects that outlasted dinosaurs , you'll need a multi-tiered battle plan. Some commercial roach pesticides contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to humans.

If you choose to use these in your home, do not leave them in child-accessible areas and be careful about how you dispose of them. Read labels for proper application procedures to protect your family and your pets. When applying pesticides, protect your eyes, lungs and skin from contact as well. For more information about health hazards of pesticide, you can visit the U.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Home Improvement. Home DIY. Home Repairs. How do roaches get into homes? Roaches that Make Themselves at Home. German cockroach : proliferate quickly and usually nest around the kitchen and bathroom. Brownbanded cockroach : thrive in hotter, drier regions and will nest in areas eye-level or higher inside [source: Ogg et al ].

Oriental cockroach : drawn to humid areas, sometimes referred to as water bugs. American cockroach : Also known as the "palmetto bug," they like hot, humid conditions. Read More. Ways to Get Rid of Roaches " ". Piled newspapers Cardboard boxes Paper bags General piles of clutter where roaches can hide.

Pest Control for Roaches Once you've taken away food and water sources for roaches , you're ready to kick them out of their nests. Fortunately, there are steps you can take at home to limit cockroach activity and prevent future infestations. Store food in sealed containers and keep pet dishes covered. You might consider developing an Integrated Pest Management IPM plan that incorporates a variety of methods and knowledge of cockroach behavior to help manage an infestation.

This approach can help you eliminate pests in an effective and less hazardous way. There are different types of cockroaches. The first step is to find out the species of cockroach living in your home. Identification will allow you to learn about their biology and control , by helping you to understand the source of the infestation and behavior. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service to help you with this task. If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at am - pm PST , or email us at npic ace.

NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. Environmental Protection Agency cooperative agreement X The information in this publication does not in any way replace or supersede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U.