Simply killing all of your cockroaches will only fix your problem temporarily. The only permanent way to get rid of cockroaches is by making your living space inhospitable to them.
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Identifying a cockroach. Cockroaches generally look like dark brown beetles, though color and size vary among different varieties. A cockroach might measure no more than a half-inch, or might be almost 2 inches long. All cockroaches have six legs, the back two pairs of which angle backward sharply. The back pair of legs stretches backward beyond the tail end of the cockroach’s body. Cockroaches have long antennae that, from a distance, can sometimes resemble a 4th pair of legs in the very front. Not all cockroaches can fly, even if they have wings – a common example is this one below.
Get rid of the food and water. If you want to learn how to get rid of roaches naturally, and without insecticides, then this is a good place to start. These cockroaches were probably first drawn to your living space because of the abundance of food they found there. Even trace amounts can attract cockroaches, and their food sources are many and diverse. Cockroaches can even survive on paper (bad news for messy college students). You must make your living space absolutely fastidious in order to solve your cockroach problem.
- Close up garbage cans tightly at all times, and take out the trash frequently. If possible, keep your garbage can outside until the problem subsides.
- Make sure cockroaches can’t simply enter your house through open windows and doors. If you haven’t already, invest in Fly screens that are free of tears and maintain a tight fit within the window frame.
- Clean all pots, pans and dishes immediately after using them.
- Put all food away in sealable containers or in the fridge.
- Vacuum, mop and otherwise remove any residue and crumbs from your living space.
- Cockroaches can feed on human tissue… got any dirty clothing lying around?
- Get rid of water. Cockroaches can survive without food for a considerable amount of time, but not without water. You must keep your living space dry at all times. How dry? I’ve seen a cockroach drink from the rim of a coke can (sugar + water = cockroach heaven). Keep all liquids sealed off and fix any leaky plumbing (especially in dark areas such as under your sink). Make sure that all pipes run smoothly and don’t back up. When you clean, be sure to dry all surfaces upon finishing.
Get rid of safe havens. You know what I’m talking about – those piles of junk, dirty clothing piles, bags of paper recycling, any place of clutter and refuge from the light of day. Those are common areas where roaches can hide within your living space, but if you find them scurrying away from those locations, you have to assume that you have a decent population of them within your walls as well. When you know you have a cockroach population living in your walls, you must find and seal all but one of the openings they potentially use. For your one remaining cockroach entry, choose the entry that is beyond reach of small children or pets (if applicable). Remember, anywhere there is a crack in the wall, they can escape. Often the cracks appear around piping or along floorboards. Search your home carefully. Even loose wallpaper can provide safe haven for cockroaches.
Use baits. In warmer climates, cockroaches may leave on their own once you render your home inhospitable to them. But cockroaches can’t tolerate the cold, so all of us in the northern U.S. will have a more difficult time convincing cockroaches to jump ship once they’ve gotten used to the heat we provide them. Once you have cleaned your house thoroughly and sealed off all possible cockroach entry-points except one, your task is now to killing the population that lingers in your walls. Roach bait stations (known as roach motels, or even Baits Motel) often prove effective, as do the bait gels that you can squirt along the crack
Pesticides are dangerous… Cockroaches could survive a nuclear holocaust, so it stands to reason that anything toxic to them would be toxic to us and to our pets. Sprays only eliminate the problem temporarily anyway, and are toxic to life in general. Take the precautionary statements on the containers seriously if you use pesticides. Use all poisons and pesticides as sparingly as possible when killing cockroaches. Keep your roach motels and baited areas out of reach of small children and animals.
If you have a large infestation of Cockroaches you might need Commercial Pest Control to get rid of them, then use these hints to keep them at bay. You cannot stop them completely there will always be one or two about. But less is better.
PS. Remember, if you want some advice or help with this or any other job around your home contact the Maroochydore Handyman.
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