As the weather warms up, so does an infamous pest no one likes to see around–the cockroach. There is only one experience more horrifying than discovering a cockroach scurrying across the kitchen floor. It’s having guests discover a cockroach scurrying across YOUR kitchen floor. 

Cockroach Prevention – Famous “guests discover a cockroach” story.

If this has happened, don’t feel so bad. Here’s a story to top any “guest sees a cockroach in my home” story you can imagine. Last October at the very moment the Chicago pest control commissioner was testifying at a City Council meeting an amazing event occurred. The meeting was suddenly interrupted when what an alderman described as “the largest cockroach I’ve see at City Hall” made it’s appearance right in the City Council chambers. Evidently it scaled a white wall, boldly standing out in direct contrast to it’s background. Such an event will probably never be forgotten! Curiously, the story was even reported by a newspaper 3000 miles away! http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/chicago-cockroach-drops-in-on-city-hall-pest-control-meeting/

You don’t have to suffer the embarrassment

Fortunately, there are some rather simple actions you can take now to help prevent a public siting of a cockroach in your home. Even if you’ve seen a roach in your home, the following 7 actions will greatly reduce the problem.

Cockroach Prevention – Top 7 Ways to Discourage An Infestation

The science behind these 7 roach prevention tips is pretty simple: Create an environment that has nothing that attracts cockroaches. If there’s nothing that supports their living conditions, cockroaches will look for another home. 

What do cockroaches love? roaches are water-loving insects, and therefore love damp places. They also love just about all the types of food that we eat. Therefore, eliminate dampness and access to food, and you make your home a very unfriendly environment for cockroaches.

Cockroach Prevention – Keep Things Dry.

Sounds simple, but sometimes the obvious is not so obvious. Your home may seem dry enough, but think again.

1) Dry Out Damp Places: Is your basement a damp place? What about the crawl space under your home? Take action to see that these are well ventilated. This alone will make a big difference.

2) Remove Standing Water: When was the last time you checked the evaporation pan under your refrigerator? Is it full of water? Has it overflowed?

3) Ventilate Areas with Water Pipes: What about the area under your kitchen and bathroom sink? Are these areas dry and well ventilated. How about the wall voids that contain your water pipes? Any leaky, sweaty pipes? Is there good ventilation?

Cockroach Prevention – Eliminate Food Sources

4) Keep the Sink Free of Dirty Dishes: While it’s much easier to clean dishes the next morning rather than at night when you’ve tired, dirty dishes in the sink at night are like Disneyland to cockroaches: Both food and water! Sure, the dishes are there only for a few hours until the morning, but this alone could support a huge cockroach infestation.

5) Remove Food Particles: Cockroaches can live on food that we can’t even see. This includes the smallest food crumbs on the floor or in your carpet, and even food residue on discarded food containers and wrappers. Therefore, vacuum regularly. Eliminate any standing garbage in or around your home. Empty the kitchen garbage daily. Rinse containers before placing them in the recycling bin.

6) Tightly Seal All Food: Keep all food in air-tight containers. While food in the refrigerator is probably safe, consider the food in your pantry – potato chip bag, cereal boxes…even the dog food bag. Think Tupperware!

Seal off points of entrance.

7) Seal Any Cracks Around the Outside of Your Home: Young cockroaches can crawl through a crack as thin as a dime; Adult males can slip through a space as thin as a quarter; The largest cockroaches–pregnant females–only need a space the size of two stacked nickels. So, when we say “seal the cracks”, we’re talking about even the smallest of cracks. 

Give yourself a fighting chance.

As you can see, even a home that appears to be immaculate can be a paradise for cockroaches. The most conscientious housekeeper can easily miss quite a few of the food and water sources able to support a large population of cockroaches.

Is your home officially “Unfriendly to Cockroaches”? Call us for a professional cockroach inspection. We’ll look at all the places listed above, and more, for conditions that favor cockroaches. And, if there are cockroaches in your home that you have not yet discovered, we’ll quickly find them and eliminate them.

Let us be the only guests who ever see a cockroach in your home.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

The post Cockroach Prevention – When the guests discovered a cockroach. appeared first on Pest Control.

• • Natural Cockroach Repellents #1: Cloves and Epsom Salts

  • Directions: Mix a handful of cloves with a handful of epsom salts in a shallow dish and place under their favourite hiding spots, such as dishwashers, fridges, sinks and washing machines. Just to be sure, a few drops of clove oil in corners and cupboards should keep them away, too. Credits: DIY Natural Cockroach Repellent — Homelife | Apartment Therapy

  • Natural Cockroach Repellents #2: Cedar

    The cedar tree is famous for its biological components and oils that offer resistance to many insects and other pests.  You can also make use of these properties and oils by using cedar veneers, blocks, chips dust and cedar balls by using them as lining fro drawers, cabinets and wardrobes. You can also use them as paneling to line closet walls, for enhanced protection.

  • Natural Cockroach Repellents #3: Moth Balls

    Moth balls have been used for a long time to repel moths. Like moths, roaches don’t like the smell of moth balls. The common usage is to place a couple of the moth balls behind your cooker to keep the roaches from hiding around there. You may also have several in the cabinets and also under the sink and any other place where roaches make home.  They are very effective and can be useful for as long as they remain there.  Moth balls are however not supposed to be used near food or food preparation areas as they are not good for humans.

    Natural Cockroach Repellents #4: Red Pepper Spray

  • Red pepper is a common ingredient in insect repellents. Cockroaches detest red pepper and they will easily avoid coming near its smell. You need to spray on all spaces in the kitchen, bathroom, wardrobes and any other hiding places to have maximum impact. You can make this spray at home by mixing red pepper, vinegar and water. You then need to spray and leave it for some time to dry if you need to wipe. If you need to wipe, do not use a wet cloth as it may wipe away the residual smell that is necessary for continued protection.

Natural Cockroach Repellents #5: Tea Tree Oil, Mint, Bay Leaves and Cucumbers

• Cockroaches hate Tea tree oil, mint, bay leaves, and cucumbers.

1. Add 25 drops of mint essential oil in 1 cup of water. Put the solution a spray bottle. Spray under kitchen cabinets, cracks, hard to reach areas and doors. Repeat once a week.
2. Place bay leaves in your pantry, kitchen cabinets and closets.
3. Rub tea tree essential oil on shelves, baseboards and infested area. Add end of cucumbers at corners of room and shelves until cucumbers are shriveled.
4. Sprinkle Diatomaceous dirt in cracks and holes.
5. Cockroach trap: Get the roaches drunk. Fill about a quarter of an old bottle with beer and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Leave in infested area. Replace when full of cockroaches. The stale beer is a cockroach attractant similar to the pheromones they use to signal each other for food. Once they fall into the bottle, they will not be able to escape. The beer is safe for pets and children.
7. NOTE: Keep your house as clean as possible. Vacuum daily. Mop floors daily with 1 part white distilled vinegar and 5 parts warm water. (until cockroaches are gone).

 Credits: DIY aggressive cockroach repellents – Step Into My Green World

Natural cockroach repellents aren’t always effective. If the above repellents don’t eliminate your cockroach problem, or if you’d just like to avoid the hassle and mess of placing leaves, bowls and jars around your house…

…call the pest control professionals at ApolloX Pest Control.

We’ll quickly and safely control your cockroach problem.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

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