Cockroaches are infamous all over the world as being one of the worst pests to get rid of. Roaches are not only creepy but also pose a severe health hazard. Additionally, roach infestation in your home can endanger your furniture, as well as furnishing and clothes, electronic gadgets, books, not to speak, food. They also tend to leave behind their droppings that look unsightly and are unhygienic. Even if your apartment has no signs of cockroaches, you should always be on your guard, as the infestation can spread from anywhere in the building.

Some of the Main Causes of Cockroach Infestation

  • Poor sanitation : One of the main causes of cockroaches setting up base in your apartment is poor sanitation. If you are in the habit of not cleaning up the kitchen after cooking, leaving behind dirty dishes, scraps of food, or not putting lids on garbage bins, you can be sure cockroaches will be attracted. Pet food lying around is also a strong cockroach magnet, so you must make it a point to remove excess pet food after your pet has had her meal.
  • Excessive moisture: Cockroaches love dark and damp places as they use standing water to drink. It is the reason why they are commonly found in drainpipes, chimneys, and crack in walls that tend to be not only damp but allow them free access to other apartments.
  • A leaky faucet or dripping taps are also inviting cockroaches to set up base in your apartment.
  • Crappy infestation process: If you have had an experience of a cockroach problem in the past, it is likely that they will come back with a vengeance even if you successfully managed to eliminate them once. This happens when the infestation process was not carried out properly.
  • Green vegetation: This is one of the most overlooked causes of infestation. If you have green vegetation touching your apartment, they provide cockroaches with a place to breed. As such it is important you remove all leaves and debris within two meters of your home.
  • Furniture pieces that are in disrepair: A broken down chair or bed that you keep in the garage is just an invitation for cockroaches to find their way into your apartment. One of the main reasons why they are so difficult to get rid of is they tend to seek refuge in crevices and dark places, making it almost impossible for chemicals or traps to reach them.
  • Recycling the same poisons: Cockroaches are quick learners and soon realize what is killing them. If you use the same poison to kill them, they will go back into their hiding places soon after death, thus negating your efforts of eradicating them completely.

How to Get Rid Of Roaches in Your Apartment : Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Cleanliness – Cockroaches are one of the easiest pests to get rid of if you have a clean apartment. They also tend to be attracted to dirty kitchens and restrooms, so it is best you keep them as clean as possible at all times. Make sure you sweep and mop up food spills, take out garbage regularly, and wipe away excess moisture in areas prone to leaking.

Step 2: Destroy their breeding space – Cockroaches love secluded places that are dark and damp for them to hide, breed, and live in. You can start by identifying all such dark spaces, cracks, crevices, etc.

Common Methods of Dealing with Cockroaches

  • Set baits : Setting baits can be very effective in controlling cockroaches provided you understand how they feed. According to Elite Pest and Termite Control, cockroaches not only feed on the go but leave behind the droppings that other cockroaches consume. When you set the bait, you need to place it in a large area and not in just one place so that cockroaches have more chance to discover it. The poison of the bait not only kills the cockroach consuming it but also those that feed on its droppings. Sprinkling boric powder can also exterminate cockroaches effectively, says the Family Handyman.
  • Flush out roaches with compressed air : Cockroaches can easily hide in crevices and crack in walls that make them difficult to spot. An effective way to flush them out is to use a can of compressed air and use it in difficult-to-reach places like under the sink, behind the cabinet, etc. Keep a vacuum cleaner handy so that you can vacuum them up as soon as you flush them out from their hiding places.
  • Involve the building management : Since cockroaches travel very quickly from one apartment to another, stopping the infestation is not an individual resident’s job. It is best to inform and involve the building management so that they can carry out pest control, possibly by hiring a professional agency.
  • Make changes to your lifestyle : Cockroaches are more likely to infest homes that have a lot of clutter. So, the best way to avoid an infestation is to keep your house clean and free of clutter. You should also make it a point to store food in airtight containers, as cockroaches love any kind of food source. Additionally, do not leave pet food lying around or keep raw food products next to cooked foods.
  • You should also regularly clean the kitchen sink and other areas frequented by cockroaches. Ensure you use a strong disinfectant regularly so that there are no traces of bacteria for them to feed on. Cleaning these places at least once a day can keep your house free from cockroaches. You can also combat an infestation by sprinkling boric powder in these areas, as the insecticide is effective against them.

The World Health Organization estimates that cockroaches cause allergies in about 10% of the population and may trigger asthma attacks in some people with mild case of allergic reaction. They are therefore not only a health hazard; they can also lead to loss of income if the infestation is in an office building.

Conclusion 

Cockroaches can be troublesome, and if you do not take the right step early on after spotting them, you will find them all over the place. They are capable of damaging almost everything and are a major sanitation hazard. If your effort in keeping the apartment clean and using bait does not work, consider employing a professional pest control company.

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