Cockroaches can be a serious problem. If you see cockroaches running around during the day it might be a sign of a serious infestation since roaches are nocturnal creatures that feed at night and sleep during the day.
Cockroaches like dark moist places this is why they are mostly seen in the kitchen and the bathroom. These insects tend to hide under the toilet, next to the bathroom sink, under the refrigerator, inside the stove, under the kitchen sink, and inside the kitchen cabinets. The most common hiding place for cockroaches to breed is within small wall cracks all over the home. The professionals at the Local Records Office created a list to get rid of these creepy insects.
1. Signs of Cockroach Infestation
The first sign of cockroach infestation is droppings. The feces from this insect look similar to black crushed pepper or coffee grains. The feces of bigger roaches resemble cylindrical droppings. If you find droppings that are the size of a raisin you may have a mice problem. Another sign of a cockroach infestation is the shell casings; these shells will give a clear indication of an insect problem.
2. The Bad Smell
A bad odor may be caused because of the many dead cockroaches nearby. Don’t be afraid to sniff around to try to locate the area where these insects go to die. The odor will be of a strong oily or musty smell that usually comes from between the cabinets or moist areas.
3. How to Prevent a Cockroach Infestation
Preventing a home cockroach infestation is not difficult. Since cockroaches can survive in the harshest condition there will be a few steps you will need to do in order to get rid of those critters.
4. Block Any Food Sources
The most effective way is to block access to any type of food. Don’t leave out food when cooking, throw away scraps of food that you are not using, clean countertops, stovetops with disinfecting wipes, dish detergent, and water. If roaches don’t have anything to eat they will not have a reason to come out every night.
Leaving food out, crumbs and trash without covering it will attract cockroaches by the hundreds.
5. Block Any Liquid Sources
Food isn’t the only thing you need to clean, you need to clean and wipe down any source of liquid that includes water in glasses, water drops, juice, beer, soda, and anything that these insects will drink. The better you block the food and liquid sources the better chance you will see less and less of them.
6. Store Food Away
Wiping counters isn’t enough, you will need to store food in the refrigerator or put it in a sealed container. It’s a known fact that cockroaches will chew through the plastic to get to the food. The most common food roaches and mice like is the bread and peanut butter so make sure there are stored away in a safe place.
7. Declutter
Roaches like to hide behind cluttered areas, the darker the area is the better of a home it is for roaches. Clean areas that haven’t been cleaned in months. Cockroaches will hide in cracks and holes inside shelves, this will give them easy access to crumbs and half-opened snack bags.
8. Pipes and Drains
Drains and pipes are cockroaches ’ best friends; pipes will have water, leftover food, and temporary housing. The best thing to do is to clean your drains with bleach and dish detergent and cover the drain with a drain cover after cleaning, this will ensure that roaches inside the pipes will not come back up.