Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests you may cross paths with. These pests are skilled at finding their way indoors and will multiply quickly once they do! Not only can roaches become a nuisance, but they also carry diseases, trigger allergies, and damage property. The good news? You can place DIY roach prevention measures throughout your property to deter them.
DIY Roach Prevention
Keep a Clean Home
Roaches are scavengers, seeking food and water for survival. It’s essential to eliminate both sources to deter them from entering your home.
- In the kitchen: Wipe down countertops, clean up drink spills, and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
- In your bathroom: Fix leaky faucets and pipes as roaches are drawn to the smallest amount of moisture.
- Living areas: Vacuum regularly to remove leftover crumbs and food particles.
Store Food Properly
If food is not stored properly, roaches will find it and contaminate it. Storing your food will help keep roaches from sneaking into your pantries.
- Use sealed containers: Store pantry items, like cereals, flour, and sugar in plastic or glass containers with tightly sealed lids on them.
- Store pet food: Pet food left out overnight is the perfect roach attractant, look to store it in sealed containers with a lid on it and avoid leaving it outside at night.
- Secure garbage: Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids and take out the trash regularly.
Eliminate Entry Points
Roaches are small and will squeeze through the tiniest gaps or cracks. Looking for these openings around your home and sealing them out will help keep roaches from getting inside.
- Seal cracks: Utilize caulk to seal cracks in walls, windows, and doors.
- Install weatherstripping: Replace or install weatherstripping around your doors and windows.
- Repair screens: Ensure that your window and door screens are intact and free of holes.
Reduce Clutter
Cockroaches tend to hide in cluttered areas, so it’s essential to keep your home organized and free of clutter to make it less appealing to them.
- Use plastic bins: Instead of using cardboard boxes, consider using plastic bins with lids for storing items.
- Declutter storage areas: Get rid of old newspapers, magazines, old cardboard boxes, or other unnecessary items in your attic, basement, or garage.
While DIY roach prevention can help keep roaches away, if they invade in numbers, it’s best to call a local pest control company near you. These professionals will inspect your home and provide you with the best treatment and prevention plan moving forward.
