Cockroaches probably hold the title for the most universally hated bug on the planet, though mosquitoes could also claim that title. They scurry across the floor sending chills up your spine. Cockroaches crawl through a number of disgusting places including hiding in toilet bowls. They carry harmful bacteria from these gross places and spread them all over your surfaces such as:
- Dining table
- Countertops
- Toothbrushes
- Left out food
- Pantry
They can carry salmonella, E Coli, and listeria right to your nice, clean kitchen. Cockroaches have even been documented eating small food particles left on toothbrushes. If you need to disinfect your toothbrush after reading the last sentence, boiling water or hydrogen peroxide works nicely.
You may want to try and get rid of these disgusting little critters on your own. First, identify what is attracting the cockroaches to your home.
What attracts cockroaches?
Cockroaches are already predisposed to want to come into your home because they like the food and trash created by humans. Making a few changes and creating some good habits can cut off their food supply, leaving cockroaches to not be enticed by your home. Don’t give cockroaches a moment to infect your home with harmful bacteria. Habits like:
- Keeping all food products in the kitchen
- Promptly take out kitchen and bathroom trash when full
- Be thorough in keeping trash away from the outside of the house
- Don’t let any water stand inside the home
Keep those spine-chilling bugs from taking a second look at your home by making a few changes that go a long way.
Over-the-counter treatments
There are multiple over-the-counter treatment options for cockroaches that can help you kill cockroaches yourself.
- Insecticide sprays to kill on contact
- Gel bait
- Roach traps
- Essential Oils can repel cockroaches
These methods vary in effectiveness for treating your home for current cockroaches. But if you want to get rid of all the cockroach eggs, any hard-to-reach infested areas, and create a barrier so the cockroaches never return, calling in an experienced professional pest control service is the best way to get rid of all cockroaches and keep them from returning.
Are cockroaches dangerous to my health?
Cockroaches are known for skittering through all types of filth, bringing harmful bacteria straight into your clean home. Besides, infecting your surfaces and food with bacteria that can leave you quite unwell, cockroach droppings, also called frass, can cause allergic reactions when swept or vacuumed, throwing the tiny particles in the air. Similarly, cockroaches can increase asthma symptoms as well. In short, cockroaches are not the kind of pest that you want to spend much time finding the right product and method to get rid of them. If you suspect a cockroach infestation, call the professionals to treat your home and eliminate these pests. If you are in Salinas, CA, call the friendly team at Target Pest Control today!
