If you think that cockroaches are disgusting little creatures, you are definitely not the only person in the world who feels this way. However, one thing that you may not know about cockroaches is that they carry pathogens that can easily transmit a wide range of diseases. Apart from being a health hazard, they can make your house filthy and attract other pests.
These creatures are sure to sneak into your house now and then and in no time make it theirs. Cockroaches multiple very fast, so if you see one, there is a high chance many more are hiding in your house.
While we don’t want to scare you, we recommend you don’t take it lightly. Instead, find and raid their hiding places so that they, along with their family, leave your house alone.
5 Common Places to Find Cockroaches
If it’s too sunny or raining outside, there’s a good possibility that at least one cockroach is hiding somewhere in your house. Here are five of the most common places in your home a cockroach might be hiding in right now!
CABINETS
Pantries and kitchen cabinets are some of the most common places that cockroaches tend to use as their hideouts. You might find them in things like cereal boxes or hiding on the upper corners of your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that all of your food is tightly sealed in air-tight containers. And also, don’t forget to clean your kitchen cabinets regularly. This would also prevent the infestation of stored product insects.
ELECTRONICS
If you have ever eaten a snack while working on your computer, welcome to the club. Food particles and crumbs that get stuck in between your keyboard keys can easily attract cockroaches. They are small enough to fit through the tiniest of gaps in your electronics. You’re also likely to find them in your kitchen appliances like ovens, fridges, and gas stoves. So make it a habit to clean up after each meal.
FURNITURE
Since there are many people out there who usually eat in front of their televisions, it’s no surprise that furniture is another place that cockroaches like to use as their hiding spot. The crumbs that we drop on the couch can quickly sink between the cushions, attracting at least one or two pests like cockroaches and ants to your living room in the process.
Keep in mind that this particular hiding spot is an excellent place for cockroaches to lay eggs. That being said, you should use a vacuum cleaner to clean your upholstered furniture regularly and inspect every wooden piece that you can for egg casings.
PIPES
The pipes in your home are generally extremely dark and unnoticeable places. They are often located under kitchen sinks and basements. Unfortunately, pipes may also drip or leak, providing cockroaches on the hunt for a new home with a lot of moisture. Cockroaches also like to join pretty much every good mould feast that they come across, and as you may already know, pipes are some of the most common areas for mould growth. This is why you should check your pipes, faucets, and drains regularly for drips or leaks. You should also insulate and put some tape on pretty much every crack and hole that you come across.
BATHROOMS
Just like your kitchen, your bathroom offers moisture and warmth. From hair and discarded paper tissues to grooming products and soap residue, cockroaches are big fans of pretty much every single thing that you leave behind in your bathroom.
Generally, cockroaches prefer just about any surface that contains humidity or water. The good news is that kitchens and bathrooms typically offer everything that cockroaches are looking for, which means they might not even want to go into any other room in your house. But the bad news is that they can become a big nuisance in these parts of the house. So to prevent cockroaches from entering your bathroom, make sure to clean it regularly and don’t neglect any drops of water that you come across either.
How to Prevent a Cockroach Infestation
- Cockroaches are primarily active during summer and winter, so you could try and prevent them from entering your home through cracks and crevices in your windows, doors, and foundations. Use weatherstripping to close gaps around your windows and doors, and then use caulk to seal up cracks.
- Having food scraps lying all over your floor is one of the easiest ways to attract cockroaches into your house. To prevent this from happening, arm yourself with a broom and vacuum and give your floor a thorough cleaning. In addition, since cockroaches are most active at night when no one is around, you should make it a habit to clean your kitchen counters every night before going to sleep.
- Cleaning your kitchen thoroughly is one of the best ways to keep cockroaches away from your house. Take out the garbage every day or store it in a tightly sealed container. However, unwashed dishes left in the kitchen sink overnight can easily attract cockroaches into your house without you even realising it. This is why you should wash your dishes at night or simply rinse them if you plan to do them the next day.
- As you may already know, cockroaches possess the ability to chew through cardboards and thin plastic containers that many food products are stored in. If you think that a cockroach infestation might be taking place inside your house, you should move all of your food into tightly sealed containers. If you want to add an extra layer of protection to your food, you should store it in its original packaging and put it in sturdy plastic bins.
- Taking care of leaky pipes and dripping faucets is one of the best ways to keep cockroaches away from your house. Check areas under sinks, behind toilets, and throughout the basement for moisture. Use a dehumidifier in places that are high in moisture like the basement. Also, if there are too many unnecessary things lying around your house, make sure to declutter the premises as soon as possible.
Are you feeling uncomfortable after realising that a few cockroaches might be hiding somewhere in your house right now? If you are, don’t be – after all, there are always professionals out there who could take care of your cockroach problem for you at any time you see fit. That being said, if none of those mentioned above tips helps you get rid of your cockroach problem, your best option would be to hire a pest control specialist to do the task. They are trained technicians who can inspect your home and develop a comprehensive pest control plan for your particular case.
