Even the mere thought of a cockroach can make your skin crawl, so when you spot one scurrying across the floor in your kitchen or bathroom, it can be hard not to climb onto the highest surface and refuse to come down until someone else has taken care of the problem. As if the sight of the creepy-crawly wasn’t enough, you’re also left feeling confused as to why a roach came into your home in the first place. After all, you keep things clean.
While it might surprise you, even clean homes can deal with cockroach infestations. That’s why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the reasons cockroaches invade homes. Once you understand what attracts cockroaches, you can take proactive steps to protect your living space from these intruders.
Food Sources
One major reason cockroaches invade homes is because they hold a host of food. Cockroaches are scavengers by nature and will feast on crumbs, grease, or forgotten scraps hidden in hard-to-reach areas. Even a few crumbs left behind after dinner, an open bag of pet food, or scraps dropped behind or under refrigerators and stoves can be enough to attract cockroaches. What’s more, these insects can detect food odors from a surprising distance, which is why keeping all food sealed tightly and cleaning up promptly after meals is so critical.
Water and Moisture
If you think cockroaches only come for the food, think again. Leaky pipes under sinks, condensation around windows, and even a wet bathroom floor can provide cockroaches with the water sources they need to survive and thrive. Fixing leaks quickly and keeping spaces dry, especially in bathrooms and basements, is a simple yet crucial step in discouraging these pests from entering your home.
Shelter and Warmth
Just like us, cockroaches search for warm places to shelter when it gets cold outside. Unlike us, they will hunt down cracks in walls and gaps under doors to make themselves comfortable in someone else’s home.
Because they are nocturnal creatures, preferring dark, secluded areas where they won’t be disturbed, they are frequently attracted to attics, basements, and even the spaces behind furniture. They can also be found in storage spaces, like your garage or crawlspace, because they can hide behind or in boxes. For these reasons, sealing entry points and minimizing clutter can drastically reduce the chances of cockroaches moving in.
Easy Entry Points
Cockroaches are expert contortionists, capable of squeezing through the narrowest spaces, and all it takes to unknowingly invite these insects in is to leave an exterior door ajar or fail to repair a ripped window screen.
To prevent cockroaches from easily entering your home, be sure to replace weather stripping on doors often and repair window screens promptly. Additionally, check areas where pipes and cables enter your home to spot gaps that need sealing.
Neighboring Infestations
Sometimes, no matter how immaculate your home is, you might still find yourself facing a cockroach problem. One frustrating reality is that cockroaches can migrate from neighboring properties. If an adjacent apartment or townhouse is infested, it greatly increases the chances of cockroaches finding their way into your home. Open communication with neighbors and property management, combined with commercial pest control services, can be essential in tackling the problem on a broader scale.
Outdoor Attractions
Gardens, compost piles, and piles of leaves can also be what attracts cockroaches to your home. And once they are near your house, it only takes a small opening for them to venture inside. Make sure you keep the yard tidy, secure garbage bins, and use yellow “bug lights” to reduce the likelihood of drawing cockroaches to your property.
Partner With DeAngelo Pest Control to Get Rid of Cockroaches
If you’ve seen cockroaches (or signs of their presence) around your home, an infestation may already be underway. Fortunately, you can find instant relief by turning to the professionals at DeAngelo Pest Control. We offer thorough inspections, effective treatment plans, and preventative strategies to help homeowners reclaim their spaces from cockroaches. Call our experts today to schedule a cockroach treatment service and enjoy a pest-free home once again.
