There is a risk of many different types of pests invading your home, but one of the most frustrating to deal with is cockroaches. One of the most common misconceptions that people have about cockroaches is that they only infest dirty homes.
Unfortunately, this is far from the truth, the fact is that even homes that spotless can attract cockroaches. It can be overwhelming and scary to flip the lights on the kitchen during the middle of the night and see cockroaches scattering across the floor and counters. Many people, especially those that keep a clean home don’t have a clue that they have a cockroach infestation until this happens. Not only are these pests enough to send shivers down your spine, but they also carry disease and trigger allergies and asthma.
Cockroach species are indoor pests and an infestation can start in a number of ways that may surprise you. It’s worth noting that by using effective cockroach baits you can handle a cockroach infestation but you still should find out where they came from. Here is some information about how cockroaches may get into your home.
How Do Cockroaches Get in Your Home?
You wash the dishes, routinely vacuum, keep things neat and organized, but you still have a cockroach infestation. So, your thoughts are naturally going to be “how can I have cockroaches in my house if is spotless”? The fact is that cockroaches don’t care whether your home is clean or not, once they find their way there, they will stay until you get rid of them. There are a number of different ways cockroaches can find their way into your home, and in most situations, an infestation starts in ways that you may have no idea that was even possible. Some of the most common ways cockroaches find their way inside your home may include:
Already There When You Move In
If you have recently moved into a new house or apartment, and you are suddenly noticing cockroaches, but you didn’t see them when toured the home or even after first moving in, it doesn’t mean that they weren’t there before you moved in. Even if the previous residents cleaned before you moved in if they had an infestation, the chances are the cockroaches were simply hiding and waiting it out until you moved in, bringing them food and water. When dwellings are empty, cockroaches can still be hiding in the walls, the plumbing, and in dark cabinets.
Cardboard Boxes and Paper Bags
There are different species of cockroaches, some of which are attracted to paper and paper products, including cardboard boxes, delivery boxes, and bags from the grocery store. Unfortunately, cockroaches can hitch a ride to your home by hiding in grocery bags and the cardboard boxes that were delivered to your home. All it takes is one to hitch a ride in the bag you just brought home from the grocery and before you know it, you have an infestation. It’s important to check all items for cockroaches before you put them away and if possible, store grocery bags outside of your home, such as in a shed and make sure to get rid of empty cardboard boxes immediately.
Hitchhiking From Work/School
If you work in a building that has an infestation of cockroaches, they can easily hitch a ride home with you. Another way you may unknowingly get cockroaches is by way of the children’s backpacks that they take to school. It’s important to make sure you thoroughly check backpacks, laptop bags, lunch containers, and even the soles of shoes for eggs each night.
Sewers, Drain and Plumbing Pipes
Cockroaches can get into your home through the sewers, drains, and plumbing pipes; all of which offer two of the things they love the most, moisture and warmth. Cockroaches travelling through the plumbing pipes are a common problem for those who live in an apartment complex because they use the pipes as an access road between the apartments. They may also come into your home through the drains for laundry connections, your sink, and other areas where there are open drains.
Neighbouring Businesses
Cockroaches are unfortunately a common issue in grocery stores, warehouses, storage facilities, and other commercial facilities where there are a lot of cardboard boxes. This means that if you live near a business, they may find their way into your home.
Neighbours
Not only can cockroaches find their way into your home from the neighbours through the plumbing, but they can come from your neighbours and get into your home through almost any gap, crack hole, or crevice that is in your home. They can even get through something as small as an opening from a wall outlet. Make sure to routinely check areas, such as under doors and window frames for signs of cockroaches that may have slipped through.
Used Furniture and Appliances
Everyone loves a bargain, but if you buy used appliances or furniture, even from a store or private seller that appears to have a clean home or shop, do not take the item into your home until you thoroughly clean and check it. Cockroaches can hide in the smallest, darkest places, so be sure to look under appliances, especially items that may contain moisture, such as washers and dishwashers, and items like stoves that have small amounts of hidden grease.
There are thousands of different species of cockroaches, but there are only a few species that prefer to live among humans. Depending on the species, they will be attracted to different things, so it’s important to identify the species that infesting your home, so you can be aware of what is attracting them and better understand how to prevent the risk of them finding their way back after you get rid of them. Once you have determined that you have an infestation of cockroaches, it’s important that you take all the steps necessary to eliminate the infestation. Contacting a professional pest control company is the first step. The technician will be able to not only eliminate the cockroaches but also provide you with information about how to reduce the risk of a future infestation.
Ref number: THSI-2108
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