Roaches are adept at concealing themselves, contaminating food sources, spreading disease-causing organisms and resisting efforts to eradicate them – so This Old House recommends hiring professional pest control services for ultimate peace of mind.
Your exterminator will look for entry points like cracks and crevices around walls and foundation, under sinks and cabinets as well as inspect laundry areas and behind furniture.
Preparation
Cockroaches can be hard to get rid of once they find their way into a home, as their presence carries both environmental and health risks. Inspection and sanitation must be part of any effective cockroach control strategy in order to achieve success against this pest.
Sanitation is crucial in order to keep roaches at bay. Prior to beginning any treatment for them, homeowners should meticulously vacuum floors and cabinets; this will remove roach feces and dead carcasses more easily for the technician treating your area. In addition, all surfaces of kitchen appliances including refrigerator and stove tops need to be thoroughly cleaned as well as items stored underneath sinks that could attract them being moved out of storage space.
Cockroach exterminators use sprays and baits to deter and treat infestation. One effective repellent for cockroaches is boric acid powder, which exterminators use as a repellent in areas of your house where roaches have been seen to gather. When they pass over it, roaches lick it off their carapaces before intaking it through their mouths, slowly poisoning themselves over time. You can find boric acid at most convenience and hardware stores for less than $1.00.
Treatments
Exterminators use various treatments to get rid of cockroaches. One effective strategy is gel bait insecticides, which work by attracting and poisoning roaches that then carry it back to their nests where other roaches feed on it. Gel bait insecticides should always be combined with traps and/or insecticide sprays for maximum effectiveness.
Boric acid is another popular solution, which is both cost-effective and safe to use against cockroaches. However, this chemical should only be used in households without young children or pets present.
Pest control experts often rely on mildly toxic hydramethylnon or fipronil sprays for more advanced infestations, which affect pests’ nervous systems, either killing them outright or repelling them from your home. These treatments may be combined with traps and baits or used alone as stand-in treatments; before applying either spray your exterminator will inspect the area around your home for gaps or cracks that allow roaches to gain entry or utility closets that offer warmth near electrical wiring or pipes that could harbor them for sheltering purposes.
Post-treatment care
Cockroach life cycles may take months, so one treatment may not be sufficient to rid your home completely of these insects. Therefore, it is crucial that you follow up with and communicate with your pest control specialist after each treatment session to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Cleanup in kitchens is one of the best ways to deter roaches. Storing food in airtight containers and stacking clean plates helps avoid contamination; in addition, regularly taking out trash with sealed garbage cans prevents roaches from getting at its contents.
Use of roach bait can also help deter cockroaches. A professional can recommend ready-to-use sprays, dusts and baits tailored specifically to your house and family’s needs backed by their company’s re-treatment guarantee. Use this free tool to get three estimates from local experts who specialize in controlling them in your area.
Safety
Cockroaches can be hard to eliminate from a home, as they rely heavily on food sources that they find easily available in them. Before calling in a pest control service provider, be sure to carefully clean countertops and floors, particularly under and around appliances; store all food in airtight containers; and minimize crumbs and spills around your space.
Most infestations involve German cockroaches, which tend to breed indoors and are especially prolific breeders – producing over 30,000 baby roaches annually, making them extremely hard to eliminate.
Professional exterminators employ several strategies to exterminate cockroaches, including using boric acid powder. Exterminators apply this powdery white substance in cracks or areas they have observed activity from cockroaches; near entryways into your home if applicable. When walking over it, cockroaches brush off the powder onto their bodies before licking it off again ingesting an amount that erodes away at their organs causing them to die more rapidly than otherwise would happen naturally. This technique works particularly well against brown-banded species who prefer darkened areas like behind picture frames/wall decorations/under furniture etc.