How to Get Rid of Roaches

Just the sight of one of these multi-legged, hard-shelled visitors crawling across the floor is enough to make your toes curl, and your screams can hit high notes you didn't realize were possible. But what are you dealing with?

Roaches are a large, disgusting insect, with six legs, and 18 knee joints. (We were sure you'd want to know that.) There are more than 5,000 species in the world, but the most common are the German cockroach, and the American cockroach.

Initially cockroaches may infest your home from the outside, finding cracks, gaps under doors, and other ways to enter the home, attracted by warmth, darkness, and spoiling food or standing water, in things like open garbage pails, unwashed dishes. As big as they may seem, a cockroach can insinuate itself through an opening as thin as a dime when young, or a quarter as an adult. They don't like light, which is why many homeowners can't believe it when the cat or dog presents them with the remains of their latest victim. But you can't depend on your pets to control the population.

The first measure in getting rid of cockroaches is hygiene. If you have stored vegetables that are rotting, open containers of food in cupboards, or unsecured garbage pails, remove all refuse and replace containers with those that seal tightly. Check under appliances, in cupboards, basement corners, and other dark places for traces of a black gritty dirt that has an oily appearance. This is roach feces and a sign that you do have a problem.

Once your home is cleaned, your choices in removing them are to do it yourself, or to have the home professionally treated by a pest control company. Which you choose, may depend on the severity of the infestation. The primary means of destroying roaches are contact poisons/sprays, and residual sprays which leave time released ingredients in your cupboards and on the surfaces where sprayed, that will work over a period of 2-3 weeks. There are also the infamous "roach motels" that can be placed in your cupboards. Sometimes it may take a combination of several methods, such as an immediate contact kill substance, and then roach motels in places where you have evidence of previous inhabitants. Once your immediate problem is eliminated, you can also take preventative measures, such as sprinkling powdered boric acid in between walls, and around foundations where they may have entered the house. This is generally a safe product, and will be carried on the roaches feet, to wherever they are hiding and breeding.

One note of caution: Pesticides can be highly toxic to humans and pets. Spray treatments should never be carried out without proper respiratory protection, and first removing of all food, pets and dishes or other items that your food may come in contact with.

Additional Article - How to Get Rid of Roaches

One of the most horrible insects that can possibly invade your home is roaches.  They are ugly little creatures which, when they multiply, are a health hazard and can cause you great distress.  If you have these creatures in your home, here are some tips on how to get rid of roaches.

While you may have a perfectly clean home, there are many ways roaches find a way in.  Make sure all foods are thoroughly wrapped; ensure that any leaky drains are fixed, and water is not seeping from anywhere in your home. Check your cabinets to ensure they are clean. Check behind your refrigerator, stove or oven and seal any cracks or holes you may find.  Keep each room in your house neat. 

When shopping at the supermarket, check the paper bags and boxes to make sure there are no roaches hiding in them. When taking your groceries home, whether in a car or wagon, ensure that you do not set them down on the kitchen table or counter.  Set them down on the floor.

Here is an anecdotal story which is relevant to this roach problem.  A woman, who collects figurines, is given one as a gift. The item was purchased in a well known store.  Some of these small figurines, which are made of plaster, have holes in the bottom.  The woman takes the item home and places it alongside her collection. Although her home is always neat and tidy, one day she decides to take her entire collection and give them a good washing.  She places the items in a shopping bag to make it an easier transport to the sink.  She prepares the water with a mild detergent, and begins to take the items out of the bag.  Lo and behold, a giant roach falls from one of the figurines onto the kitchen floor. Frantic, she takes a broom and disposes of it.  However, not knowing how or where it came from, she inspects the figurine and is shocked to find roach eggs in the hole under it. The lesson to be learned here is to check everything you bring into your home.

When all else fails, call an exterminator.  But, be sure you are out of your home long enough so that the odor from the spray is completely gone. The spray can irritate your lungs, especially if you have asthma. This is also true for allergy sufferers.  Roach traps can do the same job, but with small children in the home they may not be suitable. Be wise, neat, and alert; and you may never have to look at another roach again.