On this blog, we express some hatred for two pests above all others: cockroaches and bed bugs. And I think they’re both pretty easy to understand. Bed bugs are a nightmare to deal with, because they’re hiders, and cockroaches aren’t much better. Because cockroaches are gross, and riddled with bacteria, and they carry disease and they can survive a nuclear holocaust, and ew, I just want to go take an hour-long shower now.
With that in mind, it should be no surprise that general filth is a possible reason for having cockroaches. If your house is as gross and dirty as cockroaches, they’re gonna’ love it there. Want to know some more possibilities? Here are four additional reasons you have a cockroach problem:
Your perimeter is leaky
We’re not talking about your fences; this is about your walls. Cracks, crevices and holes in walls are excellent entry points for pests of all kinds, including cockroaches. So inspect the perimeter closely for insecurities and close them up. You can use caulking for cracks, but you may have to purchase some spackle or patches for larger holes.
Your kitchen is messy
Whether you cook or not, the kitchen is where the food is, which usually makes it ground zero for any pest problem. Therefore, your kitchen should be immaculate at the end of every day. Take out the trash, sweep the floor, wipe down surfaces and empty the sink every night if possible. And don’t forget to mop occasionally.
There’s some moist areas in the home
This might sound kind of strange, but think about it: are there some poorly ventilated areas of the home? Do you have any possibly leaky pipes? This is important, because cockroaches are attracted to a damp atmosphere. So if you’ve got moisture in the basement, you could soon have roaches down there, too.
You have too much clutter
This is especially problematic in places like the garage, which are famous for clutter. Clutter provides darkness and hiding spots, which cockroaches will take advantage of. That cockroach you’ve seen scurry across the kitchen floor is probably hanging out underneath a pile of newspapers in the garage during the day. So ensure boxes are up off the ground, pick up any piles of newspaper or other miscellaneous junk, and try to keep the floor clear.