No one wants cockroaches as roommates. These pests love to sneak into homes looking for food, moisture, and a warm place to hide. With a few preventative measures, you can discourage cockroaches from moving into your house. Check out five tips to help you keep cockroaches out of your home.
1. Seal Entry Points
To prevent cockroaches, you need to seal potential entry points. If these pests can’t find a way to enter your house, you won’t have to worry about an infestation.
- Examine the exterior of your home for spots where cockroaches can sneak inside. Seal cracks and gaps with caulk or steel wool. Cockroaches can slip into tight spaces, so don’t ignore small holes.
- Ensure your weather stripping and door sweeps are in good condition.
- Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
- These pests like to hitch a ride on firewood and in paper bags, so check to make sure you aren’t carrying them into your home.
2. Clean & Declutter
Taking the time to clean your home can help you keep cockroaches away. Your goal is to remove food sources and eliminate sources of shelter.
- Clean up crumbs and spills as soon as you notice them.
- Don’t leave food out on your counters or dirty dishes in the sink.
- Store your food in sealed containers.
- Don’t leave your pet’s food out at night.
- Before placing bottles or cans in the recycling bin, rinse them to remove sticky residues.
- Regularly take the trash out and keep garbage bins clean.
- Remove clutter, including paper and cardboard boxes, to get rid of possible hiding spots.
3. Minimize Moisture
Cockroaches and other pests are attracted to damp areas. When possible, minimize moisture build-up in your home.
- Repair or replace leaky pipes and dripping faucets.
- Ensure your sinks are draining properly so water doesn’t accumulate.
- Regularly replace water in pet bowls.
- Use a dehumidifier in damp areas of your home to reduce moisture build-up.
- Don’t forget to check your yard for moisture problems.
4. Plant Cockroach-Repelling Plants
Plants are great to have in your yard and home, and they can help deter pests. Some plant fragrances and their oils drive bugs crazy. Having these plants nearby can help to repel cockroaches.
Here are a few plants that cockroaches don’t like:
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Bay leaves
- Chrysanthemums
- Thyme
5. Use Green Pest Control Products
Green pest control products can be an effective solution for cockroach problems. Baits and plant-based insecticide sprays can help to prevent and get rid of cockroaches.
- Create a Protective Barrier: Our plant-based Home Bug Spray kills and repels cockroaches. Spraying the perimeter of your home and common entry points can create a protective barrier that helps to keep cockroaches out.
- Spray Cockroaches Away: If these pests have invaded your space, you can use our Ant & Roach Killer aerosol spray. It kills cockroaches on contact and provides residual repellency.
- Use a Bait: When dealing with an infestation, our Roach Killer Gel Bait can also help. It is designed to attract and kill cockroaches. These pests feed on the bait and return to the nest. As they die and other cockroaches are exposed to the bait, a domino effect takes place and the source of the infestation is eliminated.
Cockroaches won’t stick around if they don’t have access to food, moisture, and warmth. Take the time to make your home as unwelcoming to these pests as possible. If cockroaches or other pests are bugging you, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.