Spotting a cockroach scurrying through your house can be worrisome. These pests have a habit of making themselves at home in your space. Knowing what’s attracting cockroaches to your home can help you prevent and get rid of these pests. Check out five reasons why cockroaches are in your house.
1. They Found a Way Inside
If cockroaches can find a way into your home, they’ll be more than happy to visit. They can squeeze through tiny cracks, gaps, or holes. Loose seals and damaged window and door screens can be entry points. Cockroaches can sneak inside on items you carry into your home including bags, cardboard boxes, and firewood. These pests can also be a problem in apartment buildings. Cockroaches can easily slip into neighboring apartments.
2. Food Sources
One of the main reasons cockroaches invade homes is to find food. Crumbs and spills can quickly attract these pests. Even if you can’t spot crumbs on your floor, cockroaches can find the ones hidden under appliances. Cockroaches can easily track down food left on your counters or on dirty dishes in the sink. They can also chew through cardboard, which means food not stored in sealed containers can become a snack for them.
3. Shelter
Cockroaches make their way into homes looking for shelter. Clutter can provide these pests with plenty of hiding spots. Piles of paper, books, and clothes can be used as shelter. Overstuffed shelves and drawers are also attractive to these pests. If you have cardboard boxes in your home, you’ll want to consider switching to plastic bins with lids. Cockroaches love to hide in and feed on cardboard boxes.
4. Moisture
Like most pests, cockroaches need water to survive. These creepy crawlies are attracted to damp areas in homes. This is why you’ll often spot them in kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Leaky pipes and dripping faucets can invite cockroaches into your house. Water build-up near sinks, showers, and bath tubs can also attract these pests. To reduce humidity and dampness, you can use a dehumidifier or fan.
5. Changes in Weather
Cockroach species have different preferences when it comes to their ideal environment. Some prefer warmer conditions and others like when it’s cooler. However, they all have one thing in common—they don’t want their space to become too hot or too cold. Changes in weather can cause these pests to move inside. When temperatures drop in fall, cockroaches head indoors looking for a warm place to pass the winter season. If temperatures become too hot in summer, these pests may slip inside hoping to cool off.
To keep cockroaches away, you’ll want to make your space as unwelcoming as possible to these pests. Eliminating entry points and removing attractants is the best way to prevent a cockroach problem. If cockroaches or other pests are bugging you, we’re here to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.