The Ultimate Cockroach Control Guide For Roseville Property Owners

Cockroaches Trigger Allergies And Spread Disease

When cockroaches crawl around in unsanitary places and feed on unsanitary things, there are consequences. Let's take some of the cockroach facts you've learned thus far and apply them to the health risks associated with cockroaches. We'll also take a quick look at how sanitation plays a role in preventing sickness.

• Cockroaches get into pantry foods and contaminate the contents. Since cockroaches eat cardboard and paper, it is best to keep your food in sealed plastic or glass containers to keep roaches out. If you keep roaches out, you'll limit their ability to give you stomach ailments, such as those created by salmonella and E. coli.
• Cockroaches eat decaying organic matter and grime. A kitchen that is sparkling clean is resistant to germ transmission. Clean floors, counters, shelves, and sinks. Also, deep clean the sides of your oven and the floor underneath your refrigerator.
• Cockroaches come in contact with dirty things in your bathroom. It only takes a few seconds for a roach to go from toilet to toothbrush. Keep your toothbrush in a protective case and clean your toilet to prevent seriously harmful disease contamination. One fact to keep in mind is that cockroaches can climb porcelain. If your toilet is dirty under the rim, it is not as much of a concern as the top of the rim, unless your toilet is dusty enough for a roach to get a good grip. It is a gross topic, but one worth taking a moment to consider.
• Cockroaches reproduce quickly. Each nymph that hatches will shed its skin as it grows. The shedding of skins triggers allergies. A recent study shows a clear link between cockroach infestations and hospitalization for those who suffer from asthma. Plus, the more roaches you have in your home, the lower the air quality and the greater the risk of respiratory issues.

It isn't good to have cockroaches in your home. They don't behave themselves. When they get inside, you may turn to over-the-counter cockroach control products or home remedies for cockroaches to stop them from making you sick. We don't recommend doing this as you can worsen the problem. Cockroaches are immune to many common materials used to control them and they can pick them up and carry them to sensitive areas of your home. Contact Neighborly Pest Management for the appropriate selection and application of cockroach control materials. Our licensed professionals follow strict protocols to ensure safety.

How To Remove Factors That Attract Cockroaches

If you don't have cockroaches in your Roseville home yet, we have good news. You can use your new understanding of common cockroach habits and behaviors to deter them from entering your home and building a family.  

• Keep your trash cans clean: Cockroaches are attracted to the scent of organic material, so it is important to keep your trash cans clean and sealed. You should also regularly empty your trash cans and rinse them out with soapy water.
• Properly mix compost: If your compost stinks, cockroaches will smell it from a distance and come running.
• Clean up pest waste: Since cockroaches feed on fecal matter, dog and cat waste, and also bird waste, can attract cockroaches to your yard. Pick pet waste up and remove bird feeders to reduce food options for roaches.
• Reduce insects: Since cockroaches eat insects that are living and not living, reducing insects on your property will have an impact on roach populations. You can do this by getting year-round pest control or taking natural steps, such as replacing white exterior lights with yellow lights.
• Address moisture problems: As we pointed out above, Cockroaches are drawn to damp environments. Clearing out obstructions in your gutters, repairing spots in your gutter system that are broken, repairing water spigots, and maintaining dry landscaping will all have an impact on roach populations.
• Stay ahead of yard work: Leaves and other organic debris provide moist habitats and tight hiding places for cockroaches.
• Remove objects that sit on the ground near your home: These objects provide tight spaces and protection from the sun. A tight space is attractive and protection from the sun keeps cockroaches from drying out.
• Seal entry points: Every crack in your exterior is a potential entry point for roaches. But those cracks aren't just a potential route, they are an attractant. Cockroaches want to squeeze into them.

Do you see how you can use your knowledge of cockroach habits and behaviors to deter them? See if you can think of a few of your own prevention tips, such as storing pizza boxes in a plastic bin. We've only touched the surface of the many ways you can work to deter roaches.