No one likes to see bugs crawling through their home, especially insects like cockroaches. Once these pests enter a home, it is hard to get them out.

This guide will go over how to spot infestations, how they happen, health hazards, and how to get rid of them.

Signs of Cockroach Infestation

Even though roaches are nocturnal, they still leave signs that they are breeding in your home. Here are signs indicating that you might have an infestation in your home:

• A musty odor coming from the kitchen or bathroom, or in any room in your home.
• Bodies of dead roaches
• Droppings (roach feces) that resemble coffee grounds or black pepper flakes
• Brown or tan oval egg casings- on bookends or behind furniture.
• Live roaches – if you spot one, it’s crucial to check if it has laid any eggs.

Food contamination and health issues

There’s no doubt about it that roaches are disgusting, filthy pests that carry many diseases and allergens. They leave body parts all through the home, riddled with bacteria, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and other parasites. For a person with asthma or allergies, it can stir up allergic reactions and asthma attacks.

These nasty pests can contaminate food by merely walking over the food and food preparation areas. Cockroaches will feast on anything from garbage to cardboard to human hair. As they are feasting, they will release bacteria by defecating and releasing their saliva on the food.

How do you get cockroaches?

Roaches are attracted to food, warmth, moisture, and shelter. There are many cracks and crevices for cockroaches to hide and lay their eggs. Cockroaches seek out sources of food, so a crumb on the floor is enough to attract roaches.

There are many ways that cockroaches can enter the home. Including the following:

• Leaky pipes
• Cardboard boxes
• Grocery bags
• Shoes, purses
• Vents
• Trashcans, and window screens, or air conditioning units

How do you get rid of cockroaches?

Cockroaches can reproduce quickly. German cockroaches are the hardest to get rid of, and once you see one, there are a thousand more in hiding. You can try the following steps to prevent these pests from entering the home.

Preventing roaches can be done by:

• Keeping food in the refrigerator or putting in airtight containers.
• Wiping counters, and stove every night.
• Fill gaps with caulk in bathrooms and kitchen.
• Check for leaking pipes and fix them.
• Seal cracks around your home.
• Do not leave dishes in the sink overnight.
• Sweep and vacuum at least once a week.
• Don’t leave water out.
• Take your trash out regularly.

If you find roaches in the home, complete the prevention methods above, and contact a professional to spray the interior and exterior of your home. However, don’t rely on this method as the only method to remove the roaches from your home.

Identify the problem areas and place gel bait stations and glue strips around the house. If you want a natural way to fight these pests, you can use coffee grounds, peppermint, and citrus peels.

No one ever says that they envision cockroaches infesting their home. As soon as you determine there is a problem in your home, you need to take measures to avoid further infesting your home with cockroaches. Hydrex Pest Control licensed and trained technicians can take care of your pest problems quickly and efficiently.