Cockroaches are one of the most unpleasant pests you can wind up with. True to their reputation, they’re gross, they breed like crazy, and they’re just about impossible to get rid of. That means the best way to control cockroaches in your Salt Lake City home or business is not to get them in the first place. Of course, this is easier said than done. The good news is that you can do lots of things to keep roaches out of your house. Let’s talk about some of the most effective methods for roach prevention.
Common Area Roaches
Here in Salt Lake City, we have several common pest roaches, including American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches, and German cockroaches. Each of these roaches has its unique look. For instance, American roaches are large and dark-colored, while German roaches are small and tan. However, despite their unique looks, all these different roach varieties share common behaviors and characteristics.
All cockroaches are tough as nails. They’re resistant to common chemical pesticides and more serious threats like thirst, extreme temperatures, and even nuclear radiation. Roaches can survive without oxygen for 40 minutes, without food for a month, and without their heads for up to a week. In addition to their legendary toughness, they also breed exponentially. Some roach varieties can mature in as little as 40 days and start laying eggs of their own. That means roach infestations can explode from a few individuals to hundreds or even thousands in a matter of a few weeks.
All cockroaches also spread disease. Roaches love to hang out in some truly nasty places like sewers, dumpsters, and rotting flesh. They drag all the pathogens they pick up in these places across your kitchen counter when they invade your home. Roaches spread dozens of different diseases, including:
- Cholera
- Dysentery
- E. Coli
- Gastroenteritis
- Leprosy
- Salmonella
- Typhoid
Some of these diseases have the potential to not only make you extremely sick but put you in the hospital or maybe even kill you.
Roach Prevention
With all their dangers, cockroach prevention is paramount to keeping a healthy and safe home or business. So what can you do? There are two main strategies to keep roaches out of your house or commercial property: physically bar their entry and reduce attractants. To prevent cockroach entry, take measures like:
- Inspect your home’s exterior and plug up any holes or cracks you find. Remember, roaches can squeeze through some tight spots. Just because it looks too small for a cockroach doesn’t mean it is.
- Ensure all window or door screens are well-fitted and free of rips and tears.
- Install weather stripping under all door sweeps and in windowsills.
Roaches are savvy creatures, and if they want in, they’ll find a way in. You can make it harder for them, but ultimately you probably won’t do much more than slow them down. That means making your home less attractive to roaches is probably a more effective strategy to prevent them:
- Clear clutter to reduce roach hiding places.
- Clean dishes and eating utensils immediately after meals.
- Keep all foods either in the fridge or in airtight containers.
- Cover all indoor and outdoor garbage cans with tight lids.
The Best Prevention Tip: Call The Pros
Sometimes, roaches infest your home despite your best efforts. If that happens, you can do one more thing: call the experts at Pest Pro Pest Control. We have all the tools and techniques to eliminate any size roach infestation and ensure it stays gone for good. So give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule your cockroach control inspection today!