Getting Rid of Roaches

By Rita Templeton

The mere thought of a cockroach crawling across your dinner plates is enough to turn your stomach. But if you have roaches, they’re likely marching across your tableware - and your countertops, and your furniture … need I go on? A roach infestation is bad news. They’re unsanitary to say the least - and their droppings can even aggravate symptoms of asthma.

Roaches, like any other creatures, seek out three basic things in order to live and thrive: food, water, and shelter. So to rid your residence, you have to take away those things. Let’s start with their food.

A typical roach diet consists of spilled food, garbage, and starchy things such as wallpaper paste, crackers, cereal, bread, sugar, and pasta.

• Basic sanitation is the number one way to drive away roaches – and prevent them from coming back. Keep all the surfaces in your home – countertops, appliances, and floors – clean and free of food spills. Ammonia and water is an effective cleaner for most hard surfaces. Vacuum and mop your floor frequently, and wipe up spills as soon as they happen.
• Keep as much of your food as possible in the refrigerator, or invest in tight-sealing plastic containers for things like cereal and flour.
• Whether you’re recycling food containers (cans and plastic cartons, for instance) or just throwing them away, rinse and thoroughly dry them before you toss them out.
• Avoid using shelf liner paper, as roaches will eat the glue that binds it to the shelf.
• Similarly, opt for paint instead of wallpaper. If your home is already wallpapered, repair loose spots and air bubbles.

Now to eliminate the roaches’ favorite hiding places!

• Keep your home as free from clutter as possible. Roaches love to hide in piles of junk and dirty places.
• Get rid of old furniture, clothes, and other items you’re not using where a roach may be tempted to take up residence.
• A few minor home repairs can make a big difference when it comes to roach control. Use caulk to seal cracks where the wall meets the floor or ceiling; also baseboards, moldings, inside cabinets, and around pipes. Repair loose plaster and remove chipping paint. Place screens in windows.

Finally, remove the roaches’ sources of water.

• Don’t keep stacks of dirty dishes in your sink. When you wash the dishes, dry them and put them away as promptly as possible.
• Wipe sinks, showers, and tubs dry when you’re finished using them.
• When you mop the floor, dry it thoroughly.
• Make sure there are no areas in your home with standing water – even potted plants.
• Dispose of wet garbage in an outside trash receptacle.

The good news about roaches is that once you’ve removed their resources, they will seek other places to live. But if you really want to ensure that they won’t be sticking around, there are other measures to take in addition to the ones mentioned above.

Baits. Otherwise known as roach motels, these little plastic discs can be placed in cabinets, under sinks, in corners, or anywhere else you’ve spotted the disgusting pests. Once the roach becomes attracted to the bait, it will then drag the poison along with it, in turn poisoning its hidden relatives. Baits are fairly inexpensive, highly effective, and can last for months.

Sprays. There are two types of roach spray: residual sprays (or “bug bombs”), which leave behind a roach-repelling pesticide that lasts for several weeks, and sprays that kill roaches on contact but leave no residual effects. Before using a spray, make sure that dishes, silverware, food, and pet dishes – and, of course, the pets themselves – are removed.

Boric acid. This natural, low-toxicity mineral, available in the pest control section at discount and hardware stores, can be dusted in out-of-the-way places where roaches have been spotted. When a roach crawls through the dust, it will transfer it to other roaches. Though it’s not harmful, you should still treat it like you would treat any other pesticide and keep it clear of dishes and things that may come in contact with your mouth (or your pets).

Nobody wants roaches for roommates. It may take a lot of work and a little persistence, but your home can eventually be free of these vile vermin!

Click here to purchase roach traps.

© Doityourself.com 2006

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