By 
Cockroaches…of course, they’re one of the few creatures on earth that could survive nuclear winter – those pesky, persistent, off-putting pests. If like us, you can’t stand the sight of cockroaches in your home, then this is the article for you. We’re going to explore why there could be a sudden appearance of cockroaches in your home, some tips on killing them and their eggs, and answer the question as to whether you can ever really get rid of roaches for good.
Get your swatters ready! It’s time to kick those nasty critters out of your house once and for all!
Why are there suddenly so many cockroaches in my house?
A sudden appearance of cockroaches in your home can be very unsettling – particularly if you keep your home clean and tidy. Although this happens very rarely, if you find yourself contending with what appears to be an infestation, here are a few reasons that could have led to it:
- If you are seeing cockroaches during the daytime, then there’s a good chance you have a large infestation somewhere. The fact is, cockroaches are nocturnal insects – which means they tend to come out and scavenge for food at night. So, if you’re seeing them during the day, then they’re clearly competing with other roaches for food and water.
- If the neighbouring houses on your street or apartments next door / above yours are infested, at some point, cockroaches may come looking for a new place to nest in your home – particularly once an infestation grows beyond a certain point. If you are getting a few more roaches than normal, perhaps speak with your neighbours and see if they have been dealing with more than usual as well.
- You may have brought in a contaminated item to your home (e.g., some old-infested furniture, a second-hand fridge, etc.).
- There’s an open drain pipe in your kitchen or bathroom (big roaches live in the drains and will come up to scavenge if there is easy access.
- You’ve always had some roaches nesting in your home and have since grown in number due to increased availability of food (you may have slacked off with keeping the kitchen clean, etc.).
- You have been neglecting your home cleaning, building up clutter in your home, and otherwise letting your property fall into poor hygiene and disrepair.
As you can see, there are a wide variety of reasons that may have inadvertently led to an infestation of roaches in your home. It’s a terrifying prospect, but the good news is that there are things that you can do to keep your home relatively free and clear of these nasty pests!
My home is clean and tidy – why do I have cockroaches?!
If your home is clean and tidy and you still have roaches, here are a few reasons that could be contributing to their increased presence:
- Excessive moisture: any leaking sinks, taps, toilets, or other appliances can create conditions in which cockroaches have constant access to water. Go around your property and double-check that all of your appliances and faucets are in good working order.
- Poor landscaping: certain untidy landscape features (e.g., unkempt palm trees close to your home) can attract roaches. Once nearby, they can easily find access to your home.
- Access to food: even if you are always on top of keeping your kitchen counters clean and crumb-free, cockroaches will eat almost anything (including pet food and human hair).
- Easy entry to your home: loose seals, gaps under doors, holes in dryer vents; there are so many ways in which roaches can gain access so be certain to go around and check your property thoroughly.
What kills roaches and their eggs?
If you are thinking about trying to kill roaches by yourself and keep their numbers down, there are a few things that you could try:
- Store-bought bug spray (can be toxic for your pets and requires airing your home out).
- Baking soda and sugar (an affordable and effective way of killing roaches and eggs – assuming you know where their nest is).
- Insect growth regulators (rendering males infertile – not a cheap option).
Ultimately, if you find yourself with a cockroach infestation that you need to get rid of, we highly recommend that you call the professionals for their advice. Certainly, you can try to take care of the situation by yourself, but for the fastest and most efficient results, you’re better off calling a company like SWAT Pest Control in Brisbane to look after you.
Can you ever really get rid of roaches?
So, can you ever really get rid of cockroaches? Unfortunately, try as you might, there’s never any guarantee that you’ll be able to keep cockroaches out of your home.
If you are deathly petrified of insects you could always consider moving to a colder climate where there tends to be fewer, however, as to keeping them out of your home, there’s only so much you can do.
That said, the following steps, when followed closely and kept on top of, you shouldn’t have too much trouble from roaches at all:
- Keep your home immaculate.
- De-clutter and leave no room for nesting.
- Seal up all possible entry points into your home.
- Keep the plugs and drain pipes covered.
- Thoroughly clean the kitchen after use, leave no crumbs and seal your food in containers.
- Maintain your garden well and keep the grass cut short.
- Use essential oils at home (roaches hate the smell of tea tree oil and peppermint in particular).
- Cook with garlic, cayenne, and onion powder regularly!
Final thoughts
Cockroaches are a horrible bunch but it’s important to remember that they can’t really hurt you. In fact, there are far more dangerous insects in the world – if that brings you any comfort.
If you do have an infestation and it’s causing you anxiety, call your local pest control company and be done with it – save yourself the sleepless nights.
In any case, we wish you all the best with taking your home back from those nasty invaders once more!
