Cockroaches represent one of the worst pest problems that a homeowner can face. Not only can they invade your home from the tiniest of crevices, but they are also hard to evict once they arrive. For New Yorkers, apartments and homes can be especially vulnerable to the entry of cockroaches from multiple directions, including neighboring units, plumbing, garbage, and more.
The good news is that preventing a cockroach infestation is relatively easy with some common-sense measures. Today we’ll learn 7 ways to keep the pests from invading your home, and the one case in which you might want to employ professional New York Cockroach Pest Control services.
1. Seal Cracks to Block Entry Points
Like the name suggests, cockroaches are notorious for being able to invade homes from minuscule cracks and crevices. Sealing the main points of entry will go a long way in your efforts to keep the pests away from your place.
Make sure to regularly inspect your home for potential entry points and use caulk to plug any holes near windows and doors or around plumbing. Pay special attention to the cracks around tiles, and to the gaps between different areas of the wall or the cabinetry. Remember that many cockroach infestations in apartments start precisely from these types of entry points.
2. Keep Your Kitchen Clean
One of the attractions a home can offer to cockroaches is food, and that includes crumbs, spills, and even food leftovers in the sink. Make sure to always clean your kitchen after cooking, and try your best to remove any possible trace of food from your kitchen counter. Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen sink overnight, and sweep the floor if you have any crumbs or other traces of food.
3. Make Sure Any Food You Store At Home Is Kept Sealed
Even if your home is generally kept clean, food items that you store in the kitchen or other parts of the house can be a draw for cockroaches. To avoid this, always try to keep cereals, fruits, snacks, or even pet food in a closed and sealed package.
The same goes with any food that you might leave out during the day or overnight. As for pet food, if you have a pet at home try your best to clean their dishes after every feeding and avoid leaving food for long overnight.
4. Eliminate Any Source of Water
Like food, water is an indispensable source for survival, and that makes wet areas in your home a potential nest for cockroaches. Make sure to eliminate any leakages in your house, and to close any entry point where water might enter. Pay special attention to bathroom plumbing, and check regularly for signs of water dripping.
Additionally, you may want to empty the sink after use, and avoid having excessive humidity in areas where the pests can reach. Furthermore, make sure to always empty the drip trays of your refrigerator, and inspect frequently any other source of potential water leakage.
If you have a basement or if your home is particularly leaky, consider buying a dehumidifier and using it when humidity levels are particularly high.
5. Do Not Leave Any Garbage Around
Like food, garbage, both inside and outside the house, can be a significant attraction for cockroaches. To avoid that, make sure to store garbage in closed bags or, better yet, in trash cans with tight closing. Additionally, it is a good idea to keep the trash away as much as possible from the kitchen or other areas where there are food products, and to clean the trash can if it starts smelling. If you have bottles, cans, or any other containers that you use for recyclables, try to clean them before throwing them away.
If you live in an apartment and have to leave your garbage cans outside your front door, be particularly diligent not to leave your recyclable trash outside for long periods of time.
6. Keep Everything Clean and Free of Clutter
Clutter is the friend of cockroaches, as well as pet bedding or even old newspapers, junk mail, packing materials, cardboard, or other materials that tend to accumulate dust. Make sure to get rid of any clutter where possible and to always keep your home tidy. Pay special attention to the kitchen, and to other cluttered areas in your home such as basements and the storage room. Making sure that all unnecessary items are removed from under the sink or wherever else they might be is essential in a cockroach prevention program.
7. Get Your Apartment Inspected By A Professional Pest Control Service
Despite best efforts, in some cases, cockroaches can still come to invade your apartment through wall space, plumbing, or other means. This is especially true if you live in a high-density area such as an apartment building, in which cases, the source of the infestation might not be entirely visible to you.
That is why it is critical to schedule a comprehensive inspection with a professional New York Cockroach Pest Control service.
Watch out for the following signs that might indicate the presence of cockroaches: seeing the insects or their corpses, evidence of cockroach infestations such as their droppings, bad smells, and the presence of their egg cases. Notice that seeing several cockroaches in broad daylight might be an indication of a severe infestation, as the insects are nocturnal by nature.
Once the source of the cockroach’s infestation has been determined, the professional pest control workers will be able to recommend further measures that you can take to ensure the elimination of the pests and to keep them from coming back.
Conclusion
As we have seen, preventing cockroaches involves sealing potential entry points, keeping your home clean, ensuring there are no sources of food or water, getting rid of clutter, keeping your garbage away and in closed bags, keeping your belongings such as pet food and cereal sealed, and getting your home inspected by professional cockroach exterminators.
For dependable help dealing with cockroach problems, visit VJ Pest’s Cockroach Exterminator Service to learn more about professional cockroach control and take the next step toward a cleaner, pest-free home.
While these measures can limit the likelihood of having a cockroach infestation in your home, in cases of severe infestation, professional New York pest control services can inspect your home and take the further measures needed to get rid of the insects.
To learn more about professional cockroach exterminator pest control services, and how VJ Pest can help stop cockroaches from invading your home, visit our website and request a quote now.
