How to keep cockroaches out of your home

Cockroaches are particularly unpleasant pests, and your home is an ideal breading ground. 

After all, your home or business premises are warm and there’s usually a good supply of food. And, once they find their way in, they can quickly reproduce, causing an infestation. 

Not only is a cockroach invasion annoying and, let’s face it, embarrassing, they can also spread germs and disease. 

Are there cockroaches in the UK?

There over 4,000 species of cockroach in the world! In the UK, however, the most common species are:

–  Oriental cockroaches – these cockroaches enjoy damp environments such as drains and bins

– German cockroaches – these cockroaches enjoy high humidity environments, including bathrooms and kitchens

– Brown-banded cockroaches – these cockroaches can thrive in any environment, providing there is a good food supply

Keeping cockroaches out 

It’s much easier to prevent cockroaches than it is to get rid of them. Here are my top tips for keeping cockroaches out of your home or business:

Remove food sources 

Cockroaches are scavengers, meaning they’re attracted by the countless food sources in your home. One of the best ways to keep cockroaches out is to eliminate any potential food sources. That means removing standing food on kitchen counters, tables, and surfaces, and ensuring any crumbs, powders, or liquid foods are cleaned up if spilled. 

It’s not only human food that can attract cockroaches – the smell of pet food is also very appealing to them! 

You should also remove any liquids, including standing water in buckets and sinks, as cockroaches not only need water to survive, but they are also attracted to moisture and love living in damp places. 

Clean and tidy 

As with any household pests, one of the best ways to discourage cockroaches from making your home theirs is to keep kitchens, food handling areas, and storage areas clean and tidy. 

Make sure that all work surfaces are clear of food, waste, and spillages. In office environments, it’s a good idea to limit eating and storing food at desks, instead encourage employees to eat in designated kitchen areas. 

Declutter 

Make sure your home is free from any unnecessary clutter, including packaging, cardboard, newspapers and magazines. This reduces the amount of places that cockroaches will have to make their home. 

Keeping your home clutter-free will also eliminate places for any cockroaches who have made it indoors to leave their droppings. 

Keep on top of maintenance 

Keeping on top of maintenance in your home will help remove potential ways in for cockroaches, as well as their hiding places.

Ensure pipes and drains are clear and in good working order, seal any cracks in wooden shelves and skirting boards, and ensure any cracks and crevices in walls, sockets, and under cabinets are sealed. 

Call in the professionals!

Unfortunately, despite your best efforts to keep cockroaches out of your home or business property, they might still find their way in. When this happens, it’s time for some professional cockroach control. 

At SLS Pest Control, I provide professional pest control and cockroach removal services in Peterborough, Oundle, Corby, Kettering, Huntingdon, Stamford, and the surrounding areas. I use humane methods and products to remove and prevent all sorts of pests, including cockroaches, from domestic and commercial properties. 

If you need help with your cockroaches, get in touch.