How to Prevent Cockroaches

While it’s true that cockroaches will infest anywhere that has accessible water and food sources, keeping them away from your home or business isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Cockroaches are called a “filth pest” for good reason: cockroaches thrive in areas with waste and decomposition, and they despise a clean environment. 

If your home is clean, organized, and sanitary, there’s a much smaller chance of a roach infestation. Here’s what you need to know about preventative measures against cockroach infestations.

Cockroaches love to crawl through trash to find food, and they’re often found in dumpsters or inside large trash cans. This is one reason why it’s so important to prevent them, since they can spread germs and transmit many harmful diseases. One of the best ways to prevent cockroaches from getting near or inside your home is to regularly dispose of all forms of trash and waste. Clean up any food spills as soon as they happen and don’t leave dirty dishes laying around. Keep trash cans with closable lids in your kitchen, and regularly take trash loads to the dump or to the curb for pickup. If cockroaches are allowed to get into trash, they will breed rapidly and cause bigger problems.

Since the kitchen is one of the most common places to find cockroaches, it’s a good idea to regularly clean and sanitize all surfaces, remove trash, and regularly clean food residue out of the sink. Without food scraps lingering, roaches won’t be as likely to target your kitchen. Keep any potential hiding spots that are dark and out of sight (i.e. the backs of cabinets, the underpart of the kitchen sink, and behind the refrigerator) as free of debris and moisture as possible. Remember — cockroaches are much less attracted to a clean environment, and routine cleaning is one of the best ways to prevent cockroach infestations.

Cockroaches often show up in pantries looking for an easy food source. They can get into food ingredients and dry food, and they’ll even eat pet food if it’s available. Plus, pantries are often left closed and dark, which means cockroaches will be more drawn to them as hiding places. Make sure to store food and any other vulnerable items on shelves off the ground and in airtight containers so cockroaches won’t be attracted to them.

To a cockroach, a bathroom is just as good of an infestation spot as any. Bathrooms have sinks and cabinets like kitchens do, plus an added water source in the form of bathtubs. Furthermore, soap attracts cockroaches, so it’s common to find them here. To prevent cockroach infestations in your bathroom, make sure the area stays as clean, dry, and disinfected as possible.

Effective cockroach prevention and home maintenance go hand in hand. Cockroaches can squeeze through tiny cracks, holes, and other entry points. They’re even known to enter homes through tubing and piping. There are many household maintenance tasks you can do to prevent this:

• Seal any and all gaps and crevices in foundations and pipe entrances with caulk
• Repair any damaged or broken areas of windows and doors
• Make sure to also keep basements and crawl spaces clean, moisture-free, and well-ventilated
• Keep gutters and downspouts clear of twigs, leaves, debris, and standing water
• Keep mulch and wood piles away from the foundation of your home
• Properly dispose of yard waste
• Consider setting bait stations to keep on top of any potential roach infestations before they become a major problem

Beyond these tasks, regular indoor home cleaning in addition to the other tasks we mentioned earlier can also play a major role in keeping your home free of unwanted pests. Regularly mop, sweep, dust, vacuum, disinfect, and declutter. Wash rugs and keep air vents clean. The drier and cleaner your home is, the less likely that you’ll experience cockroach infestations.