This article will talk about the dangers of a cockroach infestation, what to do to prevent such pests and show you a recipe for a homemade cockroach killer.
Cockroaches can be a dangerous source of allergens and asthma triggers. Their saliva, shedded skin and feces are similar to dust mites and spread around in your house in a similar way. What is more, cockroaches carry dangerous bacteria, moulds, fungi and viruses that can be rather harmful to human health and even cause polio.
If you noticed cockroaches in your house, do not ignore the matter. They will go around your whole house, eat and defecate everywhere. Their feces contain salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria that can make you very sick.
Like most pests, cockroaches are looking for a comfortable place to breed. A place with a good food supply is perfect as well. This is why your house can easily become a target. Dirty dishes, food leftovers, full rubbish bins or pet food on the floor might be some of the things that attract cockroaches. Heavy appliances, dark cupboards and closets are a perfect residence for a family of roaches.
There are so many ways that those little pests may get in your house. Small cracks and holes are the perfect passage. However, picking up second hand items or furniture from the side of the road may also introduce them into your home. Here are some ways in which you can get rid of them:
- Starve them out by cleaning – If you have cockroaches at home, it does not necessarily mean that you live in an unkempt place. However, it means that something is attracting them. Clutter, food leftovers, wrappers, dirty dishes, dirty laundry piles, hair, crumbs and spills could be the reason for the infestation. Regular cleaning will help you strip your house of those “attractive” features and eventually starve the roaches to death, or at least cause them to leave. Clean daily, before the cockroaches are able to find the source of attraction.But if you think things are out of your hands, you can always turn to cleaning professionals to solve your problem
- in the kitchen – clean your counters and backsplash. Do not overlook any spills or crumbs left. Clean behind and under your appliances as well.Your refrigerator’s drip tray and the tray under your oven are top places for cockroaches. Make sure you clean them regularly and do not leave any open food packages in your cupboards.
- in the bathroom – Make sure to regularly clean all bathroom surfaces. Hair, makeup and other messes provide cockroaches with some food options that will certainly attract them. Do not forget to clean your cabinets and under your sink.
- in the living room – Avoid eating on your couch. If there are any dirty dishes left around the living room, make sure to regularly remove them. Vacuum your carpet, upholstery and especially between your sofa cushions.
- in the bedroom – food might not be the only thing attracting cockroaches. Piles of dirty laundry could also be a perfect spot for them. Make sure to regularly do your washing and don’t provide them with dark, moist, comfortable spots to hang out at.
- Check your house for cracks and gaps – Use caulk to fill in gaps and holes around windows, doors, also if there is a gap between your siding and foundation. Add insulation or steel wool before filling in larger gaps with caulk.
- Use cockroach repellents to get rid of them – Roaches, like most pests, cannot stand certain smells. You can add those to your all-purpose home spray and use it to clean floors and entrances. Cockroaches do not like lavender and peppermint. You can also try using whole bay leaves in your kitchen.
- Make cockroach killer at home – Commercial sprays are quite convenient to use. However, they will only kill the one cockroach you sprayed and not affect the other ones. In order to get rid of the infestation, you must find a way to lure all the roaches to their death. This is a homemade roach killer that will attract all of them then kill them. Follow the recipe, then put it in all the places where they like to hide – under sinks, behind appliances, in the corners of cupboards etc.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp of cooking grease
- 2 tbsp of powdered confectioner’s sugar
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup borax or diatomaceous earth
- water
Combine the sugar, flour, grease and borax with just enough water to make soft dough that holds its shape. Make olive sized balls and put them where cockroaches like to hide.
When you first put those balls out, you will notice that A LOT of roaches come out. That is because they will be leaving their hiding spots. Both borax and diatomaceous earth have tiny sharp particles that will tear up the digestive tracts of the cockroaches and will cause them to die. Make sure that the balls don’t lose their smell. You may need to spray them with water daily to keep them moist and attract roaches.