Moving into a new home can be a daunting task as there are so many things to do to ensure that things go smoothly, such as the need to pack. You want to ensure your belongings are safely stored and pest free for the move.
You will wish to do anything in your power to exterminate all pests and ensure that they do not make it into your apartment or house, even if you need pest control before moving, which may be the answer before the move.
Do cockroaches come with you when you move to your new place?
Bugs are notorious for getting in all possible nooks and crannies of everything. Therefore, the answer is yes. You will probably have them making the move with you into your new house or apartment if you have a known infestation.
You might even wonder what brings roaches inside your home. But, if you are careful and take preventative measures, you will help to avoid this problem and keep the pests at bay when you pack for moving.
How do I know if I have a cockroach infestation?
Do you question if you have an infestation? Knowing you have a pest problem is the first step in eliminating the problem when moving to your new home and is a common question.
- Feces-Does it look like someone dropped pepper in your counter or countertops? This find may actually be droppings. If you detect these throughout the house or apartment, be very thorough with the cleaning. Insect droppings carry bacteria that can be harmful to humans.
- Smearing-If you notice lines on the walls in your apartment or house, or any other surface, that is dark this may be from an insect. They will appear in humid areas and should also be cleaned carefully. This is a top sign to check for, and you should inspect it.
- Eggs-Eggs are released in capsules. These capsules carry a multitude of eggs and are all that is needed to start a full infestation. Taking the time to check is crucial.
- Shedding Skin-If, you see outlines of roaches, then you know they are there. Properly dispose of the skin and make sure you use a disinfectant.
- Pungent Odor-Roaches carry bacteria and leave a trail of musty odor. If you smell something unusual, you will want to investigate your house or apartment. This smell also attracts other bugs, especially the Boxelder bugs in the house.
- Property Damage-They can lead to a lot of property damage. They will bite through other materials to get to a food source. If you notice small holes in cupboards and walls in your house or apartment, you will again want to investigate.
- Live Cockroaches-Cockroaches are nocturnal and do not come out during the day unless there is a heavy infestation. If you see one, you know there is more in anything.
Can you see cockroaches during the day in your new place?
While you could see a few stragglers during the day, keep in mind cockroaches are actually nocturnal. This is why it is crucial to look out for signs and not the actual bugs. They will hide during the day and come out to eat at night. Most are found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and drains.
Do cockroaches crawl on you when you sleep?
Cockroaches are nocturnal and most active at night. If your bedroom is infested, you may wake up to one crawling on you in your sleep. Cockroaches love warm areas. It just so happens the place they love most is your ear.
Thankfully, if a cockroach does get stuck in your ear, it is stuck. The wax will trap the cockroach, so you are able to get it out. In fact, some think that one crawling on you is a sign from above.
Cardboard Boxes and Packing Materials to Avoid When Moving
When moving, most people think of using cardboard boxes to pack. However, this is the worst thing you could possibly do when you are trying to avoid cockroach infestation in home.
Cockroaches are known to hide within the corrugated material of the box, which is the perfect place to sleep and breed, which leads to your place being infested. They can then chew a hole in the box and ruin the contents on the inside of the box.
If the pests are low on food or can’t find your kitchen, they will also eat boxes out of hunger. Again, avoid using cardboard boxes at all costs, even if used boxes from stores may be cheaper.
What packing material should I make sure to use when moving to my new home?
With cardboard boxes out of the question, it may seem daunting to figure out what you can put your belongings in to make sure these pests don’t follow while bringing your possessions while moving.
While clear plastic bins with lids and bags may be more expensive, they are your best bet to pack with instead of a box. They are airtight and eliminate the hiding places for these creatures. Always inspect the items you are putting in the plastic bins or bags while you pack.
You can also use items other than plastic bins with lids to pack, such as sealed clear plastic bags for smaller items and SpaceBags for clothes and linens, not boxes. Make sure all personal belongings are washed and pest free before putting them away in a bag or container.
How long can roaches live in a plastic bag?
Cockroaches can survive in a sealed plastic bag for about a week, less than in boxes. While a good plastic bag will not let liquids leak, the bag will still allow some airflow. A cockroach can survive in an unopened bag for at least a week without a problem. These bags should be resealable bags and not something like a grocery store bag while bringing items to your new place.
Will cockroaches transfer on clothing?
It is not actually common for them to hide in clothes and linens, even if it is infested. Before packing your clothing, you should wash your laundry in hot water to remove bacteria and kill any stragglers in the wash. Always double-check. Thankfully, you will also have freshly cleaned laundry to unpack.
Put your dryer on high heat, as this will kill any remaining germs. You can air dry your clothing outside as well; just check for bugs when putting the laundry back in and check for new bugs as well. After drying, put the items in a sealed plastic bin, and you are ready to start moving.
Should I take kitchen appliances to my new home?
Roaches love food and are known to hide everywhere, even in your kitchen appliances. Check everything. If you have to bring appliances with you, you will have to thoroughly clean the appliance to the best of your ability.
This means taking apart all components of the appliance and deep cleaning. You should then move the appliance the same day, so you do not allow time for new roaches to make their way into the appliance.
Always give the appliances a good shake as well and double-check as you pack the items! After cleaning you can even just leave the appliance outside to dry after washing.
For smaller appliances such as the toaster, you should clean the item and pack them item in plastic bags and keep that in an airtight container.
What smells repel cockroaches in my new place?
It is a good idea to try to put some essential oils in your newly packed containers which will repel any pests and kill any that may have been left behind. Always inspect everything inside.
This will also leave a pleasant scent for you while unpacking in your new home and help to exterminate the bugs.
- Tea Tree Oil
- Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus is poisonous to felines.
- Lavender Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Cinnamon
What cleaners should you use to get rid of cockroaches and keeping roaches from moving with you?
While most people love the scent of citrus cleaner, bugs hate it. They are known to try to escape areas that have citrus.
While you are cleaning with citrus, try to inspect uncommon areas where they are trying to get away from the citrus. While you are cleaning up your items to pack and move, use a cleaner like Lysol!
You can also use a strong cleaner like bleach to disinfect your possessions that may have fecal matter on them. Always follow the directions on the bottle to make sure your items are not ruined in the process of cleaning.
You should not exclude pest traps that can catch any stray roaches, and also an exterminator. Exterminators are a great option. This is due to the fact they inspect and ensure that roaches are removed from places such as pipes and places we would not typically look in.
Can you get cockroaches from someone else?
Yes. You may have the cleanest apartment on the block, but just like spiders, cockroaches do travel inside everything. It just takes one bug to start an infestation. Female cockroaches do not need a male to have eggs.
While it is uncommon for one roach to jump on you or your items during the day, it is possible. You will always need to inspect your belongings before entering your home.
What brings bugs into your home?
Just like any other animal, cockroaches need shelter, food, and water. Your home is the perfect place for a roach to obtain all three. If a roach makes its way into your home, you can guarantee that it will find the kitchen, even from outside.
Always remain as clean as possible, and if you notice a roach, you may want to invest in the service of an exterminator before the move. Roaches are even attracted to the smallest crumbs on the floor, pet food, the garbage (check here first), and everything that may hold dust.
Can cockroaches hide in electronics?
While we like to think that bugs can not possibly be hiding in our electronics, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Bugs are known to hide in all electronics, such as televisions, computers, D.V.D players, and much more.
Electronics give off heat, so it is important to inspect them by taking them apart and checking every component before you take and pack them. Electronics are the best place to hide. Take apart anything you can, especially in a computer, and then put it back together after you can ensure there are no longer any bugs.
Bugs are extremely difficult to be taking care of and can take time. If the infestation is severe, it is your best bet to just call an exterminator, such as A.N.T. Pest Control, rights reserved, to move on time and unpack at your leisure. From this point, the roaches can be terminated, you can take control, and you can continue the cleanup to put all of your belongings in your new home.
