There are few things worse than spotting a roach in your kitchen! Particularly if you see one (or more) inside the pantry or cabinets. What makes matters worse is that when there is one roach, it's highly likely there are others in close proximity.
Seeing one roach in the kitchen cabinets is something that must be quickly addressed. Not only are cockroaches unsightly pests, but they also carry disease and even pose a potential risk to your fur babies.
What Type of Cockroaches Are in My Home?
If you have a roach infestation, it could be a number of different cockroach types. Check out the various colors on the body of the roach. Such as the American cockroaches have bodies that are reddish-brown, and there's a figure eight design that is yellow in color behind its head. The brown-banded cockroaches have tan to light brown bodies and two dark brown stripes.
Other species of roaches are sometimes called the “sewer roach” or “palmetto bugs.” They can reach 1-3” in length and tend to be brown or reddish-brown with light yellow edges around their bodies.
Although they can't hide as well as bed bugs, cockroaches are definitely adept at staying out of view. Professionals know where to look so that all of them can be eliminated.
German Cockroaches
If you find a German cockroach in the kitchen, it could be a sign that you may have a full-blown infestation. Sometimes they hitchhike in on grocery bags, luggage, or furniture. Unfortunately, German cockroaches are extremely prolific. Female adult roaches can produce hundreds of eggs during their lifetime. So you can see how one cockroach can quickly become a cockroach problem.
What Items Attract Roaches
Store all foods, including pet foods, in sturdy containers with tightly fitting lids. Similarly, keep all garbage, recycling, and compost in airtight containers. Outside bins should be kept well away from the house. These bins can attract roaches and other pests that might try to get indoors if the bins are close to the home.
Don't leave pets' food and water bowls out overnight, which is when roaches are most active. Repair any leaking faucets or pipes both indoors and outdoors.
Pest control pros share how to get rid of cockroaches from the kitchen properly
You must take swift action if you believe you have a cockroach problem. Seeing one roach run across the kitchen floor means several other roaches exist.
Cockroaches prefer tightly confined areas, as cockroaches love the pressure against their bodies. They also prefer dark areas to hide their hiding spots; the only time they come out is in search of food sources or a new home.
Identify the source
When you first notice a cockroach in your home, it can be difficult to identify the source. However, it is imperative to know the source in order to control them. Cockroaches use a number of entry points to get inside a house.
For example, they might hitchhike in on the brown paper grocery bags you bring inside from the market. Or they enter through the plumbing or other small cracks and crevices in the home's foundation.
The places you store food, such as kitchen cabinets, are a number one hideout for cockroaches. They love any place where moisture is found. Even your electrical outlets are not safe from roach infestations.
When searching for the source of a cockroach problem, check around the stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator, as well as the areas around kitchen cabinets.
Health Concerns of a Roach Infestation in Kitchen Cabinets
Cockroach control is essential in any area of a home or yard. However, the most loathsome area for a roach problem is the kitchen. The CDC has declared that of any other insects, cockroaches carry the greatest risk of creating a health hazard. Some of the biggest human health concerns created by roach infestations is included below:
- Sensitive to allergies: The parts of a cockroach's body that they shed away, called molt, contain many airborne allergens. These allergens can result in sneezing, rashes, and difficulty in breathing. Those most susceptible to cockroach allergies are older adults and small children.
- Asthma: People who have asthma find an increase in the condition when there is a roach infestation.
- Contaminating our food sources: When roaches travel over the top of food left out or uncovered, they leave saliva and feces behind. Thus, should you come in contact with, or worse--eat this food, a number of health issues may result. Some health problems include fever and gastrointestinal problems.
- Diseases: Roaches can bring many diseases into the home of us humans. Although few severe outbreaks of cockroach disease transmission have been documented, it is still possible. Diseases such as typhoid fever, dysentery, salmonella, and gastroenteritis are among a few of them.
Why do I See a Roach in Kitchen Cabinets?
Common cockroach hideouts are places where there is food or moisture. Check inside and above kitchen cabinets; look around the dishwasher and stove, underneath the sink, and in tight spaces, such as the area behind your refrigerator. Fix leaks and consider purchasing some of the best kitchen organizers to keep food contained.
Cockroaches are very good at hiding in dark, protected spaces. These hiding spots include behind the refrigerator, stove, or kitchen cabinets. This is why people can have cockroach infestations they don't know about—these insects are impeccable at hiding. An infestation like an American cockroach infestation should be treated as soon as possible because of the problems cockroaches can present.
Remove Food Sources
The best way to eradicate roaches is to remove their food supply. Wipe down your counters and sink daily to remove any crumbs that may serve as sources of food.
Additionally, clean small kitchen appliances, like toasters, microwaves, and toaster ovens, which may collect crumbs.
Don't leave dirty dishes in the kitchen sink or counters overnight; this is when roaches are most active. In addition, keep your garbage cans tightly sealed and take the trash out each night.
Use Homemade Remedies like Boric Acid
When you need to kill cockroaches, there are several home remedies you can try before calling a pest control professional.
Boric acid is one home remedy that has been around for ages. Simply mix some sugar and boric acid together. The sweetness of the sugar attracts the roaches and they bring some back to the nest. The boric acid will then poison the roaches when they eat it.
Baking soda is another cupboard staple that can also be used to get rid of roaches. Baking soda and sugar. The sugar serves as a lure to cockroaches, and the baking soda eliminates them.
Fabric softener is another effective home remedy for getting rid of roaches. When mixed with water and sprayed directly on an unsuspecting bug, fabric softener can double as an impromptu insecticide.
Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets
If you have a vacuum with a brush attachment, you can use it to get rid of small crumbs and dust before wiping down the kitchen cabinets. Once all debris has been vacuumed, you can use a household cleaning spray or a mixture of hot water and dish soap to clean the inside and outside of each cabinet.
Use a cleaning cloth or paper towels with the cleaning spray, or soak a cloth in a mixture of 10 parts water to 1 part dish soap. If you use the soap-and-water method, use a dry, clean cloth to dry the cabinets once you're done wiping everything down.
Eliminate any sources of water
The best wayer5 to get rid of cockroaches is to eliminate all sources of moisture and water, including any leaky pipes indoors and outside.
What kills roaches and their eggs?
You can consult pest control professionals for the best ways to get rid of a roach colony in the kitchen. In addition, these pest control specialists can help with preventative measures and cleaning tips to stop them from coming back.
There are various methods you can try to get rid of cockroaches naturally, and special products are designed to kill roaches and their eggs.
Put Out Traps
Another method of cockroach control is to set out traps. If you're hesitant about using pesticides, there are other avenues you can try before going that route.
Borax powder is not only a cleaning agent. It is also a natural remedy you can use to ward off cockroaches. You can either clean the cabinets with them or sprinkle them inside to keep them away.
Make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling borax powder, as it's a strong cleaning product that can make you sick if accidentally ingested.
When you learn of their presence, you must first determine whether you want to use gel baits, diatomaceous earth, boric acid, or a pest control professional to eliminate the roaches.
The best way to get rid of roaches is to treat them is a combination of gel baits, boric acid, and IGR (insect growth regulator).
Is there a smell that will keep cockroaches away?
Roaches find the smell of peppermint oil unpleasant. To repel them, you can mix some with water and put them in a spray bottle. Generously spritz the areas you have seen them.
Other scents that repel roaches are cedar, citrus, eucalyptus, and bay leaves. Although these scents repel roaches, they may not be good enough to completely eradicate them.
Use Glue Traps to Identify Problem Areas
You can also use glue traps and pesticides to eradicate roaches. When used properly, glue traps will eliminate roaches and their eggs.
Set Bait Stations
Setting up bait stations is another good way to get rid of cockroaches from inside or outdoors. You can use a number of products right in your kitchen as roach bait. For instance, bay leaves work great to eliminate roaches.
Keep a few leaves of neem in the kitchen to repel roaches and bugs. You can use it in spray or powder form.
How to Get Rid of Roaches Outside Your Home
To get rid of roaches in the yard, use some diatomaceous earth. It will also work well at keeping away aphids, slugs, and other bugs that make your skin crawl!
Ensure there is no excess moisture. Leaky pipes are often the common culprits for attracting cockroaches and other insects. Roaches love areas in which there is an ample supply of water, moisture, and food.
How Do I Keep Roaches Out of My House?
If you have domestic roaches in your home or you believe that roaches are reproducing in your home, an insect growth regulator (IGR) product may help control the infestation.
Filling cracks with caulk to prevent cockroaches from getting in your home. Store food in covered plastic containers.
If you have a garbage disposal, it is imperative to keep it clean. The American cockroach is able to get their bodies flat enough to fit into the tiniest of crevices, making it easy to find entry points.
Call a Professional Pest Control Company to Get Rid of a Cockroach Infestation
If you feel uneasy trying to eliminate pests yourself or if your past attempts have been unsuccessful, utilizing the help of a professional will be your best bet. A pest control professional knows the best way to get rid of cockroaches.
They can put a plan together to keep your kitchen roach-free using top-notch equipment, tools, and treatments so that you don't have to live in fear of another cockroach encounter.
Call A.N.T. Pest Control to Eliminate Cockroaches and Other Pests
To get rid of cockroaches for good, you need to call the pest control expert. A.N.T. Pest Control knows how to get rid of cockroaches and all other pests bugging you.
A.N.T. Pest Control is a professional pest control company that is an expert at finding cockroaches and their entry points. If you need a professional roach exterminator, call A.N.T. Pest Control at (815) 215-7211. We will remove cockroaches and other creepy crawlies from your life!
