Your alarm clock goes off in the morning…rise and shine! You step out of bed, into your slippers, and sluggishly make your way toward the kitchen. It’s time for your ritual 7 o’clock cup of coffee. You open up your cupboard to reach for your favorite mug when you suddenly see a roach scurry past your hand and out of view. Your heart skips a beat and you let out a quick screech. Well, you’re awake. No caffeine needed today.

A Bit About Cockroaches

Cockroaches can live anywhere from six months to about a year and a half. Unfortunately for us, some can also survive below-freezing temperatures…at least long enough to move into our homes and vacation there until it gets warm outside again.

Cockroaches are common household pests for many homeowners and apartment residents during the winter in Iowa. American cockroaches and German cockroaches are both prevalent in the U.S. They can quickly reproduce and grow to large numbers, hiding out in the dark cracks and crevices of our homes. They often sneak around at night, scouring kitchens and bathrooms for food and water sources. Some cockroaches also carry and spread pathogens everywhere they go, so it’s important to thoroughly and regularly clean and sanitizes all areas where you’ve found cockroaches in your home.

How to Get Roaches Out of Your Home

If easy access to food and water is what attracts roaches to certain areas in your home, eliminating these sources can help you conquer the problem. Make sure you keep your counters clean at all times. Don’t leave food, beverages, or dirty dishes around the house (even in the kitchen) overnight. Store food in tamperproof (preferably sealed, glass) containers.

Vacuum and sweep floors often to rid them of crumbs and any possible cockroach eggs or excrement lying around, and empty vacuum bags outside. Also, take out the trash daily, or make sure you have a lid that seals tightly so insects can’t feed off of its contents. Leaky faucets or fixtures and wet toothbrushes are also attractive for wandering cockroaches.

In general, keep your home as clean as possible so roaches don’t have many places to hide. Try to seal any cracks throughout your home so bugs can’t enter. Many cockroaches thrive in dead trees and woodpiles, so if you have these in your yard, keep them as far away from your house as possible.

How to Prevent Cockroaches from Returning

Cockroaches will keep returning to your home if you don’t target and eliminate the source, which can be difficult to do. Many insect sprays may immediately kill a cockroach running across your countertop, but they won’t kill the ones hiding in cracks and crevices of your home that could emerge at any time. A pest control professional will know what type of treatment will be most effective for your situation and target the colony to destroy the source.

If you have a cockroach problem in your home, call, text, or email Springer for help. This is a very common problem at this time of year, and we know how stressful seeing creepy crawlers in your cupboards and on your countertops can be. Contact us to schedule a pest inspection in the Des Moines area today!