Although cockroaches are resilient pests and cause a wide range of health issues, you have the power to take control of an infestation with proactive steps. Knowing how to keep roaches out from the start helps save you more than a headache down the road. It also helps you maintain a happy and healthy home free of pests.

Allow our team at Dewey Pest and Termite Control to provide some practical cockroach prevention methods and reveal why prevention is important.

Why Cockroach-Proofing Your Home Is Important

Cockroaches pose a significant health risk and have the ability to cause property damage. Shed skins and body parts can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. Roaches are able to spread diseases through food contamination. Some examples of cockroach-related illnesses are Salmonella and E. coli.

For apartment and home rentals, landlords are typically responsible for providing a pest-free living environment for their tenants. Renters should also take proper care of the space they’re renting to keep roaches out. Homeowners have to take both responsibilities for their property.

Cockroach Prevention Tips

Keeping cockroaches out of your home in the first place is the best way to avoid the stress and risks an infestation brings. The best way to keep roaches out is to take various precautions and prevention methods throughout your property.

Here are seven effective and practical cockroach prevention solutions to use in your home.

1. Conduct Regular Inspections of Your Home

A great first step in cockroach prevention is to do regular inspections of your home. Key areas to look out for are dark and moist areas near water and food sources, such as kitchen sinks. As you look, be sure to check for any signs of cockroaches, such as:

• Live cockroaches
• Egg cases
• Droppings
• Shed skins and body parts
• Foul odors

2. Seal Entry Points

During your inspections, look for any open cracks and crevices near walls, floors, and pipes. These openings are some of the most common ways roaches make their way into your home and neighboring units. We recommend using caulk to seal these entry points. If you’re in a rental property, contact your landlord and maintenance to see if they will seal these entry points.

3. Clean Your Home Regularly

Another effective way to prevent a cockroach infestation is to clean your home thoroughly. Set aside time each week to conduct a deep cleaning of your home. Vacuum all your carpeting and sweep any hard floors. Clean up any excess moisture or crumbs you find with an all-purpose cleaner. These messes are common attractants for cockroaches.

4. Keep Food Sealed Away

Keeping cockroaches out of your pantry is another crucial step in shielding your home from these pests. The best way to do this is to seal all your food in sealed, airtight containers. Keep these containers off the floor with shelving or racks.

Open pet food also heightens the risk of cockroaches entering your home. Follow the same procedures for storing pet food as you do for your food.

5. Take Out the Trash Each Day

Open trash is another common lure for cockroaches that’s easily avoidable. Establish a daily routine of taking out the trash as an added layer of protection against roaches. Use durable garbage bags to prevent leaks or any trash from falling out. For added protection, use a garbage bin or container with a tight-fitting lid.

6. Fix Any Leaks

Another core part of cockroach survival is water. Moisture is very attractive to roaches, especially in dark and secluded areas like underneath kitchen sinks or basement piping. Along with cleanups of excess moisture, fix any leaks in pipes and faucets as soon as you see them. Proper leak detection and repairs help make your home less appealing to cockroaches.

7. Call on Professional Cockroach Control

Even with proactive and effective measures, the difference between DIY versus professional cockroach control is night and day. Only the pros get you the best results possible, even when a roach problem is already present. You don’t want to spend your day off fighting off a cockroach infestation, which makes you more vulnerable to the many health risks a roach problem brings.

The best results in cockroach control take the right team to get the job done. The team you need for effective cockroach control services is with Dewey Pest and Termite Control. Our team of skilled technicians uses industry-leading techniques and tools to kick roaches out and prevent them from reentering.

Keep Cockroaches Out With Dewey Pest and Termite Control

Since 1929, Dewey Pest and Termite Control has been the premier option for cockroach control for residents across California. Our technicians take careful steps to inspect, diagnose, and treat for cockroach problems, big and small. Whether you find them crawling along your countertop or under your kitchen sink, call on us to get your cockroach problems out of the door.

To get started, contact us or find your nearest Dewey Pest and Termite Control service branch online today!