How to prevent cockroaches in your kitchen

Nobody wants to find cockroaches in the kitchen and dealing with a cockroach infestation is not easy, but preventing cockroaches from entering your kitchen is way easier than getting rid of them. The kitchen is one of the most common places to find roaches in your home.

Cockroaches love dirty, humid environments and of course food and water, so naturally, the kitchen is one of their favorite places to roam and breed freely. The most common cockroach you will find in the kitchen is the German cockroach who thrive off high humidity and warm areas.

Cockroaches can get into your home in a number of ways.  They can enter through any holes in your walls and floors, particularly those around water and waste pipes, and electrical cables. Cockroaches can easily be brought into your home in foods and packaging bought from infested business premises.

We do not recommend using harsh chemicals in the kitchen. These toxins can create serious health hazards if accidentally comes in contact with your food.

So here are some tips on how to keep these pests out of your home, and how to get rid of roaches that may have already moved in:

Clean up

Leftover food on the kitchen counter or floor, unwashed utensils in the sink, uncovered garbage bins are some of the most common reasons for the invasion of cockroaches in your kitchen. Cleaning the kitchen of clutter and eliminating food sources So make sure to take out garbage daily or store it in a sealed container. Clean dishes daily and be vigilant about cleaning up crumbs. It is also necessary to clean your kitchen cabinets regularly, at least once a week or every alternate week.

Keep a check on the sink, kitchen counter, and leaky pipes. Make it a habit to wipe down counters in the kitchen and food areas every evening because roaches are most active at night. Cockroaches can survive without food for an extended period of time but not for long without water, so maintaining a clean and dry kitchen environment will help keep these roaches away.

Bay Leaves

If you prefer more natural remedies then try bay leaves. They are commonly used for bug and insect problems. This will not kill the roaches but many pests and insects hate the smell of the essential oils that these leaves naturally release. Just place these leaves inside the kitchen cabinets and let them do the work.

Borax Powder

Borax Powder is a common home cleaning product that is used in kitchens to help reduce mildew, mold, and other common kitchen problems. It is the most effective way to get rid of these unwanted pests. Just clean your cabinets with the help of borax powder or sprinkle it inside.

Boric acid

Another often used and highly effective insect killer is boric acid. Derived from the mineral boron, boric acid is quite toxic to insects.  Just mix some boric acid and sugar, then spread it across the places where you find cockroaches breeding. While the sugar lures the bugs, boric acid kills them immediately.

Please be aware though that as effective as it may be for cockroaches, it is a chemical and can also be dangerous for your child or pet.

Seal cracks and crevices

Cockroaches enter homes through cracks and crevices in doors, windows, and foundations. Check the area around your kitchen for gaps, cracks, and holes that may serve as entry points. Seal gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping and seal up cracks with caulk. The roaches will be forced out of their dark hiding places and into the open where they won’t be able to survive for long.

You also want to eliminate water sources by finding and repairing any water leaks. Check around sinks and drains for leaks and contact a specialist if you need any large leaks in piping to be professionally sealed. Experts recommend insulating kitchen and bathroom pipes to prevent humidity and condensation. You can also use a dehumidifier to keep relative humidity to a minimum.

Cockroach Bait

These insecticide baits come in small plastic containers, called bait stations or as a dispensable gel. Safe for the environment and not harmful to pets or people. The bait is disguised as a food source for the roaches who will consume it and take it back to their nest where the other roaches will eat the dead roach, slowly spreading the poison and killing them off. Bait will cause the roaches to die within one to three days of consumption. It takes several weeks to see results. The bait traps can be applied to all the most attractive areas for cockroaches.

Sticky Traps

Glue traps don’t necessarily make the roaches go away, but it can help you kill cockroaches singularly and to monitor the amount of roaches left in your home. Lay down some traps around the house in areas you think they’re hiding, with the sticky side facing up, and check them daily. Good areas to place them are by cracks in walls, under the sink, near electrical appliances, furniture and garbage bins.

Soap & Water Spray

Simply mix together dish soap and water in a spray bottle, making sure there is plenty of soap in the water and spray in places where cockroaches thrive in your kitchen. You can also spray the mixture onto the roaches directly, the soap should clog their breathing pores and cause them to suffocate and die quickly.

Another mix you can make is with some essential oils which can also be sprayed around cabinets and allow the aroma to help get rid of cockroaches from your kitchen.

Call a professional pest control company

If you have tried all the home remedies above and are still dealing with a roach infestation then it’s time to call for professional help. They will be able to quickly identify and advise you on the best solution to help get rid of cockroaches.

Put a stop to your cockroach infestation immediately and call your local pest control company. Competitive provides professional service efficiently and effectively, with guaranteed results and with you and your property’s safety in mind. Call us now to get a free quote today!