We’ve all been there—when you turn on the kitchen light and see a cockroach hastily scurrying away. You may grab a shoe or a can of bug spray to take care of the problem, but the worst is if you never find the cockroach and you know it is still residing in your house.  In the back of your head you are wondering how many more of these critters are in my home? Dealing with a cockroach infestation can leave you with an unsettling feeling, and with winter swiftly approaching it is important to take the right steps to prevent a cockroach infestation in your home.

Cockroaches need resources such as food, water and a place to keep warm and hide. With winter approaching cockroaches may be looking for shelter inside of your warm home that comes with the added bonus of being stocked with all of the resources they need to survive. The key to preventing roaches from infesting your home is to remove the home comforts that they are searching for. Cockroaches mostly come out at night – so they are typically taking refuge in a dark hiding place during daylight hours.

Here are some tips to help prevent cockroaches from taking over your home this winter:

• Store all non-refrigerated foods (pastas, flour etc) in sealed containers. Store food in preferably glass containers with tight-fitting lids and keep any shelves in the pantry extra tidy.
• Thoroughly clean the inside of the microwave, oven, and toaster.  You should also frequently clean those hard to reach areas behind and beneath the refrigerator and the stove. Cockroaches like to hide in toasters and eat the crumbs so make sure to frequently clean these and turn them on for about 3 minutes to destroy any food scent.
• Wash all pet food dishes daily and never leave out pet food over night. Pet water bowls are a source of water for cockroaches so perhaps you should think about how you can resolve that problem too.
• Do not leave dirty dishes out over night. Dirty dishes serve as a ready-made invitation to come and feast. If you cannot wash them, then at the very least rinse or leave them to soak in soapy water. Also make sure your dishwasher is clean as there could be food remains in the filter or along the seals.
• Wipe down any surfaces where food is prepared or eaten. Immediately after you prepare or eat your meal you need to wipe down the surface so that roaches do not find their next snack.
• Store pots, pans and dishes upside down. Store these upside down, so you won’t have cockroach droppings or eggs inside them.
• Vacuum and sweep your floors regularly. You will especially want to do this in the kitchen and eating areas to remove any food debris. You can use the vacuum cleaner’s tube attachment to suck up debris from any cracks in the wall or floors as well as behind furniture and appliances.
• Take your garbage and compost out every night. If you can’t take your trash out every night then at least make sure your garbage bins are tightly closed.
• Seal any cracks and gaps in floors, walls, cabinets, and around water pipes and electrical cables. Check underneath sinks and basins and also make sure to look for any water leak, which should be repaired, as cockroaches could use this as a water source.
• Don’t hoard clutter. Cockroaches will nest in anything from paper to clothing. This could even include the garage, basement, or attic.
• Use bath plugs so roaches cannot come up through the drains. Cockroaches are prone to entering through your bathtub drain, which is why you often find them in your shower and other places in your bathroom.

These tips should help prevent a cockroach infestation in your home this winter, but if you do have unwelcome critters in your residence be sure to contact a pest control professional to remove them. If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, contact Any Pest, Inc to inspect, identify, and treat the problem. Contact Any Pest, Inc. today for a free estimate!