What Attracts Cockroaches?

Cockroaches thrive in the dark, warm conditions that are often found in our homes and structures.

Natural cockroach control is all about removing and monitoring the conducive conditions described above.

Someone deep cleaning their granite countertops with a purple cleaning rag.

Ekaterina Goncharova

Do a Deep Cleaning

Long-lasting cockroach control starts with a clean space.

Filthy conditions provide cockroaches with food and clutter gives them places to hide.

Thoroughly clean all those areas and fix any leaks.

A pregnant woman in overalls and a green shirt uses a small vacuum to remove crumbs from her kitchen counters.

ArtistGNDphotography

While some roach species deposit egg cases, German roach females carry their eggs on their backs.

Just don’t forget to empty your vacuum frequently!

Tip

Cockroaches commonly hide in the crack between the wall and the back of the cabinets.

A large number of cockroaches and other insects stuck inside a paper glue trap.

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This is a tight space, and checking it for roaches is tricky.

Use a can of compressed air to flush roaches out of hiding.

Just be ready to suck them up with the vacuum if theydocome out.

Expect to see results within two weeks.

Use Garlic as a Repellant

Crush a garlic clove and place around infested areas of your home.

The smell is pungentand repels cockroaches.

Cockroaches are deterred by the smell of lemon.

They’re not just made for roaches; they also trap spiders, earwigs, and other occasional invaders.

Sealing cracks around your windows and doorframes helps keep roaches outside.

If they’re not, be sure to notify building maintenance.

If immediate and complete eradication is critically important, your best option may be to call an extermination service.

Along withhouseflies,roaches are among the filthiest of insects.

Roaches are not blood feeders, however.

They don’t deliberately seek to bite humans or animals.

They feed exclusively on non-living organic materials.

On average, cockroaches live about 1 year, though some have been known to live well past this.

The main thing that attracts roaches is food, water, and shelter.

Regularly clean your counters and floor and the areas around and under your sink.

Healthy Housing Reference Manual: Chapter 4 Disease Vectors and Pests.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.