How to Treat Cockroaches in Apartments and Homes

Published On: October 22, 2021
Updated On: January 3, 2023

Whether you clean your apartment once a day or once a year, finding a cockroach in your living space gives off the impression of an unkempt and filthy area. Fortunately, finding a cockroach in your apartment does not necessarily mean that you are living in filth.

The area you live in, the time of year, or the lack of housekeeping of an old resident could all be factors as to why you have an infestation of roaches. Your friends at Insectek Pest Solutions are here to provide you with means of eliminating those pesky creatures from your apartment.

In this blog, we’ll look at the following tips to avoid roach infestations:

• Eliminate exposed food sources
• Limit standing water
• Seal cracks and openings
• Use roach bait stations
• Empty trash cans regularly
• Schedule regular treatment

Which Cockroaches are Native to Arizona?

Arizona is home to several pest species. The two most common types of roaches native to the valley are the German cockroach and the American cockroach. Along with these, Arizona also has the European, brown-banded, brown, and Turkestan cockroach.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is light brown with two black horizontal stripes behind the head. This roach grows to be ½ inch long, making it the smallest roach species in Arizona. The German cockroach is a danger to the home due to the diseases and germs they carry and spread.

American Cockroach

The American cockroach, or sewer roach, has a reddish-brown coloring with a yellow band behind the head. They’re capable of flying, especially when threatened. Unlike the German cockroach, the American cockroach is the largest house pest in the United States. 

What Does an Infestation of Roaches Look Like?

Despite their ability to hide in small crevices and go unnoticed, several indicators can be used to determine whether you have an infestation, including:

• Cockroach droppings (black dust particles, less than 1mm wide)
• Egg capsules (small tan, brown, or black pill-shaped objects)
• Smear marks
• Foul odors

Tips to Prevent Cockroach Infestations

While every home’s pest control needs will vary, some basic preventative measures are tried and true. You can implement these before calling in the pros if you’re looking to save some money or see how far you can go in taking care of it yourself– but most often, professional exterminators and pest control services are the most timely and cost-effective solutions.

Eliminate Exposed Food Sources

Cockroaches are primarily drawn to carbs and sugar but are perfectly willing to eat any food left around your house. This includes old food, open garbage, or pet food. Make sure to seal everything properly in plastic containers or refrigerators, avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink, and wipe down your surfaces.

Limit Standing Water

This is not as easy to fully contain in a property with plants, irrigation, pets, spills, and leaks – but limiting as much as your situation allows will do much to prevent roaches. They often search for damp areas and hunt around kitchens and bathrooms. Clean up any spills, standing buckets, puddles, or other water sources that may be unnecessary.

Seal Cracks and Openings

Roaches slip through cracks and crevices in pipes, walls, foundations, and flooring. While it is not realistic to pinpoint all the cracks throughout your entire home or apartment, targeting the ones near obvious water sources or entryways is a great start. Use silicone caulk to make sure that roaches have no chance of entering whichever cracks and crevices you’re targeting.

Roach Bait Stations

These can be DIY or purchased, but setting these up as alternatives to cockroach food supplies in your home is essential. Some forms of roach bait include boric acid (which comes in the form of powder or gel bait) and sticky traps. Place them in dark corners, crevices, and cupboards near food and water exposures so the bait stations will trap and get rid of roaches.

How Long Does it Take to Kill Roaches with Bait?

Bait stations typically take 24 hours to kill a cockroach after it consumes the poison. This allows the roach time to take the bait back to its nest and spread the poison amongst other roaches.

Empty Your Trash Cans Regularly

Your disposed of food and packaging are highly enticing for cockroaches to eat and take shelter. Letting it stand for too long attracts roaches to your home, whether it’s your kitchen cabinets, bathroom, or outdoor garbage. Don’t make it easy for roaches to get comfy.

Schedule Regular Treatment

Cockroach infestations can be persistent problems even if you take great precautions with DIY methods. Professional pest control services can target problem areas of your home, use efficient and eco-friendly solutions to kill and repel roaches, and ultimately save you time and money in the long run.

Keep the Roaches Away with Insectek Pest Solutions

Each of these solutions is likely to help eliminate roaches in your home, but don’t fret if one doesn’t work. Being persistent and trying different approaches might be the key.

For an outright infestation, relying on professional cockroach control services is recommended. The good thing is that a licensed pest control technician will only treat your home or business as necessary, and you can rest easy knowing that your home is secure.

As effective as stomping on a roach may be, there are more innovative and safer solutions to remove these pests for good. Let the professionals at Insectek Pest Solutions help you resolve your pest problems.