Have you ever flipped on your kitchen light at night only to see the scurry of a dreaded cockroach? These creepy critters multiply at an exceedingly fast rate and love to invade your kitchen, bathroom, and any living space where they might find food or water. These persistent pests are one of the most common insects to invade your home, and can also be one of the hardest to exterminate. So how do you get rid of a heavy roach infestation?
Along with some helpful tips on how to get rid of roaches, let’s also talk about some easy steps you can take to prevent an infestation from starting. Even though cockroaches have a bad reputation for being difficult to eliminate, with the proper knowledge, your house can most definitely become cockroach-free. But if you need help with your roach infestation you can see our pricing here.
How Do You Know if You Have a Roach Infestation?
It is not uncommon to have a roach problem and never actually see one in your home. Nocturnal creatures, roaches sleep during the day and go out at night, foraging for food. There are some signs that can help you identify an infestation, you just have to know what to look for.
1. Cockroach Droppings
Droppings in your home from any rodent or pest are never a good sign. Small cockroaches leave droppings that resemble ground coffee or black pepper. Larger roaches have droppings that are cylindrical in shape with blunt ends.
2. Unusual Odor
When an infestation has been in place for a long period of time, it produces a very unpleasant odor. The musty smell taints any items the roaches come in contact with.
3. Damage
Cockroaches will eat just about anything. So, signs of damage to things like the bindings on books or leather are often seen with an infestation. Damage to food packages in your pantry or pet food in your garage are other key indicators.
4. Smudges and Smear Marks
Keep your eyes open for marks on your horizontal surfaces or where cockroaches are active. If they have access to water, they leave behind unsightly, brown streaks.
5. Eggs
Cockroaches lay their eggs in a capsule that holds several eggs inside. These eggs are never a happy discovery in your home. They are an indicator that the roaches nearby are breeding.
Can Dubia Roaches Infest Your House?
Dubia roaches are a medium to large cockroach species that are popular for collectors and are used as food for lizards and tarantulas. People worry that if these roaches escape their enclosure in their home, that they will start an infestation. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. Dubia roaches need higher temperatures and humidity than your house is able to provide, to survive.
How to Stop a Roach Infestation
Clean Your Home
It may seem all too obvious, but the first step to getting rid of roaches is to thoroughly clean your house. Roaches are attracted to dirt and filth because they are always on the hunt for new food sources. Mop and vacuum on a regular basis, wipe off grease and crumbs from kitchen appliances, seal food in containers, and get rid of clutter.
Glue Traps
One method that has proven to be effective is to buy glue traps that can be found at your local supermarket. They use a scent to attract roaches and in turn, the pests get caught in the glue and can’t escape. These devices can take several weeks to see results so don’t expect them overnight.
Liquid Concentrate Sprays
There is a liquid concentrate available that when diluted, can be sprayed into the cracks and crevices where roaches love to hide. This solution can also be used to mop your floors and wipe your counters. This is a very effective method, with much faster results than traps.
Boric Acid
If you are up for the DIY approach, boric acid is the best home remedy to kill roaches. You simply mix equal amounts of boric acid, flour, and sugar to make a dough. Place these balls of dough around your home or business where cockroaches will come out to feed on it. Roaches can’t resist the flour and sugar but ingesting the boric acid will kill them. Keep in mind that boric acid can be extremely dangerous if you have pets in the home.
Chemical Baits
Another effective method for getting rid of roaches includes utilizing store-bought baits. These insecticides are sprinkled in areas where roaches frequent, and because they are disguised as food, are eaten by the roaches. The insects then return to their nests and die. Other roaches eat them which spreads the poison to the rest of the nest.
Call a Professional Pest Control Service
A roach infestation is nothing to take lightly. But, these pests are extremely persistent, and sometimes no matter what you do, you can’t shake them. If you’ve tried several methods and are still seeing roaches, contact a professional pest control service in your area. AtVinx Pest Control, we offer solutions for getting rid of cockroaches and will go about it in the safest way possible.
We offer a variety of pest control services to help you get the treatment you want and need. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or builder, we’ve got pest control plans for your situation. Contact us today to get a free quote in the Greenville, Charleston, or Dallas, TX areas! We also serve the Sulphur Springs area in Texas.
Roach Infestation Prevention
The number one reason any kind of pest enters your home is to find a food or water source. There are several specific things in your home they are attracted to. So, if you can spend some time eliminating or avoiding these specifics, you can stop your pest problem before it starts.
- Avoid leaving pet food on the floor, especially overnight.
- Be sure to clean all dirty dishes in or around your sink.
- Routinely wipe down kitchen counters and appliances to remove any sticky residue.
- Clean up any crumbs left behind from meals on the countertops, table, or floor.
- Cover all leftover food in empty cans or containers and seal tightly.
- Take care of any leaks that could leave behind water damage and excess moisture. Under the kitchen and bathroom, sinks or basement drains are the first places to check.
- Put tight-fitting lids on all garbage cans.
- Seal all cracks around windows, doors, foundation, and roof at least once a year. Use caulk to seal small ones and steel wool or foam for larger gaps.
- Eliminate cardboard boxes and newspapers from laying around. They are both a breeding ground for roaches.
- Clear all clutter, leaving fewer places for roaches to hide.
How many roaches is considered an infestation?
Determining the number of roaches in your home or business is never easy. But, if you do have an infestation, your home is very attractive to pests, which isn’t a good thing!
Professional pest control services can examine your space and do their best to categorize your problem. If you have 5 roaches or fewer, it can be defined as a light infestation. If the numbers are raised between 10-25, it can now be classified as moderate. But, if the number exceeds 25, it is classified as a heavy infestation. Keep in mind that for every few roaches you see, there are dozens more hiding that you don’t know about.
Roaches will invade your home as long as it meets their needs. They are sneaky and persistent and will find a way into your property at all costs.
FAQs
How long does it take to get rid of a heavy roach infestation? ›
Generally speaking, most infestations take about two weeks to terminate. A heavy infestation may take up to eight weeks. These timelines are of course for professional exterminators. DIY cockroach removal will take much longer if at all it is successful.
What is the secret to killing roaches? ›Mix a pinch of sugar with some baking soda in a bowl and leave it for the cockroaches. Attracted to the food source (the sugar), the roaches will ingest the poison (the baking soda) and die. It's safe and efficient, but make sure you clean up any dead roaches as soon as possible.
Can a roach infested house be saved? ›The good news is that even if these pests seem like they could survive even the apocalypse, you can get rid of them and prevent them in a few simple steps. The key is patience and vigilance. Overall, This Old House recommends hiring a professional pest control company to eradicate the roaches in your house.
Why is it so hard to get rid of a roach infestation? ›Infestations are hard to get rid of because the insects hide in a host of areas, breed quickly, have a very high reproductive potential and may develop resistance to pesticides. Cockroaches often taint food with E. coli and Salmonella bacteria, so it's not safe to ignore these pests.
Why can't i get rid of roaches in my house? ›Minimize Moisture: Many cockroaches are attracted to moisture. Repair leaky faucets and pipes. Make sure your bathroom fans are working properly. Keep your basement and other areas prone to moisture build-up dry.
How long does it take to get rid of roaches in a house? ›Depending on the level of cockroach infestation in your home, it can take anywhere from three weeks to six months to eliminate cockroaches. Unfortunately, a roach infestation will not go away overnight. You can monitor the progress of your cockroach treatment with glue board monitors.
What is considered a severe roach infestation? ›If your home has 5 or fewer cockroaches, it can be identified as a light infestation. If it is between 10 to 25 roaches, it can be a moderate one. But if it exceeds 25, it can now be classified as a heavy infestation. You should know that the few roaches you see at home are not the only ones you have to deal with.
What does a severe roach infestation look like? ›In areas with high moisture, cockroaches will produce dark, irregular shaped smear marks as they crawl along walls or even when they rest. You may see these marks on horizontal surfaces and at wall-floor junctions where cockroaches are most active.
What smell kills roaches instantly? ›Boric acid Some people find this to be the best option to kill roaches. Boric acid can work too, the only downside is that sometimes roaches will go away as soon as they smell boric acid.
What kills roaches in 24 hours? ›Boric acid is a popular method for killing cockroach infestations. How to get rid of cockroaches overnight will always include some kind of insecticide or trap; boric acid is one of the most effective weapons against cockroaches.
What smell will keep cockroaches away? ›
Smells that roaches hate: a quickfire summary
Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options. Citrus oils work brilliantly too. And surprisingly, lower concentrations – 2.5 parts per hundred – seem to work best as deterrents. Just don't bother with lavender.
Soapy Water: Surprisingly, dousing a cockroach in soapy water will suffocate and kill it. Filling a spray bottle with dish soap and water, shaking it, and spraying a roach from above will kill it quickly. Traps: Most cockroach traps will kill cockroaches quickly.
How many treatments does it take to get rid of a roach infestation? ›A typical roach infestation requires one to three treatments, including a combination of insecticidal spray, glue traps and gel bait. The most severe infestations could require fumigation.
What to do if roaches are in the walls? ›Be sure to seal gaps around pipes with flexible caulk, as well as patch any cracks and crevices you find around the house. Use a long-term cockroach insecticide like Combat®: Spray insecticides are contact killers – only killing the cockroaches you see, not the ones you don't.
Can you ever fully get rid of roaches? ›It is possible to completely get rid of roaches in your home with the right type of treatment but they will not stay away forever. Once you eradicate the current infestation you need to stay proactive about keeping them away.
Why am I finding dying roaches in my house? ›When you find only dead roaches in your home, you may think that something is wrong with your indoor environment. The truth is there is nothing wrong with your home. Instead, what you are likely experiencing is a cockroach infestation. Roaches are great at hiding, and when they are alive, you don't often see them.
Can you stop a cockroach infestation? ›Dusts – A few insecticides used for cockroach control are applied as dusts or powders. Most familiar to householders are boric acid and diatomaceous earth. For controlling cockroaches, boric acid tends to be more effective. Roaches succumb to boric acid after crawling over treated surfaces.
What is the number one roach killer? ›The best roach killer, based on our research, is the advion 383920 Cockroach Gel Bait; a commercial-grade roach killer set that is easy to use and lasts months after application. It can kill all sorts of cockroaches, including the American and German variety, and it's even safe to use if you have pets or kids.
What kills roaches and their eggs? ›Diatomaceous earth is a natural way to deal with cockroach. It is available in fine powder form that sticks to roaches body and kill them by dehydration process. Diatomaceous eath is also very effective in killing the roach eggs. It is best method to use in fine areas, as DE fine powder can reach inside the cracks.
How do you find a roach nest? ›Roaches live in areas that are dark, damp, secluded, and close to food. To find aroach nest, grab a flashlight and small mirror so that you can see inside dark, small spaces. Start by examining common spots for harborages in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces.
What time of year do roaches go away? ›
States with colder climates will see a decline in roach activity in the winter as many species will either hibernate or die off and then pick back up in spring and summer when the warmer weather returns. In states with warmer climates (like the southern US and southern California), roaches are active year-round.
Why am I only seeing baby roaches? ›The presence of baby cockroaches usually indicates there is a nest nearby. Once a nest is established in or near your home, the odds are likely that you either have a full blown infestation already or one is in the process of starting.
Why are there suddenly so many cockroaches in my house? ›Crumbs, spills, and food that has been left out are a great way to end up with a roach infestation quickly. The key to keeping roaches out is to keep your home, but most importantly your kitchen, as spotless as possible. After cooking or preparing a snack, wipe up crumbs and spills immediately.
How many roaches before calling exterminator? ›Once you see two roaches, regardless of whether they are American or German, then you have an infestation. You should quickly call someone to come over and begin taking roach control measures.
Can a roach infested house make you sick? ›Cockroaches are well known to carry a variety of diseases, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus. They can also transmit these diseases through their feces, saliva, or contact with your skin. Cockroaches are most likely to spread disease when infesting food preparation areas in homes or restaurants.
What is the hardest roach to get rid of? ›German roaches are one of the most common household pests and also one of the most difficult to get rid of. It is important to understand how to identify these cockroaches live and what they are attracted to in order to understand how to get rid of them.
How often can you spray your house for roaches? ›Don't forget to spray and seal entry points.
Cracks, crevices, and holes in and around baseboards, flooring, walling, foundations, doors, windows, screens and seals are how roaches usually get inside our homes. It's crucial to spray these potential entryways weekly, every 3-4 days, or more often as necessary.
If your home has 5 or fewer cockroaches, it can be identified as a light infestation. If it is between 10 to 25 roaches, it can be a moderate one. But if it exceeds 25, it can now be classified as a heavy infestation. You should know that the few roaches you see at home are not the only ones you have to deal with.
How bad can a roach infestation get? ›Cockroaches carry and spread various diseases, pathogens, bacteria, and germs. When they travel throughout your home, they leave a path of urine, feces, and regurgitated saliva and digestive fluids that contain harmful agents that can be transmitted to humans.
What type of roach is the hardest to get rid of? ›German roaches are one of the most common household pests and also one of the most difficult to get rid of. It is important to understand how to identify these cockroaches live and what they are attracted to in order to understand how to get rid of them.
What causes large roaches in house? ›
Large cockroaches come inside looking for food, water, and shelter, especially during very cold or hot weather. Large roaches are especially attracted to foods with sugar, starch, or grease.
How do I get rid of roaches in my walls? ›Be sure to seal gaps around pipes with flexible caulk, as well as patch any cracks and crevices you find around the house. Use a long-term cockroach insecticide like Combat®: Spray insecticides are contact killers – only killing the cockroaches you see, not the ones you don't.
Is there anything that kills roaches instantly? ›Soapy Water: Surprisingly, dousing a cockroach in soapy water will suffocate and kill it. Filling a spray bottle with dish soap and water, shaking it, and spraying a roach from above will kill it quickly.