Cockroaches have been around since prehistoric times. They have survived everything from massive climate changes to nuclear bombs. If you see one cockroach scuttling across your kitchen floor, you can bet that there are many more where it came from. So what do you do if your home is invaded by the American cockroach? Well, these disgusting pests are pretty difficult to get rid of, so you’ll need to use a few different extermination techniques.
Non-Chemical Ways to Get Rid of American Cockroaches
The best way to both prevent and exterminate cockroaches is to take away their food, water, and habitat. If you see a cockroach in your home, it is time for some serious spring cleaning. Get rid of clutter, take out your trash, give everything a good scrub, vacuum, fix any leaky faucets or drains, and seal all food containers. Make your home as unwelcoming to pests as possible and cockroaches won’t want to take up residence. If they are already there, however, removing access to their three basic needs will cause the cockroaches either to die or find a more hospitable home.
Chemical Ways to Get Rid of American Cockroaches
Of course, sometimes simple sanitation isn’t enough to get rid of an American cockroach infestation. In which case, it’s time to go the chemical route. There are quite a few options for exterminating cockroaches chemically. The first is to apply a pesticide dust to cracks in the wall, behind big appliances, inside cabinets, and any other dark space where roaches might live.
Another way to ensure that cockroaches don’t even make it into your home is to spray a liquid pesticide along the outside perimeter of your house. Make sure that this spray is specifically designed to exterminate roaches or else you run the risk of killing friendly insects. Those who decide to use a spray outside should supplement their efforts with indoor cockroach baits. Put the bait granules in a tray or spread them around the areas where roaches like to hang out. Most bait is pet safe, but read the directions carefully before using any products.
Using an Insect Growth Regulator, or IGR, is also a great extermination method. This type of chemical acts as a type of birth control for cockroaches, impeding their ability to reach adulthood and reproduce. IGRs come in tablet, liquid, and aerosol form, and should be applied to all of the usual cockroach habitats.
In addition to all other extermination methods, it’s also a good idea to have a contact spray on hand. If you see a lone cockroach in your kitchen, a contact spray applied directly to the pest will kill it immediately. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to confirm the kill.