Cockroaches: One of the peskiest of pests
Known for their resilience, cockroaches are hard to find as they’re nocturnal and adept at sneaking into tiny spaces, and difficult to get rid of. They seek food, water and warmth, which is why they like houses and other buildings, especially cosy spots like hot water cupboards and near sinks, ovens and fridges.
The kitchen is their favourite place to hang out, especially if there are food scraps and crumbs lying around. And, if you see one cockroach, there’s bound to be more. They’re really good at hiding and can enter your premises through gaps thinner than a coin, so you may not realise how many there are.
Because cockroaches crawl everywhere and eat anything, they can transmit nasty diseases to humans such as Salmonella, gastroenteritis, dysentery and typhoid fever (among others). They can crawl over sewage and garbage elsewhere and then across your food and kitchen utensils. Also, their debris (cast-off skins, dead bodies and droppings) can aggravate asthma and allergies. Cockroaches are a health hazard and they reproduce quickly, so if you see one, you need to deal with the problem smartly.
Contact a Pest Control Expert
How to Reduce The Risk of Infestation
Cockroaches are elusive, especially in daylight hours, and their eggs are resistant to over-the-counter insecticides, so for effective control, call Pure Services. They have the special equipment, materials and know-how to knock them flat. Once cockroaches have been sent packing, here’s how to keep them out:
- Keep all areas thoroughly clean.
- Store all food in containers with tight-fitting lids or in a fridge and never leave food out overnight.
- Clean dirty dishes as soon as possible and put them away.
- Store rubbish in bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Check boxes of delivered goods don’t contain live cockroaches, their droppings or eggs.
- Seal doors and windows, fit mesh on drains and check there are no gaps around pipe entry points.
- Keep up maintenance – replace tiles, wall coverings and laminates as these are common breeding grounds for cockroaches. All gaps and crevices should be sealed.