Oct 17, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Seeing roaches in your Lauderdale Lakes home?
Roaches are highly adaptable creatures and can find their way inside your home through the tiniest of gaps. Once they begin reproducing is when you start to see the problems that roaches bring. Understanding the factors that attract these pests into your home is the first step to preventing them!
Best ways to prevent roaches in your Lauderdale Lakes home:
Remove Food Sources
Roaches prefer to eat sugar, carbs, and protein but will eat about anything they can find. Regularly clean up any leftover food, spills, or crumbs on tables, countertops, and appliances, especially after cooking or eating a meal. After a grocery trip or storing leftovers, look to place your food in airtight containers. Be sure to also empty your trash at least once a week and clean out the trash container of any spilled liquids or leftover food regularly.
Remove Water Sources
Did you know that roaches can survive without water for 2 weeks? It’s true! Despite this, they still seek out water as much as they can and will enter homes if they’ve found it. It’s important to remove any standing water inside or outside of your home. Look to remove water near drains and sinks, particularly overnight. Your crawlspace and basement can create excess moisture; consider utilizing a dehumidifier or installing a moisture barrier or crawlspace enclosure to help.
Remove Shelter
Roaches love clutter, making it essential to remove any unnecessary items from your home, garage, and attic. Get rid of any old cardboard boxes, newspapers, and magazines. Check your interior walls, skirting, electrical outlets, baseboards, sinks, and cabinets for any gaps or openings, sealing them as soon as possible. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed and consider utilizing weatherstripping. Likewise, ensure all your exterior lighting turns off at night as it can attract rodents and household pests.
If you notice more roaches than normal in your Lauderdale Lakes home, be sure to give your local pest control company a call today for a free inspection and a customized pest plan to help prevent cockroaches!
Sep 22, 2023 | Pest Control
Aug 25, 2023 | Pest Control
Roaches are common household pests that are highly resilient and difficult to eliminate. They reproduce quickly, making them hard to keep under control once an infestation has been established. Cockroaches will infest anywhere they can find an available supply of food, water, and shelter. They are commonly found in areas near food and moisture (kitchens and bathrooms). They are also prevalent in multiunit housing (apartments, condos, etc.). Once established in your home, roaches can cause serious health risks for you and your family. Here are some of the reasons roaches are dangerous to your health.
Carriers of Diseases
Roaches are known to carry at least 30 different types of bacteria including typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, and poliomyelitis. They spread these diseases to humans by contaminating food and surfaces in our home. We can also inhale bacteria from the air near a cockroach infestation.
Allergy and Asthma Triggers
The allergens roaches carry can trigger asthma in those who are already afflicted with it. They are also known to cause asthma in those who didn’t previously have it. The incidence of allergic reactions can increase when roaches are present in the home. They are triggered by cockroach debris, including discarded shells, saliva, body parts, and feces. Their saliva is also known to cause skin rashes and sneezing.
Surface Contamination
Roaches can be found scavenging through the trash, dumpsters, on spoiled food, and even feces. They pick up contaminants from these surfaces as they crawl through them which stick to their legs and bodies and are then left behind as they crawl across our food and clean surfaces. When we eat food or touch surfaces that have been contaminated by roaches, it can cause sickness for us, as well.
Cockroach Prevention
Making your home less inviting to roaches is the first step in preventing them. Here are some cockroach prevention tips you can utilize in your home.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Take the trash out when the can is full.
- Clean toilets, tubs, and sinks regularly.
- Clean countertops with a cleaning solution.
- Keep floors swept, mopped, and vacuumed.
- Clean up pet feces from your yard.
- Keep food sealed tight.
- Throw out old or rotted food into an outdoor trashcan.
- Wipe off stovetops, tables, and counters after meals and food prep.
- Clean up spills immediately.
- Fix leaky pipes, faucets, toilets, and roofs.
- Use bathroom fans when bathing or showering to help reduce humidity.
- Remove any cardboard, newspapers, boxes, or other clutter.
- Caulk cracks and crevices throughout your home.
If you have a problem with roaches or other household pests, contact your local pest control company for an inspection.
Jul 27, 2023 | Pest Control
Summer is a time of warmth, sunshine, and relaxation. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when a variety of pests are most active. From ants and flies to roaches and centipedes, these insects can be a major annoyance and even a health hazard. Discover common summer pests below:
Ants
Ants are a common sight in the summertime, especially in kitchens and pantries where they search for food. To prevent ants from invading your home, make sure to keep your kitchen clean and free of crumbs and spills. Store food in airtight containers and keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator. Sealing cracks and holes in your home’s foundation and walls can also prevent ants from entering.
Flies
Flies are a common summertime pest, buzzing around and spreading germs wherever they land. To prevent flies from invading your home, make sure to keep doors and windows closed or screened, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Keep your kitchen clean and dispose of garbage regularly.
Roaches
Roaches are another unwelcome summertime pest. They can carry diseases and trigger allergies in some people. To prevent roaches from entering your home, seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation and walls. Keep your kitchen clean and free of crumbs, and store food in airtight containers.
Centipedes
Centipedes can appear creepy, with many legs! They are often found in dark, damp areas such as basements and bathrooms. To prevent centipedes from invading your home, keep these areas dry and well-ventilated. Seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation and walls.
If you begin seeing these summer pests around your home, give your local pest control company a call for a free inspection and a customized treatment and prevention plan!
May 16, 2023 | Pest Control
It’s quite common to see an influx of roaches after a heavy rain. American cockroaches and Oriental cockroaches are commonly found outdoors. Heavy rain flushes them out of sewers and other hiding spots and sends them scurrying for a dry place to escape, often inside your home. Once inside, they’ll seek out dark, warm, moist hiding spots to take refuge. Cockoaches can be quite a problem when they infest your home. They contaminate any surfaces they touch and can trigger allergies and asthma. What can you do to keep these pests out of your home after a rain? Here are 10 roach prevention tips to utilize this season.
- Install screen drains in sinks and tubs.
- Keep your water traps full.
- Don’t leave any food out overnight, including pet food.
- Store food in sealed containers.
- Don’t leave dishes out overnight.
- Clean out sink drains regularly.
- Take the trash out often.
- Regularly inspect pipes to clear any blockages and help prevent leaks and/or bursts.
- Keep gutters clear of debris.
- Ensure weatherstripping is used on doors and windows.
If you implement these roach prevention tips and still have a problem with roaches or any other household pests, contact your local pest control company for an evaluation.
