Cockroaches in the kitchen? No one wants that. You’ve probably tried spraying them, but no matter how many you leave belly-up, legs twitching on the tiles, they seem to just keep coming back!
A group of cockroaches is called an Intrusion, which is rather fitting since they certainly weren’t invited into your home. Once they establish a nest (or worse, nests!) they can be a nightmare to get rid of. While they can infest any room in your house, most people we deal with notice it’s worst in the kitchen.
Don’t worry—there is hope! If you want to get rid of cockroaches in the kitchen for good, follow our comprehensive guide.
If you want less chit-chat and solutions now, contact Cure-All Pest Control. DIY methods take time and trial and error. If you’re not about that, our pro team of pest control experts will give your roach problem the boot! CALL US ON: (07) 3349 8572 or fill our submission form here.
Why Are Cockroaches Attracted to Kitchens?
Cockroaches in your kitchen can be an especially frustrating problem. But why do they keep coming back? The answer is simple: kitchens offer them a safe, cosy place to hide and an endless supply of food.
Cockroaches are attracted to the warmth, moisture, and food sources present in most kitchens. Crumbs, spills, and other food particles left on counters and floors offer them nourishment, while cabinets and crevices provide hideouts.
These pests can also be drawn by smells—the odours of cooked food or sugary beverages like soda are especially attractive to cockroaches. These odours spread far from the source through ventilation systems, making your kitchen a roach haven if left unchecked.
Interested in this article? Try these
How to control cockroaches in an apartment
Did you know that Cockroaches can trigger asthma?
Why Logan and Mount Gravatt have a high risk of cockroach infestation
They’re Likely Not Nesting In Your Kitchen
Sprays and traps can set up a barrier to protect against cockroaches, but they’re not solving the issue at the source. Cockroaches move mostly at night, which is when most homeowners notice them in the kitchen. The problem is when you spray the ones you see, you’re just killing the cockroaches that are moving out of the nest for food.
Cockroaches set up their nest in hard-to-spot locations, far away places humans frequently visit. They are known for being able to nest in just about any dark, moist crevice. They typically prefer areas where there is food debris and shelter. Some common places cockroaches nest include:
Under appliances. Any kitchen or bathroom appliance that sits on the floor, like a refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal, or washing machine, provides a nice warm space for cockroaches. They like to nest under these appliances and in any gaps between the floor and the appliance.
Within cabinets. Cockroaches love to nest inside cabinets, especially lower kitchen cabinets and those near the stove, dishwasher, and sink. They can squeeze into tiny spaces within and behind cabinets.
Within wall voids. Cockroaches may enter wall voids through gaps around pipes and electrical wires. They then follow wall cavities to find spaces to nest inside insulation and behind wallboards.
Behind baseboards. The small gaps between baseboards and floors provide ideal entry points and nesting sites for cockroaches. They can hide behind baseboards during the day and come out at night to forage for food.
Inside upholstered furniture. Cockroaches may enter furniture through small openings and then nest within the cushion fill and fabric. They are especially attracted to leather furniture.
Natural Repellents: Essential Oils and Natural Sprays to Deter Cockroaches
If you’re looking for natural ways to repel pesky cockroaches from your kitchen, essential oils and natural sprays can be a great place to start.
Essential oils are a great natural way to keep roaches away from your kitchen. Oils like eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree, and citronella can help ward off roaches while also leaving your kitchen smelling fresh! Just make sure that the oil is mixed with water in order to prevent any irritation or damage to surfaces.
You can also purchase natural sprays from stores or online that are specially designed for cockroach repellence. Make sure to read the labels of these products carefully for instructions on how to use them safely and effectively.
These methods may take longer to see results than cockroach baits or traps, but they can be an effective way of getting rid of cockroaches without the use of harsh chemicals.
The main issue here, is these methods are deterrents, and if your cockroach population has already been established, it’s unlikely that they’ll just up and leave because of some oils.
Seal Up Any Entry Points to Eliminate Access
The next step in getting rid of cockroaches is to seal any potential entry points they might be using to get inside your kitchen. You’d be surprised at how small cockroaches can squeeze through—they can enter your home through tiny cracks and gaps no larger than a dime!
To make sure they don’t get back in, inspect your home for any potential openings and seal them up with caulk or weather-stripping. Pay special attention to areas around pipes, including drains, HVAC systems, and windowsills.
Don’t forget the exterior of your home too—check for any cracks or gaps in the foundation and fill them up with silicone or foam sealant. Once you’ve sealed all entry points, you can rest easy knowing that those cockroaches won’t be coming in anytime soon.
Clean Up Food Sources to Remove Attractions
If you want to get rid of cockroaches in your kitchen for good, then you have to deny them food sources. That means that you need to take a close look at your kitchen and clean up any crumbs, spilled liquids, or other food sources that may be attracting the roaches.
You’ll need to do a few things specifically:
- Sweep up floors and counters on a regular basis.
- Wipe down counters and surfaces after cooking or eating.
- Take out the garbage regularly and keep it covered if possible.
- Store all dry goods such as cereals, rice, flour and sugar in airtight containers.
- Make sure dishes are washed immediately after eating and check for any forgotten leftovers.
By taking these steps, you can make sure that there’s nothing in your home to attract cockroaches. This is especially important since roaches can feed off the tiniest crumb or drop of liquid that we don’t even notice—so be thorough! Don’t let the roaches find anything in your kitchen they can feast on, and they won’t stay long!
Pour Boiling Water Down The Sink
Did you know that several can pests live inside your kitchen sink? They can even endure regular water doing down the drains when you turn the taps on and off. What they can’t endure is when the heat turns up.
Cockroaches can’t withstand extreme temperatures, so when you pour boiling water down the kitchen sink it’ll boil them off and make sure they’re gone for good. All you need to do is take a pot of water and heat it up over the stove until it starts boiling. Once it’s boiling, carefully pour it down the sink.
The boiling water will not only flush out any roaches in your sink, but it’ll also kill any roach eggs that may have been laid in or around the drains. This will help prevent infestations from occurring in your kitchen.
And if you really want to make sure those critters don’t come back, give the entire sink basin a good scrub with some bleach or soap and hot water after pouring the boiling water down—that should take care of any germs or dirt that might attract cockroaches as well!
Use Roach Traps and Baits for Severe Infestations
No one wants to deal with a cockroach infestation, but if you have one, you’ll want to take action quickly. Traps and baits are a great way to rid your home of roaches for good.
Traps
Cockroach traps are available that use either pheromones or bait to lure the roaches in. You simply place the traps in areas where you’ve noticed the highest amounts of cockroach activity. The sticky adhesive on the trap will keep the roach from escaping and it will die shortly after being trapped. This is an effective way to catch large numbers of cockroaches at once, but it may not be enough if you have a large infestation.
Baits
Baits are another effective way to get rid of large numbers of cockroaches. You can find baits that come in granule, powder, or liquid form containing poisons that only affect roaches. Place the baits in areas frequented by cockroaches and they will be drawn to it and feed on it, eventually taking enough back to the nest to poison other roaches there as well. This method is an effective way to reduce large populations of roaches quickly and can be used alongside traps for maximum effect.
When to Call an Exterminator for Professional Pest Control
When do you know it’s time to call in the professionals when you have a cockroach issue in your kitchen?
That depends on the extent of your problem and the amount of action you’ve already taken. If you have tried the DIY methods like removing food sources, cleaning up spills and crumbs, sealing cracks and crevices, and using bait and traps with no luck, then it may be time to reach out for help from a professional.
Want to know the fastest way on how to get rid of cockroaches in the kitchen? Call the pros. We are the FASTEST WAY to remove cockroaches.. Several homeowners opt for a professional service purely because of the speed in which we solve your problems. No one likes dodging flying roaches while trying to get a midnight drink. Then seeing dozens of scurrying cockroaches over your benches, taps and floors is enough to make you queasy. DIY pest measures take time to take effect while a professional service can resolve the issue within hours.
When given the extensive range of treatment options available to them—insecticides, baits, traps, heat treatments—professional exterminators will know which one is most effective in getting rid of your cockroaches for good.
So if all else has failed—or if you just don’t want to risk dealing with these pests yourself—it may be time to call an exterminator. They’ll be able to offer more targeted solutions than you can do yourself!
Conclusion
If you’ve been struggling with kitchen cockroaches, rest assured that there are steps you can take to get rid of them for good. From DIY measures like avoiding food spills to professional services like pest control, you’ve got options.
The most important thing is to act fast and be diligent in your offensive. Clean up immediately, reduce moisture, and block their access. Stay on top of it and you’ll be cockroach-free in no time. And, in the future, remember to keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance in order to prevent these pests from coming back. Good luck!
CALL US ON: (07) 3349 8572 or fill our submission form here.
