Why Do I Have Roaches in My Clean House
Do you often come across cockroaches in your house even after keeping the house clean, taking out the trash regularly, and regularly sweeping and mopping? At this point, you must be wondering, ” why do I have roaches in my clean house?”
Cockroaches and never a pretty sight and are always associated with an unsanitary environment and health risks. And sometimes, you may still see one or two around even after working incredibly hard to keep your house clean. But is hygiene the only reason behind it? If you are also wondering the same, this article will help clear all your doubts.
Why do I have roaches in my clean house?
Searching for the answer to ‘why do I have roaches in my clean house?’ Sometimes cockroaches can still infest a house despite it being clean. And these pesky insects can contaminate the food and cause several diseases. Here are a few possible reasons behind the invasion.
Filthy nooks and corners.
While cleaning the house, we put in a lot of effort and mop wholeheartedly and use floor cleaners and disinfectants as well. However, the nooks and corners are easy to miss out on, where you can find cockroaches hiding.
But what makes these corners attractive to these insects? It can be due to various reasons like dripping grease, food droppings, spills, etc. The space under the refrigerator is also prone to these spillages and grime.
Food crumbs and leftovers.
This is one of the most common answers to ‘why do I have roaches in my clean house?’ Cockroaches must eat to survive, so they seek food sources from anywhere. So even if you keep your kitchen clean, these insects are not that picky and will devour whatever is available.
Any food item with a high content of starch, protein, or sugar, and you’ll see cockroaches swarming towards it. This is why it is said that leaving food crumbs around the pantry or the kitchen is not a good idea. Store all food items inside the refrigerator and clean up all the dirty dishes as soon as possible.
Damp areas with excess moisture.
There is hardly any creature in the world that does not need water to stay alive. And cockroaches and no exception. These insects are always searching for water sources and will be attracted to them if there are leaky pipes or standing water. If any factor in your house promotes mold growth, it is essential to remember that they can also draw in cockroaches.
You might think that the water bowl you left out for your pet or the condensation from the refrigerator can be excluded, but you would be wrong. Remove any standing water inside the house and fix leaky pipes and plumbing issues.
Gaps and cracks in the walls.
These are some of the most common places where cockroaches prefer to hide. It does not always need to be cracks in walls.
It can also be gaps between electrical equipment or anything which gives them the required shelter. Fix all these gaps and cracks to prevent cockroaches from entering them and making those spaces their territory.
Overgrowth in gardens.
If you have a personal garden, it is important to maintain and keep it clean to prevent insects and pests. You already know how cockroaches love dark and cluttered spaces.
Hence, having overgrown grass and messy bushes all around is similar to sending them an invitation letter. The water in the bird feeders and gutters can be sources for them.
Areas that do not get light.
Besides being a fan of damp places, cockroaches also prefer dark areas with hardly any natural light. Places like these are a source of shelter, and they prefer to hide there in search of food sources.
You may not always notice, but there are plenty of dark spaces around the house like storage sheds, attic, garages, etc. All these entrance points need to be sealed off as soon as possible.
The climate of the area you reside in.
Yes, as surprising as it may be, cockroach or pest infestations also depend on the climate in the city or town you live in. The regions in the South of the US, like Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, are more likely to notice cockroach infestation in their houses than in any other state.
However, this does not mean that all the homes in these areas are not sanitary. But warm and humid places attract roaches, which is the reason behind the high chances of infestation in these areas.
How to get rid of roaches in your clean house?
Now you have the answer to the question- why do I have roaches in my clean house? But how will you solve this cockroach problem and get rid of these insects? Here are a few tips that will help you out in this matter.
Use a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifiers are a savior for a humid home. Yes, I am not kidding. If you don’t know, dehumidifiers are meant for getting rid of the excess humidity from the house by extracting moisture from the air inside your home.
Several types of dehumidifiers are available in the market, such as whole house dehumidifiers, dehumidifiers with pumps, bathroom dehumidifiers, and apartment dehumidifiers. But for someone tired of seeing cockroaches partying late at night in their kitchen, bathroom, or living room, we suggest using a 70-pint dehumidifier.
These dehumidifiers can suck moisture from a house as big as 4,000 square feet. With a big water tank and energy-efficient technology, we make sure you won’t have to face the damn cockroaches every again.
Clean up all areas properly.
Even though maintaining the house’s hygiene is an obvious solution, not everyone can do it properly. And sometimes, they miss out on cleaning those nooks and corners. But some tips can help you out. It is always recommended to wash the dirty dishes as soon as possible.
It is never a good idea to leave food crumbs or spills on the floor. The stove area in the kitchen should be wiped regularly to keep it clean. And if there are any leftovers, it is better to store them in airtight containers.
Use boric acid.
Boric acid is an effective remedy to prevent cockroaches. But it is better to read about it beforehand if you have not used it. You only need to sprinkle a little amount on the corners and floors. Leave it like that for a while.
If any cockroach comes in contact with it, it will die. But if there is moisture around the area, the substance will not do its job. A safety aspect to keep in mind is that boric acid is poisonous, and you should never allow children or pets to be near it at any cost.
Mend all plumbing issues and leaks.
As mentioned above, cockroaches prefer cracks and gaps to take shelter in. They are also fond of leaky pipes and stagnant water, as these are water sources for them.
So it is vital to investigate your house regularly, including the drains and gutters, to check for leaks and standing water. Do not overwater the plants inside the house if you have any. Because if the water pools beneath the plants, it can attract cockroaches.
Cockroach baits to trap them.
If you mix boric acid with flour and sugar, it can act as bait to attract cockroaches. However, this method will not be highly effective if you keep the dough in just a single place.
Break it up into pieces and distribute it throughout the house, and do not miss the corners and gaps beneath appliances. Once the cockroaches fall for it and eat it, they will get killed immediately.
Baking soda for the win.
Baking soda is a fascinating substance used to clean various things around the house and get rid of insects. You can create a mixture of baking soda and sugar and then use this mixture to prevent the growth of pests.
Cockroaches are anyway attracted to sugar, and baking soda will be lethal for them. Identify the common spots before going ahead with this step to target their primary locations.
Use peppermint oil.
Peppermint oil is a prevalent option in skin care and aromatherapy. But those are not the only applications of this excellent ingredient. Surprise surprise! Peppermint oil is also great for keeping cockroaches at bay.
You can make a simple solution by mixing peppermint oil with salt water and spraying it on the affected areas of the house. Just a fair warning, this solution does not work overnight, but you will see results if you keep using it continuously.
Use a cockroach-killing spray.
Today, various insect-killing sprays are available on the market, and you can easily purchase one specially made for killing cockroaches.
Spray their hiding places, and the results will depend on how effective the spray you have purchased is.
Even if you do not regularly see cockroaches in your house, keep using this spray in nooks, corners, and other common hideout places of these insects.
Fabric softener is a great remedy.
A mixture of fabric softener and water is another natural remedy to get rid of cockroaches. For this, you will have to mix three parts of fabric softener with two parts of water. This method will only work if the insects come into contact with the fabric softener so that the chemicals can attack them.
Reach out to professionals.
Contact professionals if none of the DIY methods work for you or the infestation is severe. They will send in a trained team to control and eliminate your roach problem in the house.
Conclusion.
Hopefully, this article has been able to answer your question- why do I have roaches in my clean house, as well as give you solutions to get rid of these insects.
It is very essential to make sure that you investigate all the factors and causes that might be the reason behind cockroach infestation in your house so that you can take the appropriate step for the removal.
And if the infestation is very severe, DIY methods for pest control might not be enough and you will have to reach out to professionals in that scenario.
FAQs.
How do roaches enter a clean home?
Even though we might not think it’s possible and wonder, ‘why do I have roaches in my clean house?’, many areas and access points are attractive for roaches to enter your house.
It can be through window screens with small tears in them, gaps between the wall and the floor, clogged gutters, air conditioner units that have been attached poorly, etc. Hence, regular inspection is very necessary to avoid this scenario.
What to do if you suspect a roach infestation?
If you notice cockroaches have invaded your house, it is time to take quick action. These insects breed pretty quickly, and before you even realize the infestation, they will already be laying eggs and expanding their colonies.
You can try out various DIY methods or even reach out to professionals if the issue is getting more severe.
Can dehumidifiers work towards getting rid of cockroaches?
The primary job of dehumidifiers is to remove moisture from the air and create a more dry environment. However, insects and pests I do not like such an environment, and hence these devices will help prevent roach infestation to some extent.