Keeping Cockroaches Out Of Richmond Homes And Kitchens

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night. Your stomach is rumbling, so you decide to head to the kitchen for a midnight snack. As you enter you flip on the light, and suddenly a skittering sound fills your ears as dozens of small dark shapes rush from your counters into hiding.

A cockroach infestation is something no one wants to think about, let alone have to actually face. The fact is there are cockroaches in Richmond, so it’s possible that they could enter your home. As much as you don’t want to think about them, the best thing you can do is spend a bit of time considering your options now in order to avoid their arrival later.

Beyond the simple ‘yuck factor’, there are many reasons you want to avoid the reality of cockroaches entering your home.

Here are just a few reasons:

1. Cockroaches are covered in bacteria. The kinds of places cockroaches frequent - garbage containers, sewers, etc.- are full of bacteria. Cockroaches pick up this bacteria as they crawl around, then spread it around as the travel to and fro. If they happen to walk across your countertops or dishes, that leaves you at risk for getting sick. While they’ve been known to carry up to 33 different kinds of bacteria, two you may be familiar with are e.coli and Salmonella, both of which can cause unpleasant and sometimes severe illnesses.

2. Cockroaches spread parasites. Unlike rodents that carry parasites externally, such as fleas and ticks, cockroaches carry parasites internally. They’ve been linked to six types of parasitic worms. When they travel, they leave contaminated excrement behind, which can then infect you.

3. Cockroaches can trigger asthma symptoms. Studies have shown that the shed skin and feces of cockroaches can exacerbate symptoms of asthma in some people.

4. Cockroaches can bite. While rare, roaches have been known to bite. This typically occurs if food sources are low and they resort to nibbling on sleeping individuals. They may take a nibble at eyelids, fingernails, feet or hands, resulting in a red, irritated area around the bite, introducing the possibility of infection.

Clearly, roaches are bad news, but how do you prevent them?

Here are several things you can do:

1. Most roaches prefer moist, humid environments. Be sure to keep both the outside and inside of your home as moisture-free as possible. Use appropriate drainage methods outside and fix areas where there is standing water. Use dehumidifiers inside, if necessary. Check often for water leaks and immediately repair areas with water damage.

2. Check around your house for entry points and repair any that you find. This includes cracks in the foundation, holes in your siding, gaps around windows and doors, and openings in vents or chimneys.

3. Keep your home tidy. Remove trash on a regular basis. Clean dirty dishes and countertops daily. Vacuum regularly. Store food in the refrigerator or in sealed containers.

4. Check packaging and boxes before bringing them into your house to ensure that no cockroaches are hiding inside.

If you already have cockroaches in your home, your best bet is to get a professional pest control treatment. Modern Pest Control offers a variety of treatment options to best suit your individual pest control needs. We’ll identify your problem through a careful inspection and provide the best solution to fully eliminate your roach problem.

Don’t let a midnight snack run turn into a nightmare! Give Modern Pest Control a call.