Cockroaches may be the most unwelcome pest to infest residential and commercial Polk County properties. Not only do they contaminate surfaces and quickly repopulate, but the pests are also responsible for the spread of various diseases. Experts say that for every roach you see, there are three more hiding somewhere within the walls of your property. Therefore, it is important to know a few ways to deter cockroaches before they overtake your home or business.
Natural Products That Deter Cockroaches
Rather than using harmful chemicals that could potentially harm those on your property, try the following natural home remedies to deter cockroaches from your home.
- Baking Soda – A product that most people already have in the household, baking soda can be one of the fastest and easiest ways to get rid of cockroaches. In a shallow dish, dice a handful of onions and sprinkle some baking soda on top to attract cockroaches. Once they consume the baking soda, a chemical reaction happens that builds gasses inside the cockroaches’ stomachs, causing them to burst.
- Boric Acid – Sprinkle boric acid onto a paper plate and add a spoonful of peanut butter to attract hungry roaches. Once the pest ingests the acid, their nervous and digestive systems become compromised, and they die quickly. Boric acid is also relatively harmless to humans and pets.
- Diatomaceous Earth – A natural insecticide, diatomaceous earth will damage a cockroach’s exoskeleton and dehydrate it to death; however, it should be used sparingly as it can lead to asthma if ingested by you or your pets.
Other natural approaches for deterring and/or eliminating cockroaches include using borax, citrus, and essential oils. Caulking any holes around your property is also a good natural way to deter cockroaches.
What Attracts Cockroaches to Your Home
To deter roaches from entering your property, it is important to consider what is attracting the pests in the first place. Here a few reasons why roaches are attracted to your home:
- Food Sources – Roaches eat anything they can find. Crumbs, dirty dishes, and even garbage are all things that will lure roaches inside.
- Shelter – Dark, quiet areas are what roaches look for, especially if they are also damp. Inside attics and walls or underneath kitchen appliances and furniture are common areas to look for cockroaches.
- Location – Sometimes the cleanliness of a home does not matter as roaches will look for any hole or way to get into a home that provides them with food and shelter.
- Water – Pipes, faucets, standing water, and moist areas are typical targets for roaches.
Roaches are not safe to have around and can cause serious health issues for certain individuals. If your property is infested with cockroaches, do not attempt ineffective DIY cockroach control methods. Instead, rely on the effective services provided by the licensed, trained, and experienced cockroach control experts at Critter Control® of Polk County.
Your Polk County, FL Cockroach Removal Professionals
The experienced pest control technicians at Critter Control® of Polk County will quickly and safely remove cockroaches from your property and keep them from returning. To schedule an inspection and receive a free estimate for our cockroach removal services, call Critter Control® of Polk County today at 863-204-2815.
