We’re all probably aware of that gut-dropping feeling upon hearing a little scuffle across the floor and looking down to see a dark cockroach. And don’t even get us started when it starts flying, as that’s where one word comes to mind instantly — nope.

No bug infestation is ever a fun experience, but cockroaches take things to an entirely new level. These pesky critters carry infectious diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever, and viral infections. It is also reported that they may carry the eggs of parasitic worms and cause allergic reactions, including dermatitis, itching, swelling of the eyelids, and severe respiratory conditions.

In short, cockroaches are often unwelcome guests, and getting rid of them as soon as they’re spotted is essential.

Here’s how to get rid of cockroaches fast and effectively!

Clean and Declutter

Cockroaches are a strong indicator for you to clean up your home. Pests must have adequate food to survive and thrive. Conducting regular cleaning and sanitation will have a tremendous impact on reducing these populations.
Wipe or vacuum up any crumbs on floors, tables, and counters. It’s essential to also not leave food unsealed in your pantry. To ensure it’s out of reach of pests, consider storing open pantry food in airtight containers. Cockroaches also tend to eat substances we don’t consider food, such as soap, toothpaste and even hair. Besides keeping your home clean, storing or discarding any potential items that cockroaches may try to feast on is vital.

Close Up Points Of Entry

To enter a home, most cockroaches crawl through small holes and cracks. Other methods include finding openings around doors and windows and moving from one apartment to another through pipes and other holes in shared walls.
Closing up as many points of entry as possible helps to avoid a severe cockroach infestation. This could include attaching door sweeps to cover cracks between the bottom of a door and the ground or sealing up any holes and cracks in the foundation of a house.

Bait and Kill

You might consider developing a “bait and kill” plan that incorporates knowledge of cockroach behaviour to help manage an infestation. This approach can help you eliminate pests in an effective and less hazardous way.
Glue strips are sheets or tubes covered in a sticky substance and can quickly catch cockroaches within 24 or 48 hours. You could also mix boric acid with equal parts of sugar. Putting the mixture in an open jar and placing it where you’ve seen cockroaches will attract them to consume it and eventually die.

Note: Avoid handling large doses of poisons such as boric acid, as it can be toxic in large quantities.

Essential Oils

Apart from being an aromatic addition to your home, essential oils can also be an unconventional method for dealing with cockroaches that enter your home from the outdoors.
You can create a spray with 2.5% essential oil and water, then spray it at areas where cockroaches might enter or where you’ve seen them. Some essential oils that have been proven to be effective include ingredients like citrus, kaffir lime, oregano, and rosemary.

Pest Management Professionals

Professional teams know how to locate and eradicate cockroach infestations safely and effectively without putting your kids, pets, or household at risk. With many options for a cockroach pest control service, you can’t go wrong with the leading NEA-certified cockroach pest control in Singapore — Greencare.
We’ll work to leave no stone unturned with effective techniques such as baiting and eco-friendly insecticide products. Our team of specialists will also ensure that our products only target your “unwelcome guests” and minimise the risk of more infestations arriving on your property in the future!

Get in touch with us at Greencare today to eliminate your cockroach infestation once and for all.