What Causes Roaches and How to Get Rid of Them

If you've spotted a roach or two scuttling around in your house, you're probably wondering how they got there. So, if you keep a clean home and keep the doors and windows closed, how did the dreaded pests get in?

The truth is, they may have taken residence in your house for a few reasons. Read on to discover how to get rid of roaches overnight and why and how these skin-crawling critters invaded your home in the first place.

What Attracts Roaches?

“Outdoor” roaches (like the American cockroach) prefer to live outdoors, but sometimes they can move into homes if their environment changes.

“Domestic” or “indoor” roaches build their nests exclusively in homes and other structures. So, if you suddenly have an infestation, they definitely came from somewhere else.

While it may seem unlikely, you can accidentally bring roaches or their eggs into your home unawares. The truth is, you could easily host a stowaway roach in your luggage or handbag. However, if you live in a townhouse or apartment complex, chances are your roach problem spilled over from your neighbor.

So, what attracts cockroaches to your home?

Anything They Can Eat

A roach's sense of smell can detect anything edible from a considerable distance. Cockroaches will eat anything organic – including pet hair, grime, paper, garbage, and waste.

Once a colony of roaches senses that your home is a source of food, they will move in. But what causes roach infestations in spotlessly clean houses?

Moisture and Humidity

Because cockroaches are extremely sensitive to dehydration, they need water to survive. That's why you'll find roach hotspots under your sinks and in the bathroom. American cockroaches, in particular, thrive in humid or moist conditions.

That's why dripping faucets, leaky pipes, and wet shower mats are cockroach magnets.

Shelter Among the Clutter

Cockroaches need safe places to hide and lay their eggs. When they find the perfect spot, they multiply extremely quickly.

That's why cluttered homes are safe havens for cockroaches – they love to hide their egg sacs in dark cupboards, cardboard boxes, and stacks of paper. Wherever there's clutter, moisture, and food, roaches thrive.

How to Get Rid of Roaches

Now that you understand that cockroaches are attracted to food sources, moisture, and clutter, getting rid of them once and for all will be easier.

There are three steps you'll need to take to reclaim your home.

Clean and Declutter

Deep clean your house from top to bottom (vacuum, mop, and scrub) and remove any potential food sources. Do the dishes immediately after use, and clean up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen. Cleaning every nook and cranny will make your home less attractive to pests because they can't nest undisturbed.

Declutter your home to eliminate any possible nesting places – throw away stacks of papers, cardboard boxes, and anything else that's helping the roaches survive.

Inspect

Once you've eliminated the roaches' food sources, thoroughly Inspect your home – inside and outside. Look for any cracks or gaps in the walls, windows, and doors and seal them with caulk.

Look for cockroach hotspots underneath appliances, in cupboards, under sinks, and behind toilets.

Attack

Now that you know where the roach hotspots are, you can also lay down glue traps. Glue traps are also helpful because they can help you understand how bad the infestation is. The more you find in the trap, the worse the infestation.

Look into cockroach control and insecticides in the forms of gum, dust, liquid, spray, and putty – there should be a few options available at your home depot store.

Call a Professional

It can be extremely frustrating and disheartening to work hard at keeping your home clean only to find you still have a roach infestation. Calling a professional pest control company is the best way to remove the cockroaches and keep them away for good.

A professional pest control specialist will conduct a thorough inspection of your home, safely eliminate the roaches, and put a long-term plan in place to get rid of them for good.