In the Pixar movie Wall-E, we can observe that the lovely robot has a cockroach as a pet in the context of a planet Earth destroyed and full of trash, unsuitable for humans to live in, and yet, there’s this cockroach.
A planet full of trash would be a paradise for these creatures.
And, though the popular belief that cockroaches are immune to nuclear attacks is false, it is true that they have an incredible resistance, even being able to survive for some days without their heads.
Ah, I can almost see you widening your eyes. Yes, cockroaches are very difficult to eliminate, and that’s why the best cockroach control mechanism is prevention.
But there are some bad habits and things we do that attract roaches into our homes.
From a list of 10 tips to prevent a cockroach infestation, I’ve detected some bad habits that you have that lure cockroaches into your place, and you don’t even notice.
1) Dirty Dishes in the Sink
So you finished having dinner, but you’re feeling so tired that you don’t wash your dishes.
You leave them in the sink and think, “I’ll wash them tomorrow.”
Big mistake.
Dirty dishes and food leftovers are a direct invitation for roaches to enter your kitchen. You’re leaving a huge buffet for them.
I get it, you’re tired. But you’ll be more tired when roaches invade your home, and you’ll have to stay up late at night because of fear.
Better wash those dishes before going to bed and avoid feeding cockroaches.
2) Neglected Pet Bowls
If you have dogs, cats, or other pets, watch out.
If you leave food and water bowls outside your house, let me tell you the horrible truth: Your furry friend is probably feeding from the same place as cockroaches.
Cleaning pet bowls is extremely important.
Do not leave the bowls outside the house, and avoid leaving food on them even inside. Make sure to clean them properly as well.
You don’t want roaches to eat from the same plate as you. Your pets don’t want that either.
3) The Dilemma of Taking Out the Trash
“I’ll take out the trash tomorrow, it is not that full.”
But the trash bin contains the remains of the chicken you had at midday, a tuna can, carrot peels, and other food waste.
Again, your food waste and trash are a feast for cockroaches.
Tip: Wash cans, bottles, or food containers before throwing them away. That way, you are reducing food waste in the trash.
Seal garbage cans properly and when the can is full (for God’s sake), take it out!
4) MacGyver Complex
My favorite.
When you have a leaking faucet, broken pipes, or you discover an accumulation of water under the sink, you think that instead of calling a plumber, you will watch a tutorial on YouTube on how to fix it.
Well, three things can happen here:
- You never watch the tutorial (classic).
- You watch it, but you are just too lazy to go to the hardware store and buy what you need.
- You think that someone else in your family can fix it.
In any case, we know how this ends, right? Yeah: Undone (or worse if Uncle Earl comes to fix the issue but ends up breaking it even more).
The more you delay fixing that water problem, the more your cockroach problem expands, as roaches look for water sources and humid places.
Instead of providing a nice pool for roaches, call the plumber.
5) Accumulating Items
We all store lots of useless things.
The problem is that cockroaches love clutter. They can find material to nest, to eat, and it also provides shelter for them.
Cardboard boxes, paper, clothes, they eat everything (even nails and hair, which is completely disgusting).
If you’re storing lots of things in closets, basements, attics, or garages, maybe it’s time to check what you have, dispose of things you don’t use anymore, and clean everything up.
Show roaches that your house is not a comfy hotel.
A Clean House Keeps Roaches Away
Not saying that your house is a mess, but we’ve all done these things.
What we don’t realize is that the moment we decide to ignore the problem is an opportunity for cockroaches to get into the house.
And roaches are extremely difficult to control. So the best thing you can do to avoid them is:
- Eliminate water sources
- Avoid leaving food outside
- Reduce food waste
- Take your trash out
- Clean pet bowls
- Clearing up clutter
In the end, like all pests, roaches look for water, food, and shelter. If you reduce these items, they will stay away from your house.
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