5 Roach Removal Methods

Summertime is in full swing, and unfortunately, so are roach populations. Notoriously known as “apocalypse survival bugs”, roaches can be challenging to get a handle on, with infestations frequently spiraling out of control.

But all is not lost! Check out this list of recommended roach removal methods, and get back on track to a roach-free summer.  

1 - Cut Off Their Water Supply

The very first thing you’ll want to do if you discover you have a roach problem is cut off their water supply. Although roaches can live for up to a month without food, they can’t survive for more than a week without water. 

Pay special attention to excess water in your kitchens and bathrooms, a.k.a roach hot spots. This is the perfect opportunity to fix any leaky faucets or patch up any places where water may accumulate and attract these often indestructible pests.  

2 – Clean Up Food Which Might Attract Roaches

Cockroaches love messes of any kind – food scraps, wet areas, clutter, you name it. So if this sounds like your home, you may as well be throwing a roach party!

If that’s the case, squash the party before it gets out of hand. Keep in mind that roaches will eat virtually anything available to them, so clean up any food areas after eating, take out the trash regularly, disinfect surfaces, vacuum, and de-clutter. Keep a special eye on stovetops as well, as roaches are highly attracted to grease. 

Basically, if it was on your list of chores growing up, it applies here.

3 – Spraying Methods - Does Soapy Water Kill Roaches?

If you’ve cut off roach water sources and have been keeping a cleaner home than Martha Stewart but you’re still battling roaches, it’s time to start more deliberate methods.

Good old-fashioned soap and water is a safe, reliable, and inexpensive method. Create a soapy water solution that you can spray with a bottle. It will only take about 2 – 3 sprays to kill any roaches, as the soapy solution will cover their breathing pores and suffocate them. This is a great rodent extermination method for individual cockroaches, but it won't keep them out of your home or prevent them from entering your home.

If the soap and water isn’t cutting it, you may want to take it up a notch with insecticide, but keep in mind that while insecticides may be more effective initially, they can also have the opposite effect of driving roaches further into the walls.

If you’re still not seeing results and your roach problem persists, you may consider using a pesticide, but this should only be used as a last resort, as they are extremely potent and will kill off all bugs (including the ones you should keep around, like spiders, who will kill off any unwanted pests.)

It’s also highly toxic and poisonous, so take precautions and never spray around children or pets.

4 – Cockroach Traps

If the idea of chemicals doesn’t sit well with you, or you just prefer not to kill the roaches directly, you may want to set up some traps. Traps are designed to lure roaches in and then they’ll stick to the adhesive lining on the inside.

But while traps can be effective for small infestations, they aren’t a permanent solution and don’t address roaches at the source.   

5 - Contact a Pest Control Specialist

If you want to get rid of roaches for good, you’ll need to attack them from the source. This process can be very challenging, and although some DIY methods can prove effective, they can only take you so far.

To really get to the root of your roach problem and keep them from coming back, put your trust in the pest control professionals in New York City and our Westchester county exterminators at Suburban Pest Control. Get in touch for a free in-home estimate, and our professional pest technicians will assess your infestation and advise you on the best method of control to keep roaches from coming back.

So here’s to a roach-free summer!