Cockroaches

The unfortunate truth is that cockroaches can find their way inside no matter how clean you try to keep your house. Any Cincinnati home is at risk of a cockroach infestation! Cockroaches are some of the most feared and unwanted houseguests, as they provide us with no benefits, only numerous problems. Many different things attract cockroaches to our homes, including excess moisture, food odors, and pet food. While cockroaches commonly find their way into our homes on their own, they also regularly hitchhike indoors. Cockroaches climb into and move from place to place in cardboard boxes, grocery bags, deliveries, furniture, electronics, and appliances.

While thousands of cockroaches live worldwide, only a handful have become common household pests. American cockroaches, German cockroaches, and Oriental cockroaches are three of the most common roach species that infiltrate our homes and businesses. Though each species is unique, they all share the love of a few things, including the food we eat and the shelter our homes provide. The cockroach's dark and flat oval body makes it easy to move in and out of spaces. Once they get inside, these prolific breeders quickly explode in number and are difficult for Ohio homeowners to control and eliminate.

The following suggestions will help you make it more difficult for cockroaches to find their way into your house.

• Always inspect secondhand items like appliances and furniture for cockroaches before bringing them into your home.

• Always check deliveries, bags, flowerpots, and cardboard boxes for roaches before bringing them inside.

• Avoid attracting cockroaches to your home by keeping lids on trash cans, picking up uneaten pet food, and repairing leaky outdoor fixtures or hoses.

Inside your house, limit their easy access to food by removing trash from your home, storing food in the fridge or airtight containers, and keeping counters and floors clean and free of crumbs.