Columbia's Step-By-Step Cockroach Control Guide
May 20, 2021
Cockroaches are a pest that most people dread because they have a reputation for being nearly impossible to eliminate. While they aren’t invisible, they are indeed a very sturdy and invasive pest. Cockroaches are also one of the more dangerous pests in Columbia, South Carolina. They can spread a wide range of illnesses including gastroenteritis, salmonella, and E. coli. Plus, they can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
The other issue with cockroaches is that they are hard to prevent and also difficult to identify. Cockroaches are long, oval-shaped pests with wings that lay flat on their backs and a pair of antennae. They range in color from tan to reddish-brown to black. The most common species in the United States is the German cockroach, and the largest is the American cockroach.
You might not notice the actual bugs at first, but there are some other signs you can look out for, such as:
- A musty odor that wasn’t there before
- Shed skins and wings
- Small droppings that look like ground pepper
- Brownish smear marks on the walls
- Broken eggshells that range from cream to dark brown in color
The First Step In Cockroach Prevention
If you’ve assessed your property for signs of cockroaches and haven’t found any, now is a good time to take preventative measures to keep them out. A great place to begin is by deep cleaning around your home or business.
You should start in kitchen spaces, as cockroaches seek humid areas with access to food. Clean the backs of cupboards and cabinets and underneath heavy appliances. Also, make sure to generally keep kitchen spaces cleaned by wiping up food and drink spills right away. Store any pet food in airtight containers.
Next, remove clutter from around the building as cockroaches love to have many dark places where they can hide. Make sure to also keep lids on all trash cans and to remove garbage often.
While a deep clean a few times a year is helpful, it’s also important to keep your property generally clean and de-cluttered. Doing so can help prevent both cockroaches and many other pests.
Four More Cockroach Prevention Tips
After you've focused on cleaning, the next overall thing you should do to keep out cockroaches is to seal up access points and address other factors that could attract them. Here are four more cockroach prevention steps you should follow:
- Fix or replace broken screens in doors and windows.
- Repair leaky plumbing and use dehumidifiers.
- Seal up cracks in the walls and foundation.
- Install door sweeps and weather stripping around doors and windows.
What Should You Do If You Have Cockroaches?
If you have noticed any signs of cockroaches around your Columbia property, the easiest way to remove these invasive pests is to contact the professionals at Go-Forth Pest Control.
Cockroaches can reproduce quickly and are resistant to many pesticides, so the safest and most reliable way to remove them for good is through our trained technicians. Trying to apply chemicals using DIY methods can be dangerous for yourself and others around you, and most of the time, these attempts don’t work.
Instead, let us make cockroach control simple. We even offer free quotes, so give us a call today to get started.
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