You may not realize it, but cockroaches are a year-round problem here in Portland. Although they can’t survive the coldest temperatures Maine experiences, if they find a warm place to overwinter, they can survive. However, cockroaches thrive when the weather is hot, which means they will soon be at their most active. It’s important to prepare yourself now to keep summer cockroaches out of your Portland home.
How to Prevent Cockroaches
Cockroaches are dangerous creatures that can expose you family to a host of illnesses if they get into your home. It’s important to protect your home from their threats, but how do you do it?
The following tips will help you prevent cockroaches from getting into your Portland home:
Outdoors
- Reduce food sources as much as possible. This includes pet food, bird seed, and open garbage containers. Remember that cockroaches can fit through small spaces, so make sure any outdoor garbage bins have tightly-fitting lids.
- Reduce moisture. Cockroaches are drawn to moist areas, so eliminating excess moisture around your property is a great way to reduce the chances of cockroaches hanging out around your home. Create good drainage channels; keep your gutters clean; clear lawn debris, such as leaf matter, whenever it collects; check for leaky spigots; and replace mulch in your landscaping with a better draining material, such as crushed rock.
- Seal all openings into your home. If cockroaches have a hard time finding a way inside, you’ll be much less likely to end up with an infestation. Seal cracks in your foundation, repair holes in your siding, repair torn screens, caulk gaps around windows and doors, and cover all vents.
Indoors
- Do not leave food out in the open. Either put it in the refrigerator or store it in airtight containers.
- Keep your kitchen clean. Wipe down your counters regularly, sweep up crumbs, and wash dishes immediately or place them in the dishwasher.
- Reduce moisture in rooms with high humidity. Cockroaches are most likely to reside in moist areas under sinks or in the basement. Keep these rooms well-ventilated and employ dehumidifiers, if necessary. Be sure to check for leaking pipes on a regular basis.
- Empty your garbage frequently, especially when it contains a lot of food matter.
What to Do if Summer Cockroaches Get into Your Portland Home
If you find cockroaches in your house, give Big Blue Bug Solutions a call. It can be tempting to buy some cockroach spray and think you’re done with it, but cockroaches are not only difficult to kill, but they also breed quickly. Even if you successfully kill a cockroach or two, it’s likely that more are hidden away somewhere within your home.
Big Blue Bug Solutions has over 80 years of experience treating homes for cockroaches. We can take care of the entire infestation so you can have peace of mind that they’re all gone. Give us a call to set up an inspection.