Nashville’s Step-By-Step Cockroach Prevention Guide

If cockroaches make your skin crawl, you are certainly not alone. These hearty buggers are inherently adaptable, making them even more difficult to control. Cockroaches seek dark, cozy spaces near food and moisture. These nocturnal critters creep out from the cracks and crevices of our homes while we sleep. Sightings during the day usually indicate a heavier population has been busy infesting your home. It may be time to contact the professionals to review your cockroach extermination options.

Common Cockroach Species In Nashville

Here in Tennessee, you're most likely to experience problems with the American cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, the German cockroach, or the Oriental cockroach. Though all species have flat, oval-shaped bodies, long antennae, and shiny legs, they vary slightly in size and appearance.

American cockroaches are the largest cockroaches with some adults reaching over 2 inches in length. They are rusty brown with a honey-colored figure-8 on the back of their heads.
Brown-banded cockroaches are much smaller with adults reaching only 1/2 inch. Per their name, they have two light brown bands stretching across their darker brown bodies.
German cockroaches are about 3/4 inches long. They are tan colored with two dark brown stripes running vertically down their head.
Oriental cockroaches are about 1 inch long and appear almost black.

Cleanliness Is Less Inviting Than Crumbs And Clutter

Not wanting cockroaches to invade our homes simply isn’t enough. Many homeowners are unknowingly inviting them to come in and stay. Cockroaches love hiding in clutter. To keep them away, remove and organize overstocked shelves, boxes, books, piles of newspaper, and clothing on the floor.
Most cockroach species prefer warm and humid living conditions found in basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms. They make their way into drawers, cabinets, and the forgotten places underneath or behind sinks and appliances. However, the brown-banded cockroach prefers hot and dry areas such as attics, upper cabinets, closets, and the interior of electronics.

To keep cockroaches away, a deep clean is always a good start, but it isn’t necessarily going to deter them from entering your lovely abode. Find all of those hard to reach places you may have forgotten about. Limit the availability of food they can eat by restricting your eating habits to the kitchen or dining room only. Wipe down tabletops regularly, and vacuum your floors daily. Store your fruits, vegetables, and baked goods in the refrigerator where they are safer and less inviting.

Problems Associated With Cockroaches

Cockroaches breed quickly, and they can survive off of the smallest crumbs. These scavengers will feed off of anything, including toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. Their main food source is often garbage in and around the home.

As a result of their affinity to live and thrive in areas that harbor dangerous bacteria such as bathrooms, sewers, drains, and dumpsters, cockroaches can spread harmful bacteria and human pathogens. As they explore your home, they contaminate food and surfaces everywhere they go. Cockroach infestations can lead to harmful diseases, including salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, listeriosis, giardia, and E. coli infections.

How To Identify And Eliminate Potential Entry Points

Cockroaches live outdoors, until they find their way inside through cracks in foundations, under doors, and spaces around windows. They require moisture to survive, and they will make their way into the cleanest of homes to find it. Here are some helpful cockroach prevention tips to eliminate potential entry point.

Seal off leaky pipes and faucets creating moisture both inside and outside of your home. Remember to check bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms.

Keep the bathroom and kitchen areas neat and tidy. Safely store any toiletries cockroaches may be interested in. Wipe down sinks and surfaces regularly to remove excess moisture.
Limit the places they can hide by keeping your clutter minimal to none if at all possible. Store your items in plastic totes with locking lids instead of cardboard boxes.
Make sure your trash cans have lids on them and empty them regularly. Remove garbage from your property weekly.
Inspect the outside of your home for cracks in the foundation and exterior walls. Be sure to seal up every existing crevice you may find. Install door sweeps under exterior doors, and covers over vents and drains that lead into your home.
Thoroughly inspect items entering your home before bringing them in. This includes deliveries, used furniture, and potted plants.

The True Solution To Residential Cockroach Control

While preventative measures are helpful, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the well-being of your home and your loved ones. Urbanex has been proudly serving Nashville residents with safe, effective, and environmentally responsible pest control treatments since 2015. Our team has more than 25 years of combined experience. We are committed to delivering unparalleled service in the elimination and prevention of pest infestations.

Urbanex offers free inspections, unlimited treatments, and a money-back guarantee. Our comprehensive pest control services have earned us HomeAdvisor awards and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Contact us today to learn more about the four major components of our services.

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