It’s normal to have roaches in your house. These tiny creatures can invade even the cleanest homes in their quest for shelter, food, and water. So, it’s wrong to say that roaches infest dirty homes only because the main reason why they get into one’s house is mainly for survival. So, how do roaches get into your house?
Roaches are very strategic when it comes to getting into places. They can squeeze themselves through tiny openings or around doors and windows. They can also crawl through tiny cracks and holes in buildings. They can lay eggs on furniture, bags, appliances, and groceries.
If you want to know more about how roaches get into your house and how to get rid of them, you’ve come to the right place. Once you understand how they can get inside your home, you will also get to know how to prevent them from invading your house.
How Do Roaches Get Into Your House at Night?
You would not want to imagine roaches crawling into your house at night. Unfortunately, this is the time when roaches are the most active. Roaches are nocturnal little creatures and are often looking for food around this time. They are typically active while the rest of the household is sleeping.
Roaches hide in the dark, roam around damp areas, and crawl through the kitchen looking for food crumbs. These activities usually happen before midnight.
How Do Roaches Get Into Your House During the Day?
It is rare to find cockroaches during the day or when the house is well-lit. As mentioned, this creature likes to appear in the dark. Hence, if you see roaches in the house during the daytime, chances are there is an infestation in the home.
How Do Roaches Get Into Your House During Winter?
It’s strange to think about cockroaches chilling in the cold. Hence, when winter comes, roaches start looking for places to find warmth. They can enter your house when you turn on the heater.
As you turn on your heater, they will think it’s summer or spring, so they will get into your house looking for food. They will crawl into openings, doorways, screens, sliding doors, or other means to enter buildings and homes.
In winter, cockroaches will most likely make their way into the pantry or kitchen. However, roaches can be sneaky, hiding under sinks, kitchen counters, and cabinets.
How Do Roaches Get Into Your House During Spring?
Roaches are active 24/7, regardless of the weather. However, their population most likely increases in spring.
Like other pests, roaches hibernate and are cold-blooded during winter. But when the season changes and temperature changes, these insects will rise and become more active once again as they search homes for food sources.
Roaches are not only unsettling, but they are also unsanitary. They often live near sewers and eat garbage. Hence, they are prone to germs and bacteria.
Prevention is better than trying to find a cure. So, as the spring season approaches, seal possible entries in the house, limit moisture, and keep the house clean.
How Do Roaches Get Into Your House During Summer?
Although roaches are a year-round pest, their numbers swell during summertime. As previously mentioned, these tiny creatures are less active in winter months. However, as the weather changes, or during summertime, the increase in temperature spurs them to reproduce and feed faster.
As it gets hotter and people open their windows and go outside more frequently, roaches find easier entryways into your home. Barbecuing and eating outdoors on the deck can be an invitation for roaches to make themselves at home.
How Do Roaches Get Into Your House During Fall?
Roaches are no different from humans. When fall arrives, our routine starts to change. We spend less time outdoors once the hot weather ceases. We wear warm clothes, rake leaves, and prepare for the cold weather.
The same goes for roaches. Pests become more intrusive as they prepare themselves to have a home to warm themselves. They always use their time wisely; hence, they will look for places where they can seek shelter and food.
This means that once fall comes and when the cold weather is about to arrive, the roaches are already in your house and will find a warm place to hibernate. They are much more comfortable indoors, so expect these guests during the fall season.
What Attracts Roaches To Your House?
Roaches are bound to enter your house regardless of the weather. Sure, you don’t want them there, so, it’s crucial to know what attracts these pests to come into your house in the first place.
Here are some culprits that attract roaches to get into your house.
Food
Roaches eat anything. They are omnivores and fond of sweets, meats, starches, and greasy food. Convenient food sources like dirty dishes in the sink, food crumbs on the floor, and dog food can attract their attention.
Garbage
Roaches love garbage, too. Trash bins that contain leftover food or food crumbs attract these tiny creatures. Ensure that you tightly seal your trash cans and have your trash picked up regularly.
Landscaping
Roaches are not only fond of invading your house. They can also enter your yard for water, food, and shelter. Standing water in flower paths, bird baths, and gutters will attract these pets. Fruit plants and birdseed can be a food source, too.
Water
Like humans or even animals, roaches need water to survive. They will enter even the cleanest of homes to get water. Faucets, showers, leaky pipes, and pet water bowls are common attractions.
How to Get Rid of Roaches Permanently?
Now that you know what attracts roaches, it’s time that you learn how to get rid of them. If you want to prevent or make them go away without using chemicals, here are some effective home remedies to remove these nasty critters from your house.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most natural, easy, and effective remedies to get rid of roaches. Just place this pastry ingredient where they are hiding or prevalent. Once they consume the baking soda, it creates gas in their stomach, and they burst.
To learn how to use baking soda to kill other pests, read our articles:
Does Baking Soda Kill Bed Bugs?
Citrus
Citrus is repellent to roaches. The smell of this tasty fruit deters them. To use this, add citrus to the water you use on your mop. You may not smell the citrus, but the roaches do, and it will send them off.
Essential Oil
Like citrus, essential oils are effective repellents. Mix essential oil and water and spray it where roaches hang out. Effective essential oils are peppermint, citrus, lemongrass, lime, and oregano.
Conclusion
As you have read, roaches can get into your home any time of the day and year. They are desperate for food, water, and shelter and use your house for these things. During the summer, they are more active and reproduce more. Your home can also help them with this.
Roaches enter your house through cracks, holes, openings, doorways, screens, sliding doors, and anywhere they can get through in your home.
But, luckily you can prevent these pests from getting in your house by sealing the entry points in your home. If they are already in your home, use baking soda, citrus, or essential oils to get rid of them. If this doesn’t work, contact a pest control company.
To learn more about roaches and your home, read our articles:
Do You Live In A House With Roaches?
Can Clean Houses Get Roaches?: The Surprising Truth
Question: What time of year do you find roaches in your house?
