by Derrick |
Last Updated: February 24, 2021 Anyone who’s dealt with a roach infestation before can attest to the troubles and expenses associated with it. It’s such an expensive chore that homeowners in the U.S spend nearly $5 billion on pesticides each year. But what do you do if it’s your neighbor who has roaches in their home?
What you can do if your neighbor has roaches is to keep your environment clean. You should also obstruct their entry into your home by blocking openings with caulk and clearing food traces and damp spots to prevent them from breeding in your home.
If you’re part of the fray dealing with roaches originating from your neighbor’s house, then stick around because I will take you through the most efficient way to eradicate these pests without spending a fortune.
How To Effectively Clean Your Environment Against Roaches
Keeping your home clean and free of roaches isn’t as simple as using a mop and bucket. To discourage roaches from breeding, ensure you use potent smelling cleaning agents, such as bleach, to wipe your kitchen floors and counters. Alternatively, a solution of two cups of ammonia or vinegar with water will make an intense DIY concoction, which roaches hate.
I recommend using a spray bottle and rug as it’s an effective way of disinfecting furniture and household items. Doing so will prevent roaches from hiding in your vases and other décor pieces.
Can One Roach Start an Infestation?
When one roach invites itself to your home, chances are others will follow. So, when one finds a habitable home, it communicates with others by secreting pheromones. These odors then direct fellow roaches into your humble abode.
How Do Your Neighbor’s Roaches Get Into Your House?
You’ve clarified that your neighbor’s filthy premises are the ultimate spawning ground for roaches, but how do they make their way to your home?
Well, roaches can use a variety of crafty means to get into your home. Besides climbing over the boundary between your neighbor’s property and yours, small spaces and crevices under doors, hinges, and windows provide optimal entry.
You can also talk to your neighbor and have them deal with their pest infestation. And if things don’t go as planned, here’s how you can mitigate roaches yourself.
Seal Most Crevices With Caulk
Your neighbor’s roaches can infiltrate your home through openings. You can prevent this by assessing potential entry points and covering them up.
A cheaper DIY alternative would be to seal most crevices and spots, like cracks, nooks, and crannies, with professional caulk, which you can buy at your nearest hardware store. Also, run some caulk along exposed baseboards and pipes to cover up vulnerable access points.
However, caulking the bottom of your door is messy. I recommend a door sweep or rubber seal set for this particular purpose. It is convenient and will keep vermin from passing through gaps under your front door.
Monitor the Things You Bring Inside
An effective way to ensure you’re not carrying roaches is to inspect the bags and boxes you bring home. Items such as cardboard boxes are ideal roach egg carriers. So, if you find yourself taking these items home, ensure to place them in an open space. This can be a garage or driveway. Doing this allows you to monitor any roach activity. And if you happened to bring one with you, at least it wasn’t transported indoors.
Use Repellant
Insect repellant is an effective way to keep roaches at bay. And let’s face it, nobody likes being sprayed, so why should roaches like it? A quick trip to your local store can save you a world of pest trouble.
That said, roaches are sneaky critters, so try using a trap if you hardly come by any. A cockroach trap utilizes scents that compel a roach to investigate. Once its curiosity gets the better of it, its fate is sealed thanks to the trap’s sticky adhesive. For effective results, place traps where roaches are bound to pass, like under the fridge or behind kitchen appliances.
Alternatively, sprinkling diatomaceous earth powder near entry points, such as cracks, crevices, and gaps, can ward off roaches. A minimal amount is good enough to eliminate any roaming roach, making it an optimal deterrent. More so, it’s non-toxic and safe for both humans and pets- so you don’t have to worry about your poochie’s safety.
If you have any cats, catnip is an excellent natural roach repellant. Just don’t leave it in the open. Instead, tuck some away in breathable jars across your home. The scent is enough to repel roaches and other critters.
Manage Your Living Area Well
Prevention is better than cure. So, if you’re unsure which method works best, consider making your home undesirable for roaches. This means practicing good hygiene and using strong detergents when cleaning.
Focus on the kitchen and pantry mostly. Roaches aren’t fussy eaters, so exposure to crumbs is sufficient for survival. So, clean up any mess you make and store grains and flour in airtight containers.
Also, frequently wipe traces of food off from appliances, like toasters, fridges, and microwaves. By covering your bases as much as possible, you can alleviate roaches from settling in your kitchen.
The same applies to the fresh groceries you bring home. Always make sure to repackage and store appropriately. I recommend keeping bread, fruits, and veggies in the fridge. Leaving such sensitive foods in the open only makes it easier for roaches to feast and spread food-borne diseases.
Eliminate Wet Spots
Roaches love wet areas as they provide an ideal spot for their hydration and spawning goals. Places like sinks and shower drains are their most preferred infiltration routes. So, you’d want to scan your apartment complex and cover up such sites with drainage covers.
Besides that, if you have any plumbing issues, like pipe leaks, you need to address them quickly. Letting the problem linger will only encourage roaches. Furthermore, plumbing pipes can provide roaches a direct path to your household, especially if you share a wall with your neighbor. Therefore, employ a plumber at your earliest convenience.
How To Determine if Your Home Is Prone to Infestation
Your house type can influence how susceptible your home is to a roach infestation. As mentioned, houses that share a wall with a neighbor, like apartments, can significantly increase roach infestation risk. More so if your neighbor’s living conditions are sloppy.
- Old buildings are bound to have vulnerable openings, making it easier for roaches to breach than newer houses.
- In contrast, buildings constructed with concrete and brick are less susceptible to roaches.
- Buildings with vinyl, metal, concrete, or wooden sidings contain gaps, making it easy for roaches to slip through the framework.
While you may not necessarily have the ability to change your building structure, you can employ some strategies to keep pests off permanently.
How To Get Rid of Roaches Once and for All
While DIY techniques can help control the situation, getting to the root of the problem will yield better results. In this scenario, you need to deal with your neighbor. For this, you can consult your landlord or managerial team on how they can tackle the issue. Most complexes include a pest control program. This allows you to sign up for service and ask your neighbor to have their home fumigated.
If you don’t live in an apartment, consider hiring good ground management services. Keeping your lawn grass short and foliage trimmed will discourage pests from hiding and nesting in your yard. So, ensure to hire a gardener or do some landscaping regularly. Also, frequently change any standing water sources within your compound. Examples include pet bowls, puddles, wading pools, and birdbaths.
Summary
Roaches carry diseases and make living conditions unbearable. So, to deter these annoying pests, you need to keep your home clean and organized. But if your home is in pristine condition, most likely, your neighbor’s dirty tendencies are the source of the impending roach scourge. Our tips alleviate this issue with simplified DIY approaches. All in all, you can always rely on a professional pest control company if all else fails.
Sources
- PETA: Cockroaches
- SCIENCE MAG: Cockroaches Communicate Via Bacteria
- NCBI: Cockroaches And Food-Borne Pathogens
- LIFE HACK: 11 Killer Ways
- ASK A LOT: What Cleaning Products Do Roaches Hate
