If you see one or two roaches in your home you may just get rid of them and not think anything of it. However whenever you see one roach, you can almost be sure there are plenty more nearby, whether outside or hiding away in your home.
An infestation of roaches, or any other bug, can cause damage to your property, affect your health, and just make you feel plain dirty and paranoid.
You can invest your time and money trying to devise a DIY plan to fight the infestation, or you can just call a pest control professional. A pest control professional is the quickest and most effective way to fix a pest problem.
Identify the Pest
The first step to any infestation treatment is to identify what kind of pest to treat for. If you use the wrong treatment for a certain pest it most likely won't solve the problem at all, which will end up wasting your time and money.
You have to do your research. Identifying a pest is more than just saying "There are roaches in my house!" There are over 4,500 different types of cockroaches. Take the time to research which kind of bugs are commonly found in your area and try to identify the specific species that is giving you trouble.
Professionals at pest control companies have the training and experience to easily identify pests and how to treat them. You can trust them to make the right diagnosis.
Find the Source
After you find out what pest you are dealing with you need to find out where they are coming from. Try to locate the place they are getting in and why they are coming in. Fix up the problem area and work on clearing them out of your house.
Finding the source may be difficult for you to do on your own. It could be as simple as following the pest to a hole in your door, crack in your wall, or under an appliance. However, there could be tunnels running through your walls, in your vent systems, or hidden away behind your cabinets.
A professional will be able to find the source and treat the entry point to stop future infestations.
Treat the Problem
Once you have found out where they are coming from, and where they are hiding out and building a home, it's time to take action.
There are a lot of DIY methods to try to kill or deter bugs from your home. All of these methods will require a lot of time and money to complete and probably will only be a temporary solution. You can consider using DIY methods as a preventative measure, but to battle an infestation you should count on a trusted professional.
Professional exterminators have the materials, the knowledge, and the resources to treat your infestation properly. Chances are that even if you try to handle the infestation by yourself, you will end up having to call a professional later on anyway. Save yourself some trouble and put your problem in the hands of the professionals. Don't be ashamed to ask for help, that's what they're here for.
Prevent the Return
After you have eliminated the infestation, do everything you can to prevent it from happening again. Even if you eliminate the pests and clear your house of them, if you don't find out what was letting them in or attracting them to your home they will come back.
Here are a few tips on how to prevent roaches, and other bugs from seeking out your home:
Sweep, mop, and vacuum your floors
Declutter: get rid of your cardboard city and stacks of papers
Don't leave dirty dishes in your sink
Wipe down your counters and appliances
Take out your trash
Get rid of any rotten food or fruit
Seal up entryways to your home: any cracks, crevices, holes, or broken weather sealant
Get rid of excess moisture in your home
It is likely that a professional will be able to tell you what it was that attracted these bugs to your home, or be able to explain how they got in so easily. They will provide you with the knowledge and advice to fix the attractants and not only get rid of the pests, but discourage them from coming back.
For more information and tips on how to get rid of roaches and prevent them from invading your home, check out our latest free guide, How to Protect Your Home from Cockroaches.
