The Ultimate Cockroach Control Guide For Longview Homeowners

Cockroaches are unhygienic houseguests. If they find their way into your Longview home, they can make you sick, even if you don't realize you have a roach problem. Join us today as we share some not-so-fun facts about cockroaches. You'll learn how to uncover a cockroach infestation, how to guard against roach-related illness, and four tips you can use around your home that can keep cockroaches out. If you want to speak with a professional about a current cockroach infestation, remember that your Gecko Pest Control service team is always available to answer questions, provide free inspections, and get you on track to quickly solve pest problems. We provide advanced and reliable pest control in Longview. With that said, let's get started. Here's what you need to know most about roaches.

If you pick up a pillow on your couch and half a dozen roaches go running for cover, you don't have to wonder if you have a cockroach infestation. But seeing roaches in this way is a sign of a serious infestation. We don't recommend waiting until roaches are conspicuous. Here are some easy signs of cockroaches in your home:

• Cockroaches leave droppings as they move about in your home. These droppings look like moist, sticky pepper grains. You'll find them in dark and secluded areas, cracks, crevices, and other tight spaces. You'll also find them near moisture points, such as the cabinet underneath your kitchen sink. When you find droppings, clean them off surfaces so that you can check back and see if more droppings appear. If they do, you have a current infestation. When cleaning droppings, wear protective gloves and a mask.
• Cockroaches leave skins behind. These skins may look like a cockroach, only you'll find that they are hollow inside. A cockroach sheds its entire exoskeleton several times as it grows. Sometimes, only particles of debris are left from exoskeletons because cockroaches eat them. Keep this in mind.
• Cockroaches produce lots of nymphs for you to find. These baby roaches look different from the adults. They don't have wings and they're quite a bit smaller. If you see little insects with long antennae moving rapidly through dark spaces, they're probably baby roaches. Use a flashlight to find them.
• Cockroaches eat paper and clothing. If you find holes in paper food packages, wallpaper, moistened books, clothing, or other items that have cellulose, there is a chance that roaches are to blame. But there are a few other insects that eat these things, such as silverfish, carpet beetles, and clothing moths.
• Cockroaches have an odor. If you smell something oily and musty as you search the dark corners of your home, consider roaches as a possible source.

We hope you don't find roaches in your home, but if you do, you should know what these pests do inside homes. Let's take a moment to consider the risks of having an infestation and look at why effective roach control is critical.

How Cockroaches Spread Around Dangerous Pathogens

We apologize in advance, this section will be a bit gross. But you need to understand this topic if you want to guard against illness. We'll try to keep it as sanitary as possible. Here are some ways cockroaches spread organisms associated with human illness.

• Cockroaches are drawn to decaying organic material. They consume rotting things. Exposure to these foul things makes the exterior of a cockroach, its feet, and its droppings potential sources of pathogens.
• Cockroaches eat human and animal waste. If you have a dog that leaves waste in the yard, a cat box in your home, or a dirty bathroom toilet, all of these can make the roaches in your home a danger to your health.
• Cockroaches have high mobility and can go from unsanitary places to sensitive zones in a matter of seconds. They can also scale surfaces and squeeze through gaps. Few cabinets or silverware drawers are roach-proof.
• Even clean cockroaches present a health concern. Cockroaches are linked to an increase in asthma symptoms. Homes with cockroach infestations were found to have more hospitalizations related to this illness.

If you discover evidence of an infestation in your home, it is best to do whatever it takes to get rid of cockroaches in Longview. Not only are they a health concern, but they reproduce quickly. The more they grow their numbers, the greater the threat becomes. For assistance with professional cockroach control in Longview, contact Gecko Pest Control for assistance.

Four No-Sweat Cockroach Prevention Tips For Around The House

If you don't have cockroaches in your home, there are ways to keep those dirty insects out. These tips require no knowledge of cockroach pest control, and they help to control many pests other than cockroaches. These tips are well worth doing. 

Address Unsanitary Conditions: Few things will attract cockroaches faster than poor sanitation. They are drawn to eat decaying food materials, paper, clothing, waste, etc. They are also attracted to tight spaces and will crawl around in junk piles. Here are a few practical ways to remove the things that attract cockroaches.

• Keep exterior trash covered securely and wash your containers with soapy water if they start to get stinky.
• Pick up any junk piles and put the items in a plastic bin until you're ready to dispose of them from your property.
• If you have compost, make sure to mix it properly to avoid bad smells that attract roaches.
• Clean up around grills and in outdoor eating areas.
• Store pizza boxes in a sealed plastic bin. Cockroaches love decaying pieces of cheese and the cardboard it's stuck on.

It takes a bit of effort but your effort will pay off. Cockroaches want to live where food sources are abundant.

Reduce Moist Habitats: Cockroaches hide under things in your yard and are drawn to landscape vegetation. These habitats can bring them close to your home and increase the chances of an infestation.

• Rake leaves and dispose of them.
• Blow leaves out from underneath your deck or patio.
• Pick up scraps after weeding and trimming your landscaping.
• Move objects that are stored near your exterior walls.
• Clean your gutter system and repair any areas of your system that are broken.

A dry perimeter is resistant to cockroach activity. It will deter many other insects as well.

Address Waste: If you have an animal that leaves waste in your yard, it can invite a pest problem: Dogs, chickens, ducks, etc. Cockroaches smell waste from a distance.

• Pick up dog waste with a bag when you go for a walk.
• Consider constructing an outdoor recreation area for your dog if you don't already have one.
• Use fencing to contain livestock animals.
• Wash dirty areas with soapy water and disinfectant.  

Simple alterations can make a big difference when it comes to keeping exterior areas free of animal waste.

Pest-Proof: Cockroaches explore tight spaces. If you have any cracks or gaps, it is critical to cover them. Doing so will strongly deter cockroaches.

• Fill in gaps around your water main and other utilities.
• Fill in voids behind joists.
• Patch cracks in your foundation with mortar.
• Install door sweeps.
• Pull off old weatherstripping and apply new strips.
• Make sure all of your screens are in good working condition and are ready to repel roaches.

It takes a bit of muscle and some determination to keep cockroaches out of your home using all-natural pest management methods, but it is a much better option than the "easy" solution promised by cockroach control products. DIY pest control for cockroaches can make your problem worse, give you a false sense of security, or provide a partial solution.

Call The Professionals For Total Cockroach Elimination

When you contact Gecko Pest Control for home pest control in Longview, there are a few ways we'll help you correct your cockroach problem. We start by performing an inspection and considering the factors that have led to your infestation. The information gathered from your inspection helps us guide you in selecting the right solution for your specific needs. Your technician will also identify the cockroaches in your home so that the correct materials and methods are used. The strategy applied will have all of the components necessary to completely resolve your issue. We target the cockroaches by applying a mixture of treatment materials where needed, applying exclusions in key locations to block roaches from continuing to enter, and follow-up after the treatment to ensure that no further roach activity is detected. Our scientific approach gets results.

Once the cockroaches are gone, we can help you keep them out by guiding you in selecting a year-round pest control service plan. Your plan will include routine crack and crevice treatments around the exterior of your home to stop roaches and other pests from entering your home. When you have ongoing service, it takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders. You don't have to work so hard to keep things clean or stay on top of yard work.

It is easy to get started. Call, text, or email to speak with us if you live in Longview or the surrounding area. We're here to help you find the perfect pest control solution for your home and family.