Cockroaches are the most disgusting creatures. It is common for some individuals to see them running around at home damaging the wallpaper and books, snacking on food, then spreading infection to the family members.

These bugs avoid light and so are active at night, so it is quite common to find them hiding in dark crevices and dark, moist places. Cracks, crevices, holes, drains, cupboards and pantries are the favourite resorts of cockroaches.

Cockroaches play an important role outdoors in breaking up organic rubbish. However, it is a necessity to get rid of them in the house to prevent their carrying of illness-causing organisms and triggering allergic reactions. The prevention of an infestation is best done by first taking care of hygiene.

This means keeping your kitchen clean by removing food crumbs and cleaning up spillages promptly. Storing food in sealed airtight containers or in refrigerators helps. Avoid leaving used dishes overnight in the sink or dishwasher.

Washing cooking ranges and wiping counters over helps eradicate cockroaches because they love greasy places.

Cockroaches love filth and water, so it is best to empty trash cans regularly. In addition, the fixing of dripping taps and leaks in bathrooms and kitchens will help eliminate cockroaches.

Frequently pouring some cheap bleach assists to prevent these bugs coming up through drains. Cockroaches detest the smell of naphthalene balls, so using them in corners of closed places assists as well.

Cracks in the exterior walls provide an entry to cockroaches. Seal cracks and crevices in cabinets and on both sides of floor, door, and window mouldings, Filing all openings around pipes in bathrooms and kitchens assists to thwart their entry.

In addition, logs and other waste immediately outside the house supply hiding places for cockroaches. So moving these things deters cockroaches from living nearby.

It is a good idea to avoid the use of toxic sprays, and instead use sticky traps to eliminate cockroaches. These traps attract cockroaches and then trap them with an adhesive. They can be put in corners.

You can make an effective yet simple trap from jars of water. Put them next to walls. They have to allow cockroaches to get in but not get out. Just put bait like ground coffee in the jar; even plain water works well in dry climes.

Applying a diluted concentrated poison or deterrent chemical with a spray, a cloth or a mop in places that are frequented by cockroaches helps to not just get rid of cockroaches, but also deter a re-infestation for at least 15 days.

It helps to create a light solution of bath soap and water and spray it on the head of lower abdomen of the cockroach. The cockroach will try to run and escape but will ultimately be killed.

It is helpful to use a cockroach bait that is prepared by combining 1 part of powdered boric acid with 1 part each of white flour and granulated white sugar. Position this as balls in the backs of drawers and cabinets, and under the refrigerator and cooker.

The sugar turns tacky; the mixture sticks to the cockroach and kills it. However boric acid cakes easily so it is best to place it on a paper or foil tray.

Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on many subjects, but is at present involved with bed bug covers for mattresses. If you would like to know more, go over to our website at Bugs Infestation.