How to Deal With German Cockroaches

No one likes dealing with bugs, especially any sort of cockroaches. If you have an infestation of German cockroaches, don’t lose hope when it comes to eradicating them. There are measures you can take to help get rid of them once in for all.

What are German Cockroaches?

German cockroaches are some of the most common roaches found in apartments, restaurants, hotels, and other buildings. These pesky bugs can pose health risks and be quite annoying to deal with and even harder to get rid of.

These bugs are flat and are either tan or brown in color, with two dark, side-by-side lines that start at the back of their head. German cockroaches don’t fly, but their wings are fully developed.

Most of these bugs are small, ranging from a half-inch long to five-eighth inches. Female German cockroaches reproduce rapidly, having an astounding seven sets of offspring during their lifetime at as many as 40 eggs per set.

What Attracts German Cockroaches to Your Home?

German cockroaches are similar to other varieties of this species in the fact that they’re in search of a warm, moist environment that offers them food. They eat almost anything—garbage is a typical food source for these bugs. However, they prefer sweets, grease, starches, and meat when available.

These pests usually reside in kitchens and bathrooms due to their yearning for moisture. You’ll usually see them at night. Telltale signs of an infestation include excrement droppings that look like black pepper.

Dealing With German Cockroaches

There are several different ways to eradicate German cockroaches from your home.

Bait Them

The first step in getting rid of these bugs is to bait them. These pests come to your home looking for food and water, so using a blend of food, water, and insecticide meant to kill cockroaches is useful in tackling an infestation. Place one bait station every six feet in your kitchens and bathrooms in key areas.

These should go along baseboards, in cabinets, or any other area you suspect these cockroaches to be visiting. The food will lure them and then they’ll bring the bait back to the rest of their colony. Since the insecticide is present, it’ll kill them.

Use a Spray

Sprays made to eradicate pests like these are also useful in ridding your home of these bugs. These substances can be used on non-porous, non-food surfaces wherever you suspect these bugs are traveling or hiding. Not only do these sprays kill bugs on contact, but many are also designed to sanitize the surfaces too.

Use Essential Oils

If you have children, pets, or are just looking for a more natural approach, you can use a blend of essential oils to kill German roaches. While the use of essential oils may not be enough to get rid of these persistent pests altogether, it’s definitely a great place to start.

Use a spray bottle with a blend of peppermint oil, oregano oil, and catnip oil around your home to repel roaches. To kill them, combine rosemary oil, cedar oil, and eucalyptus oil. Not only do these help your bug problem, they add a lovely scent to your home.

Prevent Infestations

The most effective method when it comes to cockroaches is preventing an infestation in the first place! You will also want to prevent more bugs from coming in if you already have an infestation. There are several ways to do this.

Some prevention tips are to store human and pet food inside air-tight containers. Don’t leave trash, food waste, or other garbage inside or uncovered for long periods of time.

Make sure to repair leaky pipes, sinks, and drains to eliminate potential water sources for these pests. Always wipe up crumbs and spills on your countertops, floors, or cabinet surfaces. Don’t allow dirty dishes to pile up in the sink—wash, dry, and put them away promptly.

Another way to prevent new bugs from entering your home is to use a spray designated for that purpose inside your home, which creates a barrier that not only kills existing bugs but also prevents others from entering.

Bug infestations can be stressful, especially when you’re dealing with cockroaches. Although these bugs have a terrible reputation, take solace in the fact that there are ways to get rid of them without going crazy.