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Jun 19, 2025|Cockroaches

Protect Your Home from Cockroaches

Protect Your Home from Cockroaches

Cockroaches are bold, fast, and downright gross. Whether you catch a cockroach zipping across your countertop or hiding out in the bathroom, these bugs have got to go. After all, they aren’t just a nuisance—they’re a health hazard, spreading bacteria, triggering allergies, and multiplying at an alarming rate. Knowing how to exterminate cockroaches quickly and effectively is the first step to keeping your home clean, safe, and pest-free.

What Causes Cockroaches?

You’re most likely to encounter three types of cockroaches in your Sacramento home: German cockroaches, American cockroaches, and Oriental cockroaches. None of these varieties are picky. They’ll make themselves comfortable anywhere that offers food, water, and shelter. Still, German cockroaches tend to hang out indoors, while American and Oriental cockroaches usually start outside but will come indoors to escape extreme heat, cold, or a sudden lack of water. Here’s what can draw them in:

  • Crumbs and spills left on countertops and floors
  • Standing water from leaky pipes, appliance mishaps, and pet bowls
  • Clutter, like stacks of cardboard and random storage piles
  • Gaps under doors, cracks in the foundation, and loose window seals

Signs of Cockroaches

Cockroaches are good at staying out of sight, so if you see one, assume others are nearby. They rarely show themselves unless their usual hiding spots are overcrowded. Fortunately, they leave behind plenty of clues. Watch for these common signs of an infestation:

  • Droppings, which are tiny black specs that resemble pepper or coffee grounds
  • Brown, capsule-like egg casings (oothecae) found in drawers, behind appliances, and under sinks
  • Discarded cockroach skin left behind when they molt
  • Brown streaks along baseboards or walls where moisture is present
  • A musty or oily smell that becomes stronger as the infestation grows

Tips to Prevent Cockroaches

Stopping cockroaches before they become a problem is much easier than dealing with an infestation. Prevention starts outside and works its way in. Here’s how to keep them out:

  • Clear away leaves, wood piles, and overgrown plants near your home.
  • Seal gaps and cracks, fix torn window screens, and install door sweeps.
  • Wipe counters, vacuum floors, and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
  • Fix plumbing leaks and avoid placing pet water bowls out overnight.
  • Store food in airtight containers and clean up crumbs immediately.
  • Declutter storage areas to eliminate hiding spots.
  • Place bay leaves and sprinkle peppermint essential oil in problem areas as natural deterrents.

How to Get Rid of Roaches

Despite your best efforts, you just spotted a roach. Now what? Before calling in the pros, start with cockroach extermination from home. Here’s the battle plan:

  • Identify the species: Knowing your enemy helps target your approach. German cockroaches are small and light brown with two dark stripes on their backs. They love kitchens and bathrooms. American cockroaches are big, reddish-brown, and usually found in basements, garages, or sewer-connected spaces. Oriental cockroaches are shiny black or dark brown and typically found outdoors or in damp crawl spaces.
  • Clean up everything: Roaches can’t live long without food and water. Scrub every surface, vacuum crumbs, empty trash cans, and dry up leaks.
  • Set traps and use bait: Set out sticky traps to monitor activity. Use gel baits or bait stations near baseboards, under sinks, and behind appliances. Roaches eat the bait, then carry it back to their nest, wiping out others along the way.
  • Apply insecticides: Look for sprays labeled for indoor cockroach control. Apply them in crevices and other hiding spots.
  • Try a natural approach: If you hesitate to spray chemicals in your home, try diatomaceous earth to exterminate cockroaches naturally. This fine powder is non-toxic to humans and pets, but it damages the roaches’ exoskeleton, so they dehydrate and die.
  • Monitor and repeat: Roach control is an ongoing effort. You’ll need to monitor and replace bait stations as needed and keep up with preventative measures to avoid future invasions.

These tips can eradicate minor pest problems. Still, it’s best to leave larger infestations to a cockroach exterminator who knows exactly how to get rid of cockroaches safely and effectively.

Why Choose Apex Pest Control?

Apex Pest Control has been exterminating roaches (and a long list of other pests) since 1978. We’re a family business built on fast service, honest advice, and reliable results. Whether you’re wondering how to exterminate German cockroaches, need help with American cockroaches in your basement, or find yourself asking, “Can exterminators get rid of Oriental cockroaches?” we can help.

We aim to visit your home within 24 hours of your call. Our technicians are trained in both traditional and natural pest control strategies and take an educational approach to help minimize pests in your home moving forward. Schedule a visit to your Sacramento home today, and we’ll show those roaches who’s boss!

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