Cockroaches are infamous for their ability to outlive…well, practically everything. The German cockroach has the unsettling ability to live for up to 200 days at room temperature, while other species of cockroaches, like the American cockroach, can live for up to three months without food or water.
Those are pretty impressive survival skills, ones that would put each and every one of the contestants on the hit show Alone to shame.
Yet you don’t exactly want them hanging around your house. These pests are incredibly resilient and crafty, finding their way into homes in search of food, water, and shelter.
Whether you’ve spotted one by chance or you’re dealing with a full-blown infestation, you need to know what attracts cockroaches in the first place. Once you know the causes, stopping them becomes much easier (and getting rid of them for good means seeking professional help from pest control companies like Kanga Pest Control).
So, what causes cockroaches to come inside, and how can you stop them from doing so? Let’s take a closer look.
What Causes Cockroaches to Enter Your Home?
Cockroaches aren’t picky. Far from it, in fact. They’re scavengers, which means they’ll feed on just about anything. If your home provides them with easy access to food, water, and warmth (ideally, all of the above), then that means you’re offering them the perfect living environment. Even a few crumbs can be enough to lure cockroaches into your space.
Beyond food, cockroaches are experts at taking advantage of practically any living condition. Cracks in the walls, unsealed windows, and gaps around doors are some common entry points. They often use drains and plumbing systems to enter homes, particularly in areas with shared water lines.
So, if you happen to encounter roaches in your home, it doesn’t always mean it’s dirty. In fact, it’s also common for clean homes to attract pests like these simply due to structural gaps or plumbing leaks.
Once they get inside, cockroaches hide in dark, damp spaces, like behind appliances, under sinks, and in basements. Their lifecycle and ability to reproduce quickly make it quite simple for a minor problem to turn into a significant infestation.
There are some seasonal influences here, too. For homes in Oregon, roaches tend to become particularly problematic during the colder months, as they enter homes in search of shelter from the elements. During the warmer seasons, they may move outdoors but stay closer to your property due to the abundance of food and water in your garden, compost pile, and outdoor trash bins.
What Are Some Food Sources That Attract Cockroaches?
No morsel of food is safe around cockroaches (not even items that might not seem edible on the surface). Cockroaches consume everything from fresh produce and leftovers to pet food that’s been left out too long. They’ll even eat paper products like cardboard or the glue in book bindings if they’re hungry enough.
Because of this, improper food storage is one of the most common causes of cockroach problems. Loose packaging, unsealed containers, or even uncovered food left out on the counters create an open invitation. Crumbs and grease, even in small amounts, are also cockroach magnets.
As a result, reducing access to food sources is one of the simplest (yet most effective) steps you can take in the battle against roaches.
Water Sources Are Just As Important As Food
Although a cockroach can live for months without food, it can only go a few weeks without water. As such, you need to pay close attention to any spots that might be attracting roaches because they’re wet, too. Leaky faucets, standing water, and even lingering condensation in bathrooms or kitchens can give them all the hydration they need to thrive.
Homes with plumbing issues are at particular risk. Places with hidden leaks or clogged drains are major hot spots for cockroach activity, so regularly inspecting pipes, fixing leaks, and avoiding excess moisture is vital for reducing attraction. If there’s water, no amount of cleaning will entirely keep them away.
Getting Rid of Structural Entry Points and Hiding Spots
Cockroaches may not be the smallest of all pests, but they’re still quite adept at squeezing into your home through the smallest openings. They don’t need much space to find their way in (think cracks as small as 1/16th of an inch). Some common structural vulnerabilities include gaps in door sweeps, cracks in walls, unsealed utility lines, and spaces around windows.
Since they’re nocturnal, cockroaches often enter your home under the cover of darkness. You might not even notice them until the signs of infestation, like droppings or egg casings, become visible.
Therefore, preventing access points is key, especially for older homes. Take the time to regularly inspect your property for any spots pests like cockroaches might use to enter, then seal them up immediately. Weatherproofing your home offers the double benefit of keeping out cold air along with unwelcome pests.
Clutter and sanitation also play roles in how attracted cockroaches are to your home. Stacks of boxes, piles of paper, and forgotten, neglected areas like attics and basements all give roaches a place to hide (and breed). These messes make it harder to spot early infestations, giving pests all the time they need to multiply.
Keep your space as organized and clutter-free as possible to minimize the areas roaches can thrive. Clean your home thoroughly, paying special attention to crumbs, grease, and hidden food debris in hard-to-reach areas. Something as simple as vacuuming regularly and wiping down surfaces often can make a big difference.
Stop Your Cockroach Problems Once and For All
Now that you know what causes cockroaches, it’s time to figure out what stops them.
Unfortunately, DIY measures can only go so far. From traps to baits, store-bought solutions rarely address the root cause of an infestation. While they might kill the visible pests, they won’t eliminate the hidden nests or resolve entry points. Not only that, but certain cockroach species have been known to develop resistance to over-the-counter treatments, rendering them completely useless.
This is where professional pest control services like Kanga Pest Control come in. Our team is composed of experts who are able to identify the underlying cause of infestation and deliver long-term results. With our specialized tools and targeted treatments, we’ll eliminate not only the cockroaches you see, but also the ones you don’t.
For complete peace of mind, there’s no substitute for hiring professional pest control. So if you’re dealing with cockroaches in Canby or Salem, don’t wait. Kanga Pest Control is the name to know for reliable, effective cockroach removal and prevention. Give us a call today!
