How to kill cockroaches
Cockroaches! Even the mere mention of the word is enough to make you shudder. These tenacious brown creepy crawlies are arguably the most loathed pests in Australian households, but by following a few simple steps, you can give cockroaches a well-deserved eviction notice.
There are three species of cockroaches commonly found in Australian homes: the German cockroach, the Australian cockroach and the American cockroach. German cockroaches are light brown in colour and around 1.1-1.6cm long. While all cockroaches prefer warm, moist areas like bathrooms and the kitchen, German cockroaches are particularly fond of these damp, dark places. Australian and American cockroaches are difficult to tell apart with the untrained eye; the Australian adult cockroach is generally smaller at 23-35mm while the American adult cockroach grows to 35-40mm.
If you have a cockroach problem, you’ll want to search for the nest near plumbing fixtures, in cupboard recesses or under drawers, inside unused appliances or underneath your fridge or washing machine. You may also notice cockroach droppings and a foul musty odour around the nest’s location.
How to kill cockroaches at home
To successfully eradicate a cockroach infestation, you’ll need to kill both the cockroaches and any cockroach eggs the females might be carrying. Mortein Powergard Cockroach Baits are an effective and discreet way of killing cockroaches with no mess and no fumes.
Place the baits around the home, particularly in dark, out of the way, humid areas, and wait. Cockroach numbers will drop within a week or so, and the product remains effective for up to three months.
How do you get rid of roaches fast?
Those who’ve experienced a cockroach infestation will understand it is something that must be dealt with immediately. Getting rid of a cockroach infestation can be tricky; of all the household pests, they are the most adaptable and are very good at hiding out of sight. If you see a few cockroaches in your home, chances are there are many more crawling around out of view and finding where they congregate is often next to impossible.
If the cockroach infestation has gotten out of hand or you have just moved into a new property and want to make sure that you do not end up sharing with insect squatters, Mortein Kill & Protect Crawling Insect Control Bombs are the ideal product to use. The fog produced by the bomb will kill the present cockroach population, and then continue to protect your home from reinfestation for up to three months by breaking the breeding cycle of any new intruders that venture into your home.
Thinking of moving home? We explore whether cockroaches can move from house to house in our article – useful if you’ve faced an infestation just before your move!