Damp areas attract roaches.
Cockroaches lay low during the day, hiding-out in dark cracks and crevices. When the lights go out at night, cockroaches come out and feed on whatever food sources they can find. They especially love damp places and can exist for well over a month living only on water. Aside from the kitchen, the bathroom is the next best thing -- and the wetter, the better. Once cockroaches make your bathroom their home, getting rid of them will require persistence.
Instructions
1. Tighten any pipes in the bathroom that drip water. If a hole in the piping is the problem, patch it using a plumbing patch kit. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the patch kit to stop the leak.
2. Wipe-up puddles of water using an absorbent towel. This goes for any puddles that resulted from the leaks and any puddles that form after showers and baths. Eliminating as much water as possible will make the roaches lose interest in the bathroom.
3. Remove potted and hanging plants from the bathroom. Puddles of water that collect on the surface of the soil during watering are inviting to roaches. If you have a roach problem, you may want to opt for artificial plants in your home instead.
4. Relocate pet dishes to another area of your home if you normally keep them in the bathroom. If roaches are a problem throughout , you may want to consider feeding your pets outdoors or remove and empty the bowls when your pets are through eating and drinking.
5. Seal any cracks or crevices that you notice in the walls, moldings, floor or around the toilet and bathtub. Caulk seals cracks and comes in a variety of colors. If you have never used caulk, ask the sales associate in your local hardware store for suggestions. Keep in mind that roaches are quite cozy in cracks that measure a mere 1/16 of an inch, so seal as much as you can.
6. Wash the bathroom down on a weekly basis using hot water and a squirt of dish soap to kill eggs, pheromones and feces left behind by roaches. Place a few bait traps in inconspicuous areas such as behind the toilet and under the sink. Check and empty the bait traps during your routine cleanings.
Tags: your home, bait traps, cracks crevices, puddles that, your pets