All You Need to Know About Cockroach Prevention in the Philippines

Everyone has a right to a clean and healthy home – somewhere families can live peacefully and risk-free from any sort of diseases where children can play in their homes at peace while their parents relax to their heart’s content. With all the serenity a home has to offer, no one in their right mind wants to dwell in a place that is brimming with pests (people do everything they can to control and prevent cockroaches in the Philippines), which could wreak havoc into their household.

However, the truth is that sometimes pest infestations simply cannot be helped. Often we still find ourselves trying to rid our homes of our unwanted guests, and for Filipino families, cockroaches or ipis in Filipino, make for an especially irritating and recurring scourge we seem to be unable to get rid of – no matter how hard one tries.

It is not impossible, though. While they may be a recurring occurrence in every Filipino household, they can certainly be kept out of your homes for as long as you want. If you want to learn how you can keep your home as free as possible from these critters, then read on for the best advice on cockroach prevention and control in the Philippines.

What attracts cockroaches to homes?

Mainly, there are four things that attract cockroaches into your homes. They are:

• Food

Cockroaches are scavengers by nature. So by leaving your food out in the open for them to take, you are practically inviting them to live with you. That said, be careful to always store your food in containers regardless of whether or not you are going to place them in the refrigerator to keep them at bay.

• Moisture

Cockroaches need water to survive. This is why damp and wet areas in your house are very attractive to them. Be sure to remain vigilant about these spots in your home, especially the ones that are not well-maintained. Spots with moist materials such as cardboard, paper, and wood should be avoided especially.

• Dark nooks and crannies

Ensure your home is well-illuminated at all times so that you can monitor all possible homes that roaches might make. Additionally, it will ultimately eliminate spots for them to hide which will lessen the chance of them crawling around your rooms.

• Garbage

Keep your trash out. Much like food, the smell of organic material can and will attract pests of all kinds to your home. To avoid that from happening, always seal your trash well and never allow it to fester for long periods of time within your walls.

• The Corpses of the Fallen

This is a more elaborate way to describe the corpses of other cockroaches. Their fearful nature as critters in the dark is unavoidable that many people would resort to killing them. Whether it’s by spray or any form of footwear, corpses are always left behind.

What diseases can you contract if you don’t enforce cockroach control and prevention in the Philippines?

Cockroaches should never be welcomed into your homes for they can carry several diseases with them. Here are 8 examples of illnesses you could possibly get from them:

• Salmonellosis

This disease is quite similar to food poisoning. It is often transmitted through the cockroaches’ feces and vomit.

• • Symptoms: vomiting, fever, and diarrhea

• Typhoid fever

Cockroaches can bring typhoid fever to you and your family by consuming human waste contaminated with the Salmonella typhi bacterium.

• • Symptoms: stomach pain, exhaustion, diarrhea or constipation, head and muscle ache, and high temperature.

• Cholera

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection that can spread through these little critters’ vomit and feces, which later then contaminates food and surfaces in a household.

• • Symptoms: diarrhea and severe dehydration

• Dysentery

There are two kinds of dysentery: bacillary and amoebic. Both of which are a kind of gastroenteritis, which result to diarrhea with blood. You can get it by consuming drinks and foods contaminated by cockroaches.

• • Symptoms: high temperature, vomiting, nausea, painful stomach cramps, and diarrhea with blood and mucus

• Leprosy

Cockroaches are one of the insects that are being suspected of transmitting the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, which eventually leads to leprosy. Those who contracted this ailment must be incubated for at least 5 years.

• • Symptoms: muscle weakness, skin lesions, and numbness in legs, feet, arms, and hands.

• Plague

Another disease cockroaches are suspected of carrying is the (bubonic) plague. They do it by spreading the Yersinia pestis bacterium.

• • Symptoms: high fever, muscle cramps, chills, swollen and painful lymph nodes

• Listeriosis

Listeriosis is another illness that can be contracted through consuming cockroach contaminated foods and drinks.

• • Symptoms: diarrhea, muscle aches, and fever

• Coli Infections

E. coli or Escherichia coli infections can be mechanically transmitted from cockroaches’ exoskeleton and feet. It can cause serious food poisoning when contracted.

• • Symptoms: watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, chills, nausea, and muscle ache

How can I prevent and control Philippine cockroach infestations?

Enforcing cockroach prevention and control in the Philippines is hard but doable. You just have to be patient and strict about enforcing the following:

• Cockroaches can survive for only one week without water. Cut off all their water sources by fixing possible leaks in and around your house and they will be gone in no time.
• The next thing you must implement is to clean your house regularly. Sweep and mop your floors every now and then so you can avoid leaving crumbs on your floor. Always wash your dishes as well right after you use it so you don’t provide them with a food source. They also love to feast on the grease left on your stove tops so wipe them off right after cooking.
• It is also important to hide your food from them. Don’t allow them to have access to them by keeping them in sealed containers. You also might want to avoid leaving your fruits on your countertops overnight because they can feed on these critters.
• Another thing that helps control and prevent Philippine cockroaches from entering your home is to seal any crack that you find in any part of your house. Though sealing the crack is easier said than done due to expenses, it is a measure of precaution that should be taken into heavy consideration.
• Lastly, you need to take out your trash regularly so they will not be attracted to enter your homes.

How do you deal with a cockroach infestation?

In every Filipino household, you will never fail to see a bottle of roach spray. Since cockroaches are a common occurrence when everyone least expects it, it is always imperative to keep a bottle of this chemical concoction on hand.

Besides the usual spray and footwear, there are other ways to get rid of cockroaches. They may be a bit different, but nonetheless effective. Here are some examples of what you can use to get rid of these critters:

• Spray

This method of getting rid of cockroaches is one of the most common ways to do so. In today’s market, insecticide sprays such as ‘Baygon’ and ‘Raid’ are in huge demand and they come in a variety of forms and scents. Either choice you make, you will be able to get rid of these critters with ease. Just don’t forget to cover your nose and mouth while doing so.

• Stomping on them

This is another common method of extermination. If you find yourself seeing a cockroach and you are out of insecticide, just grab the nearest slipper/shoe you can find and just hit them with it. In fact, if you are wearing shoes, you can just stomp on them and end their misery right then and there.

• Make Your Own Cockroach Bait

This works exactly like rat poison or rat bait. To make this, just mix three parts boric acid and one-part sugar and you now have a pesticide for them. Like most insects and other pests, this method lures them to their demise. In this case, the sugar is what attracts them while the boric acid will be the death of them when consumed

• Cool Temperatures

Cockroaches can thrive under certain temperatures, especially under warm temperatures. With regards to the latter, this gives the roaches the ability to wreak havoc by spreading its wings and flying around any surface, making you shudder even more at just the thought of it.

• Cleaning

Since roaches are attracted to any place that spells dirt and filth, there’s nothing cleaning won’t fix. When you clean your house regularly, particularly your kitchen and bathroom, you will be surprised on how rare you will start to see cockroaches around your houses.

How Can I Know if there are Cockroaches in my Home?

Aside from seeing them around your home, there are times when they just appear out of nowhere and at times you least expect them. Think about it, you are just watching TV in your well-cleaned home when all of a sudden, a cockroach just comes scurrying around out of nowhere. With that said, it is important to know the signs of cockroaches in your own home. Here are some ways that can help you tell if your home is indeed infested with these critters:

• Cockroach Egg

These tiny little droppings are one of the most common signs of infestation and they harbor the next minute generations of household havoc, especially if undealt with for a certain period of time. Once you see them, you might want to consider getting rid of them immediately.

• The Smell

Aside from actually seeing them with your eyes, your nose is a vital instrument to use in this case as well. Roaches are also known to have a certain odor that pervades the sense of smell, making them more noticeable as you smell them. Given these, it can greatly help you reduce their numbers by spraying insecticide around the area where the smell emanates from.

• Roach Droppings

Like any other animal, cockroaches tend to leave a little present behind wherever they scurry around, often in the form of little droppings. When you see these tiny little things, they are a clear indicator of them occupying your home.

• Dead Cockroaches

Again, this makes it to another list. Besides seeing their corpses in clear sights, another indicator for this is the number of ants you see in one specific area. If you follow the trail the ants leave, chances are that you will find a dead roach at the end of it.

• Discarded Wings

Besides dead roaches, another indicator for roaches in your home is their discarded wings around the area. If you see these amputations, you might want to consider getting rid of them before they start to spread and multiply.

Why do I Need to Get Rid of them?

There are a number of reasons on why these critters need to be rid of your home. While many of them focus on sanitary reasons, here are some other reasons as to why these roaches need to be kept at bay:

• To Prevent Disease

Aside from the 8 aforementioned diseases from earlier, there are other diseases that these roaches can bring onto you and your family. With that said, it’s therefore not recommended for you to keep them around for much longer.

• To Prevent Any Further Pests

Cockroaches aren’t the only pests you need to worry about as there are a variety of other pests such as rats to scurry about in your home. If you can enforce a working pest control solution, then getting rid of cockroaches shouldn’t be that big of a task to handle.

• To Prevent Fear

The thought of cockroaches in your home is enough to make anyone shudder. What better way to get rid of that fear than clearing them in any means you choose?

Key Takeaway

Roaches don’t have to be the hindrance you see in every dark corner of your home. Though they bring as much havoc as any other pest, these tiny creatures can certainly be kept at bay in any fashion you choose.

There is no shame in admitting you have a Philippine cockroach control and prevention problem, especially if you already tried all the prevention you can think of to avoid it. To get rid of all these critters inhabiting your home, don’t hesitate to learn more about Topbest, a premier pest control service provider, for more tips on getting rid of these critters. You can even click here for a free consultation.