How To Tell if Roaches Are Dying

As a homeowner or renter, roaches are an absolute nightmare.

We call them the 3 Ps from hell – persistent, pesky, and permanent. Or at least they seem permanent.

Roaches can avoid treatment and multiply at the speed of light. It just makes us want to pull our hair out.

In this blog, we will check out the different ways to ensure your roach treatment is doing what it is meant to do.

Types of Treatments

There are many treatments for roach infestation, all with different degrees of satisfaction.

The most common ones found in the market are:

1. Slow release bait
2. Adhesive bait
3. Powdered poison
4. Gel poison

These store-bought remedies are far more effective than DIY homemade roach traps. However, when compared to each other, they vary.

The slow-release bait has proven to be the most effective in the war against roaches since it allows them to pass the poison along before they die. The powdered poison is more effective when covering a larger area since it can easily be spread around.

Their effectiveness may vary based on several factors, so it is essential to know which treatment to use in your particular case. Since roaches are unlike any other pest or insect, dealing with them may be more complex.

Before you question whether a roach treatment is working, you must examine a few things in your home to ensure the remedy works and that more roaches don’t infest your abode.

5 Things To Do Before the Treatment

Roaches like damp, dark crevices or cracks where they can live in peace and venture out at night to feed on food crumbs and waste.

This is also partly why most roach infestations start in the kitchen before spreading out to the rest of the house. The magnitude of the infestation is also highest in the kitchen.

Here are a few helpful remedies to ensure that all the roaches are removed once and for all:

1. Clean Out the Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Take everything out and clean them.

Wipe down the insides of the drawers and cabinets, vacuum up any eggs you might see, and ensure the interior is dry before putting everything back in.

2. Do Not Put Wet Dishes Into the Cabinets

Since dampness is a roach’s best friend, avoid putting wet dishes back inside cupboards.

Instead of wiping them dry, we suggest leaving them out to air dry overnight before putting them back inside.

3. No More Newspapers in the Cabinets

Most people use old newspapers or cardboard to line their cupboards and drawers before using them.

The ink in newspapers is a magnet for roaches.

To avoid reinfesting once you have treated your home, replace the newspaper with old calendar pieces or perforated sheets.

4. Wipe Down the Countertops

Since roaches feed on leftover crumbs or food remains, it would be wise to wipe down the countertops before sleeping.

If you are extra conscious like us, you can quickly sweep the floor to ensure nothing is there to attract unwanted guests.

5. Seal or Close All Gaps and Cracks

Using silicon or caulk, seal the gaps in your kitchen or any dark crevices that roaches may make a home out of.

With time the gap between the kitchen counter and wall also increases, so seal those off.

4 Hints To Be Sure Roaches Are Dying

You can find different efficiency levels with all the different kinds of treatments.

No matter the type of treatment you use, there are a few surefire ways to know if the treatment is working or not:

1. Visible Reduction in Roach Sightings

Roaches are creatures of the night. Unless the infestation is bad, you rarely notice a roach roaming around during the day.

If you are using a slow-release bait, chances are you will find several dead roaches in the morning.

If you have noticed a roach in the kitchen during the night, you can monitor the activity during those hours to see if the treatment is working.

And if you have cleaned before using the treatment, you have a very high chance of ridding yourself of these pesky pests.

2. Noticeable Change in Bad Smell

We cannot explain it in words, but those who have been victims of roach infestations know the musky odor they come with.

This smell becomes a part of every cabinet, cupboard, and drawer in the kitchen.

This is when God forbid the entire house smells like roaches, and the infestation gets out of hand (Shudders!).

The key to knowing whether the treatment is working lies in comparing the before and after.

You also have to observe the changes around your house. You will feel a noticeable reduction in this God-awful smell if the treatment does what it is meant to do.

3. Visible Decrease in Finding Roach Droppings

After the treatment, inspect the kitchen counter corners, cabinet corners, or the back of your drawers for roach droppings.

The size and shape of the dropping can vary depending on the roach you are dealing with, but they usually resemble pepper grounds.

Suppose you have cleaned out the cabinets before applying the treatment. In that case, you will notice a visible decrease in the presence of roach droppings.

4. Not Finding Roach Eggs or Egg Casings

Roaches are vicious multipliers. So keep an eye out for eggs or egg casings to ensure they are not breeding.

Roach eggs are brown and coffee bean-shaped.

Once the roach hatches, it leaves behind a shell-like casing.

If you have been seeing these around your house, it means that roaches have been mating.

To ensure the treatment works, keep an eye out for these eggs or casings.

If you don’t see any, congratulations! You have successfully gotten rid of the pests from hell.

Conclusion

So, we can say that roaches are intolerable pests that can take over your whole house.

The worst nightmare is that their infestation spreads like fire. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get rid of roaches.

You can try multiple treatments, such as slow-release bait, adhesive bait, powdered poison, and gel poison.

To ensure your treatment works, keep an eye out for a reduction in roach sights, bad smells, roach droppings, and eggs or egg casings.

We hope our blog answered all the questions relating to knowing if the roaches are dying or not.

Good luck! Making your house roach free.