How To Prevent German Roaches
Good, low-toxicity pest control is possible, but is there a way to keep them out of your house in the first place?
Yes, with some exceptions.
German roaches don’t enter a home unless they are brought in by people. Unlike American roaches, they don’t live outside and wander in that way. So they get inside perhaps on an old appliance, or inside a package, or on a food crate, etc.
It sounds bad, but it’s good news as well. If you are careful with what you bring into your home, you can help prevent a German roach infestation. For example, definitely check any used appliances like dishwasher or refrigerators or even washing machines before bringing them inside. Look for small, black dots clumped together that look like pepper. These are possible German roach droppings. Look for egg sacs or other signs. You can treat around appliances with boric acid, leaving them outside. But really if you have an appliance that has German roaches that you don’t need to bring inside, don’t bring it inside.
There’s other ways they can find their way in. A student returning home from a dorm room could have belongings that have unwelcome hitchhikers. It doesn’t hurt to check those outside or in a garage. We’ve had customers tell us that when students returned from college, that’s also when German roaches showed up.
If you live in a multi-family residential complex like an apartment or duplex, you can inherit a problem. Neighbors may have them. Or a prior tenant did. If they aren’t treated properly, the roaches can travel throughout the wall spaces into neighboring units.
If you aren’t sure what roaches you have, set up sticky traps under sinks, near dishwashers and refrigerators to monitor if there are any German roaches.
Learn how to identify them — see photo on this page — so you know if you’re really seeing German roaches or just a smaller type of outdoor roach.
If you do get German roaches in your home, give us a call at 512-443-0123 or use our website form for a fast reply.
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