Seeing just one roach in your home is one roach too many. Sadly, if one is running across your floor there is a good chance that you have more and potentially even an infestation. Roaches carry a variety of diseases on their feet which can be transferred to the surfaces in your home. If you come into contact with the bacteria they leave behind you could become ill, trigger an allergic reaction or discover that your home has a foul odor.

At this point you should consider getting a professional firm to deal with the issue; especially if you don’t know how to start. You can find out more here.

If you’re prepared to try and get rid of the roaches yourself then there are a few methods that should work:

Pesticides

If you take a trip to your local store you’ll find an array of products to choose from.  You should choose a product that has a good reputation and then follow the instructions. The aim is to spray where the roach appears and attempt to spray in towards its home. 

However, these pesticides do have dangerous chemicals in them which can affect your own health. Think carefully before you let these loose in your own home.

Cleaning

It is a good idea to clean your home and then clean it again. Roaches are attracted to any food residue and especially grease. You should always wash your dirty dishes or put them in the dishwasher. Never leave food residue out and always clean your countertops and stovetops to ensure food remains are gone.

If the roaches have nothing to eat they won’t want to stay in your home.

Sealing

You should also look for where the roaches are getting into and out of your home. They can get through very small spaces in your walls or around your windows and doors. Seal all the gaps with sealant; even if this takes a considerable amount of time.

Baiting

If you have seen one roach then there will be at least a few more in the walls or under the house. You need to treat the nest. The best way of doing this is to create a bait station. The roaches will take the food back to their nest and you’ll kill lots of the roaches at the same time.

You can make your own bait by mixing three parts boric acid with one part of powdered sugar. The sweetness of the sugar will attract the roaches while the boric acid will kill them.

It is worth noting that boric acid is not toxic to people or pets but it can be irritating so be careful where it goes!

Get Professional Help

Finally, if you don’t have the time o do the above or it seems ineffective then you may have a much larger issue. It’s time to get the exterminators. They will use chemicals and you may want to consider vacating the house for your own safety. But, they will also guarantee their work and clear all the roaches for you, giving you peace of mind.