Why Do Cockroaches Infest Bathrooms & Kitchens?

Few pests are as persistent and troublesome as cockroaches, especially when they keep showing up in your home, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom. Do you see tiny roaches scurrying around in your kitchen cabinets or drawers? Or maybe you’ve noticed them in your bathroom, clinging to the wall, lurking around the sink, or in the shower drain? If so, you're not alone. Today, we'll cover why cockroaches are drawn to kitchens and bathrooms, where else you might find them, how they get inside, and what steps you can take to eliminate them. This article is packed with helpful tips. If you're pressed for time and need answers quickly, contact your Miller Pest & Termite team. We resolve cockroach problems in Des Moines, Kansas City, and Omaha, as well as throughout our Midwest service area, and we're ready to help!

Why do cockroaches like bathrooms and kitchens?

Several factors attract cockroaches, drawing them into kitchens and bathrooms. By understanding these, homeowners can identify other areas where cockroaches might hide in their houses.

Humidity
Cockroaches prefer humid environments, and bathrooms are high in humidity, particularly after showers and baths. Roaches need moisture in the air to hydrate their exoskeletons. A hydrated cockroach is a happy and reproductive insect. That is not good for you or your family.

Warmth
Cockroaches prefer to live in warm places. Most bathrooms fill up with warm, humid air during a hot shower or bath, creating the perfect habitat for cockroaches to thrive.

Moisture sources
Cockroaches need moisture to stay hydrated and water to drink. They crawl on walls to drink droplets of moisture left behind after a shower and crawl in wet tubs after baths. They may also find moisture in the kitchen, most notably around the sink, under the sink, and perhaps the dishwasher.

Food sources
In addition to consuming human food and food waste, these vile pests also eat the following:

• Soap
  
  
• Toothpaste
  
  
• Glue and adhesive
  
  
• Paper products
  
  
• Hair and skin
  
  
• Pet food leftovers
  
  
• Grease buildup
  
  
• Leather and other fabrics

As you can see, they’re not exactly picky eaters and will take advantage of whatever they come across in kitchens, bathrooms, and other parts of homes.

Tight spaces
Cockroaches prefer living in cracks. The reason for this is that they are top-heavy. A cockroach must constantly grip the surface it is standing on. When it stops gripping, it flips over and lays on its back. That is why you sometimes find dead roaches on their backs. Kitchens and pantries have many tight spaces between food packages, behind baseboards, in appliances, etc.

How do cockroaches sneak into your home?

Since they like tight spaces, you can expect cockroaches to explore every tight space they encounter while exploring your exterior walls. You'll also find them doing this in damp or humid zones or where there are dirty trash receptacles. Here are a few common entry points:

• Gaps in weather-proofing materials
  
  
• Cracks around window or door frames
  
  
• Gaps around pipes or wire conduits
  
  
• Rotted wood cavities
  
  
• Unprotected vents
  
  
• Unsealed or broken crawl space doors

Cockroaches can also hitchhike into homes inside grocery bags and storage boxes. They may also hide inside used furniture or belongings or come home with you from vacation.

What can you do about cockroaches in your home?

When you find cockroaches, contact Miller Pest & Termite. Our team of pest control specialists uses industry-leading solutions to deal with roaches.

• We inspect your home and determine the areas of infestation.
  
  
• We identify the cockroach species you're dealing with.
  
  
• We create a customized control solution.
  
  
• We apply pest treatments according to best practices. 
  
  
• We make sure no cockroaches remain.

Don't have cockroaches yet? 

With Miller Guard, you can keep cockroaches out of your home. Our year-round home pest control plan is designed to provide comprehensive protection against roaches and other pests, addressing the obvious and hidden entry points around your home.

Miller Guard reduces attractants and seals off common access points, keeping your home protected year-round. Want to learn more about our pest control plans and keep your kitchen, bathroom, and entire home roach-free? Contact us today!