How To Get Rid Of Water Roaches

8 Effective Home Remedies to Eliminate Water Bugs

Water bugs are a very irritating creature. Not only are they an irritant but harmful as well. If you have been unfortunate enough to have their company in your house, you must have been trying to get rid of them all the time.

roach in the kitchen

Water Bug or Roach

It must've created a big nuisance and chaos in the house. They could be seen everywhere, especially in your kitchen and bathrooms, where you are most particular about hygiene. They could be seen dancing on your toothbrush and tasting your lunch for the day – which can be utterly disgusting.

You might have tried to push them out of your house but must've been unsuccessful because they are stubborn fighters. They won't leave you that easy. Find out what water bugs are, and how to treat them naturally and professionally.

What Is A Water Bug?

We are not talking about the actual water bugs which live 'in' the water. Those insects can grow to 5 inches in length and thankfully are not found in your homes.

Here, we are referring to the quotidian insect known as 'cockroaches.' The pipsqueak has various names like roaches, Palmetto bugs, and water bugs. They have a reputation of something that is dreaded, in the households.

Cockroaches have earned their name of a water bug because they tend to flourish near water. They colonize and reproduce in damp areas. This is the reason why they're more often than not seen in your bathroom and kitchen.

It is a fact that they can live without food for a month, but won't last a week without water. Roaches also tend to clean themselves a lot. Just like cats, cockroaches constantly groom themselves. But they're not so clean after all since they come from drainage pipes.

An adult cockroach grows up to 2 inches in length. They are reddish brown and have thin tentacles on their head. They also have wings and are capable of flying.They tend to get in through the cracks of the doors, and in fact, they can come in from wherever they want because of their tiny bodies.

Why Do You Need to Remove Them?

Well, most of the people flinch and get scared to death at the sight of cockroaches. But such reactions are not in response to what they can do to you, but merely because they're creepy and small. Not many people emphasize the fact that how harmful and dangerous can these little pests be.

Cockroaches might bite or sting you, but that happens rarely.
They thrive in areas that harbor bacteria
They come from dumpsters, drains, and bathrooms

Cockroaches tend to be active at night. It is a time when everyone is asleep, and you don't have any idea what parts of your kitchen and bathroom the roach has been to. They contaminate your food which causes vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and even salmonella .

This is the biggest problem and threat that these bugs pose. You never know whether the spoon that you are using to feed your son is germ-free or not.

"Cockroaches have earned their name of a water bug because they tend to flourish near water. They colonize and reproduce in damp areas. This is the reason why they're more often than not seen in your bathroom and kitchen."

Organic Pest Control NYC – NYC Exterminator

Prevention Tips

If you have just seen a cockroach in your home and if you want to prevent them from making your house their humble abode then following are some tips to be on the safe side:

Keep the food properly covered
Clean all your food containers
Remove any standing water
Keep your food refrigerated-it keeps the roaches away
Try not to leave any leftover food in the sink
Use tightly fitted dustbin lids
Always empty your dustbin the next day and clean it frequently
Wash utensils before use
Use a disinfectant to clean your kitchen and bathroom

Home Remedies to Remove Water Bugs and Cockroaches

If you have roaches in your house and if you have children and pets at home, you might want to use the natural remedies to treat them. Following are some remedies that are natural and effective at the same time:

Vinegar sprays: it acts as an antibacterial and antifungal spray. Simply spray it directly on the cockroach or on the areas where they breed. It will create an uninviting environment for them. And within a few hours, they'll die.

Hot water : in case you know where they reside you can pour hot water on them. Boil water in a pan, and pour it on their nest. Cockroaches can't tolerate high temperature, and their outer shells crack, resulting in their demise. Repeat the process twice a day.

Alcohol: We all know alcohol kills and affects fertility/pregnancy. But that's not just applicable to humans; cockroaches, much like us human beings follow the same rule.Alcohol kills cockroaches and damages their eggs.

Baking Soda + Powdered Sugar: it is a powerful remedy to remove water bugs. It is simple yet effective. Just take equal amounts of both the materials and mix them. Sprinkle it on areas where the cockroaches are most frequently seen or their nest. Repeat twice a day.

Peppermint oil: even if you think the remedies mentioned above are effective but are not convinced to use it because of the smell, then here's the solution for you-peppermint oil. It is not pungent yet very useful. Spraying it will not only kill bugs but will keep your house fresh too. It is recommended to spray it twice or thrice a week.

Liquid detergent: the most preferable is an antibacterial liquid detergent. It works like wonders on these water bugs. It's easy to apply and effective too. Just mix it in water and either pour or spray on the cockroaches and their nests. This will disinfect the area, and the cockroaches will leave the liquid on them resulting in the shedding of the outer shell.

Cockroach traps: if you have noticed a particular area where the cockroaches tend to gather around the most. Or if there's a spot which is full of cockroaches, then you can use a cockroach trap as well. It is wholly hassled free.The trap has a potent poison which attracts the cockroaches. It deteriorates them and kills them within hours. And if they visit their friends in their last hours, they poison them too.

Bug spray: another hassle free yet effective remedy is a bug spray. You can spray it directly in the roach or on the places where they are mostly seen at. It will damage them and kill them at an instant.

"Vinegar spray acts as an antibacterial and antifungal spray. Simply spray it directly on the cockroach or on the areas where they breed. It will create an uninviting environment for them. And within a few hours, they'll die."

Organic Pest Control NYC

Professional Water Bugs Removal

If you have a lot of water bugs in your house and you have no idea where they are coming from, and you have even tried all the home remedies available, then you might want to consider the professional extermination services.

You may contact a local pest control service company and let them know about your cockroach problem. They will inspect your house first and find their breeding spots. Places where they can get in from, or where they usually breed.

Then they can start off with their work and help you out. They're experts and are well informed about controlling pests. It would wipe out the bugs once and for all.

Home Remedy or Professional Services?

It is very subjective and depends on the extent of your roach problem. When professionals walk into your house to clean them, then all you have to do is step out of the house and let them do their work.

But with natural remedies, it's you who should put in efforts and save the money.Both are effective and highly recommended. You have to be smart enough to choose between them, according to the need of the hour.***