Can You Have Cockroaches and Not Know it?

Why are cockroaches a problem?

Cockroaches are a problem because they’re harmful to humans and can be damaging to businesses.

Cockroaches can be harmful to humans because of the contamination of food and the spread of bacteria. As cockroaches eat food in rubbish bins, they can carry and expel a range of bacteria on food, food-contact services and packaging. In addition to the diseases cockroaches can transmit from food, they can also carry pathogens from Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter.

These pests can also be a threat to businesses as a single sighting by a customer can damage an establishment’s reputation. Even worse, if a regulatory inspector or auditor is checking a restaurant or hotel and spots a cockroach, the establishment can be failed for their food safety certificates.

And finally, cockroaches can be a problem due to their ease of reproduction. A single cockroach can produce thousands of offspring in one year alone. So if you have one c

If you think you’ve spotted the signs of a cockroach infestation but you’re not sure where the pests are hiding, here are some good places to check:

Kitchens are one of the first places to check for cockroaches, due to their proximity to food, and thus contamination risks. You should check in cupboards and in cabinets, especially ones that include pipework, like under sinks and behind dishwashers. You’ll also want to check on top of work surfaces behind appliances, like under microwaves, behind coffee makers, under toasters and behind blenders. Finally, you should check behind kitchen units like cookers, fridges and freezers.

You should also check your bathroom for signs of a cockroach infestation. Cockroaches like damp, warm spaces, so be sure to look behind bathroom cabinets, sinks, baths and toilets, as well as inside cupboards. Where possible, check your pipes and drains for cracks and crevices where cockroaches could hide.

Another common place for cockroaches to live is in the corner of damp basements. If you have a basement, check along the bottom of the walls and corners for any gaps or cracks that cockroaches could hide in. If you have cardboard boxes, check the corners as cockroaches can eat and hide in paper and cardboard.

Like the bathroom and kitchen, another warm and wet space that is ideal for cockroaches is the utility room. Be sure to look under sinks, in cupboards, behind washing machines and dryers. Pay particular attention to areas where plumbing enters through walls as there may be cracks and gaps that cockroaches can thrive in.