Look To Your Kitchen Countertops If You Suspect A Cockroach Problem In Your Home

Cockroaches are one of the types of bugs that can easily give you goosebumps, and they're also one that no one ever wants to see in their living space. While their typical hiding places are cabinets, appliances, and sink pipes, they can also gather in places you may not so often think about. In fact, areas surrounding your kitchen counters can be housing a hidden infestation without your knowledge. Though the seemingly clean surface may fool you, it's in the cracks and crevices of your kitchen backsplash where these nocturnal insects may unknowingly set up residence — and it's not a place you'd commonly set with roach bait.

If you imagine a roach's ideal home, you might think of a warm and damp place teeming with food crumbs. Believe it or not, your kitchen counters tick all those boxes with spilled juices and sauces, unseen grease drips, and even the simple crumbs from your morning toast. These seemingly insignificant traces can be feasts for a cockroach, and worse yet, when they get splattered across the vast counter spaces and backsplash, they can often go unnoticed. A single crumb can feed a few cockroaches for a couple of days, so imagine how much food a backsplash can hold. 

Keep in mind that while food certainly attracts roaches and keeps them centered around an area, it's not just about the food. Part of the attraction of backsplashes and counters is the ease and ability for the roaches to dart about for food scraps when no one is looking. These tight spaces are difficult to clean and offer ample protection for insects so they can go unseen and therefore stay alive.

The gap between the tiles and the wall in a backsplash is a prime nesting spot for cockroaches. The spaces at the edges of and behind your backsplash, between your countertop and the wall, and even within the seams of your sink offer dark, sheltered areas. Cockroaches can use these hidden places to breed, to find warmth and moisture, and as a hidden entryway into the main stage of your food preparation zone. Leaky pipes create a humid spot for the roaches to thrive, further exacerbating the problem.

To get rid of unwanted roaches, or better yet, prevent them from ever coming in the first place, the first thing you want to do is seal the cracks. Use a silicone caulk to fill in any gaps between your countertops and walls, backsplashes, and sinks. Incidentally, not sealing the grout is a common mistake everyone makes when putting in a kitchen backsplash, so if that hasn't been done, make sure to do that, too. This will eliminate their hiding places and make it harder for them to enter in the first place. Then fix any leaky pipes or faucets. Investing in a dehumidifier can help keep moisture levels down in your kitchen, making the environment less hospitable for roaches.

Of course, regular daily clean-up is important, and you should clean up any lingering food or crumbs promptly, but you should also deep clean regularly, too. Focus on more than just the surface of the counters. Use a toothbrush or a Q-tip to clean residue inside cracks and crevices. Pay extra attention to areas behind your appliances and under your sink. Avoid leaving food scraps lying around by storing food in airtight containers and emptying your trash cans frequently. If the problem persists, consider seeking professional pest control experts who can identify the source of the infestation and enforce targeted tactics to eradicate it.