You know that cockroaches like the darkness, so you have this question in your mind — will sleeping with lights on keep cockroaches away? The short answer is no. Even though roaches don’t particularly like the light, it is not enough to completely keep them away.
Why sleeping with the lights on won’t keep cockroaches away
- Cockroaches are nocturnal, but a little light won’t keep them away. Roaches are nocturnal animals — they are more active during the night. This has been their lifestyle for a very long time now, and it has been developed to protect themselves from predators. Yes, cockroaches do scurry away when you suddenly put the light in your bedroom, but they can still show up if your bedroom has the resources they need — like food and water.
- Cockroaches will be attracted to resources even if there is light. Do you know that you can still have cockroaches even if you have a clean house? This is because they are attracted not just to filth and grime, but also to food and water. If food and water are easily accessible in your house, it is going to attract cockroaches, even if it doesn’t have filth and grime. Light plays little to no role at all when it comes to attracting cockroaches. As long as there are resources, cockroaches will be there.
- Desperate cockroaches will look for resources despite the light. Yes, cockroaches prefer to move in the dark. But remember that this is just preference. They can also move in the light, especially if they are desperate enough for resources. If you see roaches during the day, for instance, you should be really concerned. It’s one of the strongest signs that you have a severe infestation. The number of cockroaches may make resources scarce, so the desperate ones search for food and water despite the light.
What to do instead to keep cockroaches away at night
- Get rid of food and water in your bedroom. You really don’t want cockroaches around you when you are sleeping. Do you know they can actually crawl in your mouth while you are in bed? And there are more effective ways to keep cockroaches away instead of just sleeping with the lights on. One such way is getting rid of food and water in your bedroom. If they can’t find the resources they need in a particular area, the less likely they are to be there. Don’t forget about the tiny food crumbs and drink spills as well. Remember that cockroaches are small creatures, and even the tiniest food and water sources are enough to attract and sustain them.
- Throw away clutter where cockroaches can hide. Your bedroom is often a place where you keep sentimental items, such as old books and magazines and shoe boxes with a lot of small items inside them. Unfortunately, these are some of the most common hiding spots for cockroaches. If they are hiding inside your bedroom, they are sure to get out and look for something to eat and drink at the worst time possible – when you are sleeping at night. If you really can’t throw them away, put these items in glass or metal containers where they can’t easily be accessed by pests.
- Wipe all surfaces to free them of filth and grime. No, just throwing away junk food wrappers and soda cans is not enough. Food crumbs and drink spills should be accounted for as well. If you don’t wipe away these tiny resources, they may even result in stains all over your bedroom, from your bed frames to the corners of your walls. Roaches love filth and grime. And if your bedroom has these, you are not giving yourself any chances against these pests.
How to get rid of your cockroach problem for good
- Call pest control professionals. Sleeping with the lights on won’t even get rid of your roach problem. At the very least, it can only scare away cockroaches here and there. But they will still be in your house, hiding in the darkest corners. You don’t want cockroach infestations because of the potential dangers they bring, such as disease-causing bacteria and food contamination. If you really want to get rid of the roaches in your house, call pest control professionals. They are the most qualified to get the job done. The problem with DIY approaches is that they are not always effective. And many of the natural remedy articles you see online just copy-paste each other without any scientific backing.
- Get rid of the cockroaches yourself with commercial products. If you really want to get rid of the these pests yourself, you should stick with known products such as insecticides. Make sure to buy one that specifically mentions that it can be used against cockroaches. Also, read the instructions carefully and follow them diligently. Remember that insecticides have toxic ingredients that can be harmful not just to cockroaches, but also to you and your family. Reading instructions and following them will ensure the effectiveness and safety of the product.
- Know their common hiding spots. Bathrooms and kitchens are the favorite hiding spots of cockroaches, so give these areas particular attention. Cockoaches like these spots because they are full of the food and water they need to survive. Cockroaches also like spots where you can’t easily reach them, like the cracks in your ceiling or the holes in your baseboards. Your cockroach problem is already half-solved if you know where the pests are hiding.
Sleeping with the lights on won’t keep cockroaches away
No, sleeping with the lights on won’t keep cockroaches away. Cockroaches are not particularly fond of the light, but it won’t stop them from looking for food and water, especially if the lighted area obviously has these resources.
Also, scaring cockroaches away with lights won’t get rid of roach infestations. They will just hide in the dark spaces on your property, and many times, these dark places are not easily accessible to you. To get rid of your cockroach problem, call pest control professionals. But commercial products and insecticides may be enough if you read and follow instructions carefully.