Can You Tell Cicak, Cockroach & Rat Poop Apart? Here's How To Rid Your Home Of These Pests
If you're sick of seeing poops all over your house.
By Jeremy Ng — 16 Jul 2021, 12:30 PM
But, before finding out how to get rid of these common household pests, it's important to know which pest you're dealing with
One of the easiest ways to tell what pest is roaming in your home is by the poop they leave behind.
Cicak, or house lizards, tend to poop along wall corners or beside windows. You'll find that cicak poop is easily identifiable by the white tip, which is actually crystallised uric acid from their pee.
Cockroach poop is often found in drawers, on top of cabinets, along the floor, or any hidden crevices. Their droppings look like small tiny black specks, but if you see something resembling a capsule, you'll wanna be extra careful 'cause those are cockroach eggs.
When it comes to rats, their poop tends to appear in big groupings – these rodents make 30 to 50 little turds a day. Rat poop may carry diseases, so make sure you wear a face mask and use paper towels to clean it up, without touching it directly.
Now that you know what you're up against, here's how you can get rid of cicak, cockroaches, and rats at home:
1. Cicak
Eggshells
If there's one thing that cicak are scared of, it's eggshells. They contain sulphur that causes a burning sensation to the lizard's abdomen, and the smell is reminiscent of a bird's beak. Sprinkle fresh eggshells along your windows and walls, and replace them once every three weeks.
Lemongrass
Serai wangi spray not only makes your house smell nice, it also repels lizards because of its strong scent. You can also use lemongrass stalks or lemongrass essential oil for the same effect.
Do not leave food uncovered
Cicak are attracted to exposed food, which also invites flies and ants – insects that cicak love to eat. To avoid these pests, clean your pots, wipe the table, and keep your rubbish bins covered.
2. Cockroaches
Seal the entrances
To deal with cockroaches, you'll need to first determine where they're coming from. They can squeeze through cracks in the wall, holes in drains, or gaps around your faucet. Closing these entry points means cockroaches will have a harder time coming into your home.
Traps and scents
There are all kinds of traps available, and you can set them up where you suspect there are cockroaches. For DIY solutions, you can place double-sided duct tape on the floor, with the sticky part facing upwards, and place sugary foods at the centre of the tape. Or, you can use mixture of boric acid and powdered sugar as bait for cockroaches.
Besides that, scents like lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus are also known to repel cockroaches.
Pest control
If you've already cleaned your home and tried various options, but still see cockroaches around, it's possible that your home is infested. The best option is to hire a pest control company, because you never know how far these insects have gone breeding into your home.
3. Rats
Mint
Rats dislike the smell of mint. To keep them away, you can place cotton balls soaked in peppermint essential oil where you usually keep your groceries. Besides that, mint leaves or mint toothpaste also work like a charm.
Rat traps
While the idea of catching a live rat may be disgusting, rat traps are one of the best ways to get rid of these rodents. Set up multiple rat traps around the house, but make sure they're out of reach of children and pets. Always remember to regularly inspect the traps, as a rotting rat may cause even more problems.
Coffee powder
If you're a coffee drinker, just sprinkle some of your coffee grounds or coffee powder on a paper towel and leave it on your kitchen countertop. You may love a good cup of joe, but rats hate the strong aroma.
