Repair & Improve

The Dreaded Cockroach

How to Keep Household Pests Away

You turn on the lights and see them scurry for cover.  Just one can send homeowners running, and the thought of hundreds of them behind the walls is downright terrifying.  But there are ways to  tackle tough household pests and prevent them from coming back.

Every homeowner faces the occasional household pest.  No matter how clean a home might be, bugs love to try to get inside and set up camp.  It’s warm inside.  There is plenty of food for them.  It’s the ideal environment.  But homeowners can keep the bugs like cockroaches away with smart household practices and trusted products that eliminate bugs where they like to hide. 

There are a number of products available today for preventing and treating roaches.  You have what are called mechanical controls, such as traps.  Then there are barriers such as caulking exterior holes or gel products that repel insects.  And finally, chemical controls that influence the life cycle of the pest.  Homeowners may need to use all three product types together to effectively control your pest situation, after all some of these pests have been around for 250 million years.

Even the nicest, cleanest home can occasionally have a pest problem.  Fortunately, the local hardware store, drug store or home improvement center offers reliable, affordable solutions that will take care of the problem quickly.  And today’s pest control products are safe to use indoors around family and pets, so homeowners can trust that they are getting rid of the pests but not harming their household.

In fact, getting rid of roaches can improve your health.  Household bugs carry germs and diseases.  The 2005 Inner City Asthma Study found that 60 percent of city children are sensitive to cockroach allergens.  The resulting asthma causes learning difficulties and limits physical activity.  Worst cities for roaches – should be no surprise that New York – specifically Manhattan is at the top of the list, followed by Chicago and the Bronx.  Dallas, Seattle, Tucson and Boston also made the list.

Other cities that have warm, humid weather like Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, Atlanta, Houston also experience high cockroach infestations.  And the problem is spreading as weather patterns change across the country.  In any home, cockroaches can transmit salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.  That’s why seeing just one can pose a danger because they usually bring their friends with them.  So where do you begin to banish the bugs?  For a thorough pest prevention system, homeowners should start from the outside in. 

•Caulk around doors and windows and install or replace weather stripping around windows to seal holes and prevent bugs from sneaking in.  A young cockroach can get through a space the thickness of a dime, while an adult male can squeeze through a space the thickness of a quarter.

•Prune shrubs and trees to keep them away from the house.

•Routinely treat attics, garages and basements with insecticides or baits to keep the bugs from coming indoors.  Hot Shot® Home Insect Control Clear Formula is a good option because it dries clear and controls roaches for nine months.

•Use a bait to attract bugs by mimicking a food or water source.  Hot Shot® Ultra Liquid Roach Bait is perfect for under sinks, in basements, in cabinets and behind furniture.  There is no spill and no mess, and the bait kills roaches in 24 hours.

•Eliminate sources of water.  Seal all pipes and fix any leaky appliances.  A cockroach can survive for up to a month without food but can only live for seven days without water.

There are a number of things homeowners can do in the kitchen and other living areas to make their homes less hospitable to roaches.  These sound like no-brainers, but you do have to be vigilant.

•Keep opened food boxes like cereals, pasta and crackers in airtight jars and plastic containers.
•Clean dishes nightly, or be sure they are sitting in a basin of soapy water
•Keep counters, sinks and tables clean and clear of clutter
•Take piles of boxes, newspapers, and other items where cockroaches may hide out of the home
•Don’t keep paper grocery bags under the sink -- this creates the ideal environment of food, water and warmth for bugs
•Rinse beverage and other food containers before tossing them into the recycling bin
•You should also make sure trash is properly stored in containers with lids that close securely.  Remove trash daily.
•Do not leave pet food and water out overnight
•Clean all cabinets (especially under the sink) as well as the pantry, cupboards and shelves
•Throw away anything old, moldy or wet, such as rags and sponges
•Keep brushes and sponges in plastic tubs
•Clean up spills under the sink right away
•Clean behind the refrigerator and wash the drip pan beneath it
•Regularly vacuum or sweep the areas where pests may live and feed

If you already have an infestation or see signs of roaches, act fast:

•Set off a fogger.  Today’s foggers are easier and safer to use -- homeowners don’t even need to shut off their pilot lights like they used to.  Hot Shot® No-Mess!™ Fogger is great for treating large indoor areas.  It is water-based, so it won’t stain furniture or leave an oily residue when used as directed

•You can also spot treat where the insects are seen.  Hot Shot® aerosols work fast, killing most insects on contact.  These products make it easy to target treatment, and they last from four weeks up to nine months 

•Make sure to spray along baseboards, under sinks, along windows and doors, in the garage and basement, and even in cupboards once everything has been removed

So that’s all it takes to get rid of a household problem that can really “bug” homeowners.  It’s all about taking smart steps to prevent pests from settling in, and using reliable, trusted products from Hot Shot® brand that eliminate pests and keep them away.  For more information on Hot Shot® brand, visit www.hotshotbrand.com.

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