Ridding Your Home of Roaches

Quick Facts

• There are thousands of species of cockroaches in the world, but German, American, Brown Banded and Oriental Cockroaches are the most common in the United States.
• Roaches can carry up to 50 known pathogens, including pneumonia, food poisoning, salmonella, E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus – the most common cause of staph infections.
• Exposure to cockroach allergen plays an important role in the alarming rates of asthma-related sickness among children in inner city neighborhoods.
• The latest research shows that roach allergens can weaken the defense mechanisms of skin, which is a problem for the 15 million Americans who suffer from eczema.
• Eradicate the roaches AND the germs they carry with Bayer Advanced™ Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray
• Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen™ Ready-To-Usetargets elusive roaches

Problem/Diagnosis

When you think about insects we loathe, cockroaches top the list. They are found everywhere in the world except the polar ice caps. There are roughly 5,000 different species of roaches in the world, but German, American, Brown Banded and Oriental Cockroaches are the most common in the United States.

No matter the variety found in your home, cockroaches are dirty little creatures, roaming through sewage and other unpleasant things, transmitting bacteria that can cause food poisoning or worse.

Roaches have been blamed for the spread of typhoid, dysentery and the hepatitis virus. A 2005 study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was one of the first large-scale studies that ranked asthma triggers according to severity. The study revealed that allergy and exposure to cockroach allergen play an important role in the alarming rates of asthma-related sickness among children in inner city neighborhoods.

And a new study released in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology says the 15 million Americans with eczema should protect themselves from roaches and dust mites. That’s because the allergens roaches carry (particles of feces, saliva, etc.) can weaken the defense mechanisms of skin, making it more permeable and venerable.

Roaches live in cracks, crevices and other dark places in our home. They roam at night for food and water. Roaches can carry up to 50 known pathogens, including pneumonia, food poisoning, salmonella, E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus – the most common cause of staph infections.

Determining if you have a cockroach problem is fairly straightforward. You may have a roach problem if:

You see the bugs scurrying across your kitchen floor

You find roach droppings. Look closely around the kitchen and around cabinets for particles of black-ish grit or an oily substance.

Dead roaches can mean more live roaches nearby. Look under cabinets, refrigerators and other dark and dingy places.

If you have a garage or attic, especially a particularly damp and dark one, that’s the first place to look for evidence of a potential roach problem.

You may also foster an environment ripe for roaches if you have a lot of open food sitting around. Standing water such as a sink of dirty dishes is a haven for roaches.

Solution

Luckily, it’s not difficult to prevent and kill roaches in and around your home.

Prevention: As with any good pest control program, start your family on a vigilant prevention campaign.

Remove their food. Take out the garbage! Garbage pile ups can also attract omnivorous roaches that seek both food and water.

Sweep or vacuum after meals and keep food in tight containers. Wipe off counters, tables and stovetops after all meals, snacks and food preparations. Loose crumbs can attract their attention. - Remove their water supply. Repair leaking faucets, plug sink drains and avoid over-watering houseplants.

Use a bathroom fan that vents to the outside after all baths and showers to reduce humidity

To keep roaches and a variety of other home pests out of your home, caulk all cracks and crevices throughout the home such as plumbing, electrical and gas lines as well as in places such as cupboards and walls.

Trim overhanging trees that may provide a “bridge” for roaches into your home.

Treatment: Once you’ve cleaned house, it’s time to kill those nasty cockroaches once and for all.

Eradicate roaches and prevent the spread of their colonies. Bayer Advanced™ Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray kills up to 60 different household pests, reduces 99.9 percent of the germs** insects may carry and provides up to 12 months* of indoor insect protection.

For spot treatments,Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen™ Ready-To-Use puts gel bait where you need it, eliminates overspray and waste of aerosols, and kills roaches for up to six months.

To create a barrier around your home to keep roaches, ants and other invading insects out, Bayer Advanced™ Home Pest Control Indoor/Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray comes with a battery-powered or nested sprayer that makes it easy to apply.

Always read the label and follow instructions.

12 Months* - Up to 12 month indoor insect protection for German cockroaches, black carpenter ants and house crickets on non-porous surfaces.

Germs** – Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogeneses on hard, non-porous, non-food contact surfaces. No residual sanitizer action. Not for primary uses as a sanitizer.

Products Mentioned In This Article

Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray	Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen™ Ready-To-Use	Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray	Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen™ Ready-To-Use
Home Pest Control Indoor/Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray