YELLOW FEVER: SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, & PREVENTION

Powered by the SC Johnson^® Institute of Insect Science for Family Health

Although it can be tricky to completely get rid of cockroaches, a combination of roach-control products and cleaning tips can help. Find out how to help protect your family and get rid of roaches with expert advice from our entomology team at the SC Johnson^® Institute of Insect Science for Family Health

HOW TO HELP KILL COCKROACHES

If you have a roach problem, take swift action to help kill these quickly reproducing pests in three simple steps:

• Apply a roach-control spray to attack the roaches you see. You can also apply the spray to areas where they hide, like cracks and crevices.

• Control the problem with cockroach baits or fogger products to kill the roaches that are hiding.

• Use a barrier product to create a line of defense around your home and keep roaches out.

Be sure to read the label carefully and use all cockroach-control products as directed.

WHERE DO ROACHES COME FROM?

Small Roach & Large Roach

Small roaches live indoors and can come in from neighboring homes, apartments, condos, and garbage areas. They can also be brought in with food or other packaging, such as cardboard boxes and paper bags.

Large roachesusually wander in from the outdoors. They can be found outside around the foundation, near patios, under mulch, or in sewer systems.

WHAT ATTRACTS COCKROACHES?

Roaches love to eat the same things we do. So effective cockroach control starts by making your home unappetizing for these pesky creatures with a thorough cleaning. You can help protect your family and prevent roaches from becoming dinner guests by following these cleaning tips:

• Wipe up food and drink spills right away, especially if they’re sugary, starchy, or greasy.

• Always store food in sealed, airtight containers.

• Clean your refrigerator, oven, microwave, and toaster regularly. And be sure to clean under and behind these appliances to remove stray bits of food.

• Keep your sink free of dirty dishes.

• Remove pet food after your furry family member finishes eating.

• Take out the garbage regularly and tie the bag tightly.

• Throw away old boxes and newspapers where roaches like to hide.

• Keep storage areas dry as these pests are attracted to moisture.

• Identify and repair indoor water leaks as moisture can attract cockroaches.

CREATURES OF DARKNESS

Roaches have evolved to survive when fewer of their natural predators can see them, so they come out of hiding in the dark when their predators are less likely to squash or eat them. But it’s not just turning on the light that will spook a roach. Vibrations, noise, and air currents can also scare them back into hiding. If you see these critters in your home during the daytime, this could be a sign that you have a roach problem.

HELP PREVENT COCKROACHES FROM COMING INSIDE

• Seal cracks and crevices where roaches can hide and enter your home from the outside or neighboring units.

• Remove firewood and other debris near your home where outdoor roaches like to hide and breed.

• Help keep roaches out by using a roach barrier spray around doors, windows, baseboards, and your home’s foundation.

5 TIPS FOR USING COCKROACH BAITS

• For best results, use all of the roach baits in a package at one time. Be sure to read the label before use.
• Replace cockroach baits every three months or sooner if depleted.
• Never spray the cockroach bait or the area around it with an aerosol or liquid insecticide, because then roaches won’t eat the bait.
• Never place roach baits on areas that have been sprayed with a liquid or aerosol insecticide, because roaches traveling over the spray will die before they get to consume the bait.
• Remove other food sources that can attract roaches so they are more likely to eat the bait.

Powered by the SC Johnson^® Institute of Insect Science for Family Health

Print Checklist Email Checklist

Related Articles

Related Articles

1

What Do Cockroaches Eat?

2

How Weather Affects Insects

3

Removing and Preventing Bugs After Moving to a New Home