It’s Just A Little Cockroach

It's Just A Little Cockroach

There are some pests that will invade your home that may cause a bit of a stir, but it would by no means be an emergency. Ants, for example, may infest your home; and while you would want to have them dealt with as soon as possible, a few days probably aren’t going to matter much. You may see carpet beetles just before leaving on vacation, but you won’t have to wonder if it’s ok to wait a week before having them removed because you already know that they won’t do much in a week. Yes, there are some pests that you will want to take care of, but they really don’t pose a risk to you or your family or your home. Cockroaches are not that type of pest.

Cockroaches are simply filthy. They love to inhabit nasty places that are full of bacteria and other pathogens like sewers, trash receptacles and drain pipes. They wallow around these disgusting places picking up whatever germs just happen to rub against them and carry those germs wherever they roam. So when cockroaches come crawling across your kitchen floor, up your counters, through your silverware drawer, and into your food storage areas, they are not just picking up a snack for themselves and harmlessly moving on. No! They are leaving pathogens wherever they travel. These germs are quite capable of making you and your family sick. Very sick!

Have you ever heard of salmonella, or staphylococcus, or how about streptococcus or even polio? I’m sure you have, but what you may not know is that cockroaches are capable of carrying and spreading these illnesses. So that bout of strep that was passing through your son’s school just may have started with a cockroach. And that staph infection that Aunt Mable picked up after her surgery at the local hospital just may have been spread by a cockroach. Not a very pleasant thought is it?

Cockroaches are defiantly a pest that poses a risk to you and your loved ones, and it is one of those pests that require immediate attention. There is no waiting when these bad boys come calling. Fortunately, for those of us here in Tennessee, the pest control specialists here at Russell’s Pest Control have the training, experience, and products to safely and effectively eliminate cockroaches from any home or business. For over 40 years, home and business owners here in Tennessee have trusted Russell’s to protect them from these and other harmful invasive pests, and you can too. We can come eliminate a one-time problem, or set you up with one of our pest control plans for year-round protection for peace of mind, knowing that your friends and family are protected.

Don’t let cockroaches bring illness to your home or business when the specialists here at Russell’s Pest Control are just a call or a click away.

Nobody Wants Cockroaches Sharing Their Home

Nobody Wants Cockroaches Sharing Their Home

Have you ever heard about what happened in the early 2000s? As people watched a television commercial play out, suddenly a cockroach began crawling around on their television screen. One man threw his shoe at his TV and broke it. Another person threw a helmet. But the cockroach wasn’t even real. It was just part of the television commercial! It got taken off the air fairly quickly. Wouldn’t it be nice if getting rid of cockroaches was really that easy? Well, actually, it can be, with a little help.

Before we tell you how you can get rid of cockroaches easily, let’s review some things you can do to keep cockroaches out in the first place. Here are some simple steps you can follow:

  • Dry up any moist/humid areas in your home with fans or dehumidifiers. Don’t leave standing water around sinks, tubs or toilets.

  • Carefully clean your home, paying close attention to areas where food is present.

  • Place dirty dishes in a sink full of soapy water instead of in a stack on the counter.

  • Store all food in the refrigerator or in tightly sealed containers.

  • Only put pet food down at mealtimes.

  • Carefully inspect the outside of your home and seal up any gaps or cracks.

  • Make sure all of your screens and door sweeps are in good working order.

  • Trim back bushes and trees from your home.

  • Keep a dry area around your home by creating a barrier of crushed rocks.

  • Do not leave pet food, or any other food outside.

  • Make sure all garbage cans are properly sealed and stored away from your house.

Get cockroaches out and keep them out!

If you have discovered that cockroaches have already invaded your home, Russell’s Pest Control can help. Having been in business since 1971, we’ve learned a few things about cockroaches. We’ve learned that, if left unchecked, cockroaches can multiply quickly. And we’ve learned that they spread diseases and illnesses such as salmonella, staphylococcus, polio, and many more, which is why we have developed year-round pest control plans, like our Power Package. This powerful plan is specifically designed to wipe out more than 30 harmful household pests, including the difficult-to-eradicate cockroach. At a low monthly rate, the Power Package offers quarterly pest service, year-round protection, and Russell’s Pest-Free Guarantee. This means that if we service your home, and pests return in between visits, we will gladly return and take care of the problem at no extra cost to you.

Get help today by calling the experts at Russell’s Pest Control and the only cockroaches you’ll see in your home are the ones crawling around in television commercials. A pest-free* home is a happy home.

Cockroaches And Winter Weather

Cockroaches And Winter Weather

Roaches are one of the most common pests in Tennessee. If you’ve ever had a cockroach infestation, you know how big of a headache it can be. For every one you get rid of, it seems as though five more spring up in its place.

Winter can be a particularly troublesome time for cockroaches. As the weather gets colder, they seek shelter in the warm confines of our houses and apartments, which offer cozy places to live, access to water and lots of easy-to-find food. All of these amenities are much more difficult to find outside during the cold-weather months.

Unfortunately for us, these unwelcome guests aren’t very content to abandon this sweet setup they’ve established in our homes. However, you can take steps to try to keep these bothersome pests from shacking up in your abode. Here are three measures you can employ to keep these nasty bugs out in the cold.

  • Don’t leave any standing water around (such as in the sink or on countertops) and fix any leaky pipes if you have any.

  • Eliminate food sources by tidying up after cooking and eating. Don’t leave dishes sitting in the sink, and store food in airtight containers.

  • Seal any cracks in walls, both inside and out, to block off any potential entrances to your home.

Even if you do all this, you can still get roaches. Once you have them, they are difficult to get rid of. If you have cockroaches, contact Russell’s Pest Control. We’ve been ridding Tennessee of cockroach infestations for more than 40 years.

Alternatives To Bug Bombs

We hope that everyone is staying warm and safe in the cold weather! Unfortunately, the pests are considering the same concerns. Recently, we’ve been getting calls from frantic homeowners who have major roach problems. Roaches are the sort of pests that can get out of control pretty quickly. They breed fast, and, being nocturnal, they tend to stay out of sight. By the time homeowners see the roaches, they could already have a serious issue.

Sometime, we’ll do a full post on roaches, but today I want to talk about the use of foggers against such tough pests. Some recent callers were extremely frustrated because they’d spent time and money on foggers or “bug bombs,” but the devices just hadn’t solved the problem. In addition, the time wasted allowed the roaches to get a stronger foothold in the house. So, let’s debunk the myth of the all-powerful bug bomb and look for some better alternatives.

Fogging for pests is outdated. Professionals (including Russell’s Pest Control technicians) almost never use bug bombs, and they would only do so in extreme need. Foggers may give homeowners a good feeling because they’ll see lots of dead bugs right away. Unfortunately, the healthy, smart roaches and the eggs weren’t out in the open near the foggers. They were in the walls, behind the cabinets, under the refrigerator, etc. Most roaches stay tucked away in hiding places that bug bombs will never reach. If an infestation is completely out of control, a professional may fog to knock down the adult pest population quickly, but they’ll always follow up with more effective methods.

The best way to tackle persistent pests like roaches is with a two-fold attack. One part includes a crack-and-crevice treatment, where product is applied into the small cracks that the bugs use for home-base. The second part involves carefully leaving baits in well-hidden areas so that the roaches will encounter them.

These are some steps that you should consider if you’re trying to take care of a roach problem:

  • Start by purchasing some glue boards and leaving them in those out-of-the-way places like in the cabinet under the sink. This is an inexpensive way to determine if you really have a roach problem and, if so, where it is worst. Always have the glue boards touching a wall since pests prefer to hang close to cover.

  • If you have a problem and decide to treat for yourself, plan out how you want to treat. Remember that many of the sprays you can buy over the counter are repellants, meaning they drive pests away from the area. If you are using a repellant, don’t use baits in the same area. You’ll contaminate the bait and make it undesirable for the roaches. Read the labels of the products you buy to determine how to use them appropriately. In general, it’s best not to spray around any bait that you use.

  • Skip the bug bombs. They won’t help much anyway, and they are very easy to misuse (a recent news article in another southern state indicated an apartment-dweller forced his neighbors to retreat to the ER after the fumes from his bug bomb leaked into their home).

  • Ask for help before the problem gets out of hand. If your over-the-counter products aren’t working, don’t wait until you’re overrun to get professional help. Doing so will only cost you more in the long run because it will take longer to eliminate the problem. Most exterminators (including Russell’s) offer free inspections and can give you some good advice and help if you feel that you’re in over your head. If you do think you need some help, may I suggest a reliable pest control company?