Most homeowners believe cockroaches are more common in bathrooms than in other parts of the house. However roaches in the bathroom are just more easily spotted against light colored bathroom tiles. The fact is, seeing roaches in the bathroom may indicate a larger issue. Your main focus might be to get rid of roaches in the bathroom, but your overall strategy should be to make sure you get rid of roaches in the home.
Cockroaches are attracted to bathrooms because they provide the ideal environment for survival: warmth, moisture, and easy access to food sources. Leaky faucets, damp towels, and standing water create a humid atmosphere that cockroaches thrive in. While kitchens are most commonly viewed as popular areas for cockroaches, bathrooms can be popular as well.
Cockroaches can eat a variety of things, but specifically a few that can can be found in the bathroom are toilet paper, soap reside, trash, toothpaste, human hair, used diapers, and even dead skin. That’s not to mention any foods from your kitchen or your pets.
There are many ways that a cockroach can get into your bathroom. They may come in through cracks in windows, packages, or any number of methods. Once they are inside, a common place cockroaches may hide is in your walls.
An effective cockroach elimination and prevention strategy begins with a solid plan of attack.
- Use glue traps overnight to determine the extent of the infestation and identify the type of pest invading your home
- Click over to our Pest Identification page to learn more about the pest you’re dealing with
- Knowing the exact species will help determine the best plan of attack and most effective formulation of Combat® Baits and Gels
- Once you know the type of cockroaches you are dealing with, it is also helpful to determine whether you have a small or large cockroach infestation
- Remove food and water sources from cockroaches
- Fix leaky pipes, faucets, toilets and other plumbing problems
- Always use a bathroom fan to vent humidity build-up during and after baths and showers
- Caulk all cracks and crevices, and openings where electrical or plumbing comes in through walls
- Place Combat® Baits along baseboards and along the back of under-sink cabinets
- Maintain general maintenance and keep bathrooms clean
- Empty bathroom garbage cans regularly
- Change Combat® Source Kill Max Baits every three to six months as indicated on the packaging
For more information on how Combat® Baits and Gels work and how to prevent roaches from entering your home and bathroom, view our helpful prevention video.