We live in a super clean house. I own it, we don't rent. I am a clean freak. Tonight I went and turned on the light and there was a bug, I looked it up online and it says its a cockroach. I am totally freaked out. My husband has been having his friend stay over a few nights...his freind hangs with people who have roaches but he doesn't bring anything with him..except the clothes he is wearing. And a few months ago I was babysitting some kids and thier mom said they had roaches but I never seen any in my house. The only thing they brought was a diaper bag. Since I havn't been watching the kids anymore...I haven't seen any until now.
I am totally freaked out. Can there be just one? What are the chances my husbands friend brought it in with him on the clothes he was wearing? Or what are the chances the kids brought it in?
And how do I get rid of them if there are more.?
2006-09-08 14:37:46 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
You don't mention where you live and if roaches are common in that area.
I live in Florida where roaches are as common as grains of sand, and almost as plentiful. No matter how clean your house is around here, you will always find a roach.
They come into your home through the slightest crack or opening, on grocery bags, on people's clothing, and yes, even in diaper bags.
The concern isn't really how it got into your home but how do you get it out, for good. In this case, cleanliness makes a big difference, if there isn't anything to attract them then they move on, but generally not before laying their eggs and reproducing. Then it isn't just one you have to get rid of but in short time, literally hundreds you need to dispose of.
A qualified, licensed pest control expert is your best bet if you want to make sure you are rid of them. Make sure that they provide some sort of gaurantee as to their effectiveness and some sort of return and re-treat policy if bugs return within a specified length of time.
Even in Florida, I don't use any kind of pest control in the home, I just don't like having all those chemicals around me all the time. I just keep the house clean and kill and discard any roach I see, when I see one, which really isn't very often.
You might just want to take the "kill the bug, wait and see" attitude. If you are in a climate where they are not that common, kill the one you have and wait and see if others turn up. If your house is as clean as you say and you have killed the bug pretty much as soon as it showed up then you stand a good chance of not seeing more any time soon. You will save the added expense of extermination.
Good luck.
2006-09-09 02:28:28 · answer #1 · answered by wetsaway 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi, There is never only one! Well almost never!
Don't worry though, they are not so hard to get rid of as you think, and they are ONLY as dirty as you are!
DO call an exterminator, usually now days they put out bait traps to kill them off. Nothing that will kill the cat or the kids.
Keep things as open and dry and clean as you can for a few weeks after the exterminator has gone, Oh yes and before you hire the company see if they have a COME BACK FREE policy if they don't kill every thing the first time!
COCKROACHES DO NOT SPREAD DISEASE LIKE HOUSEFLIES DO. Or Mosquitoes, or ticks.
They just are nasty breeders, so they will multiply really quickly, do not hesitate to call a LICENSED pest control person
My cockroaches came in on paper grocery bags and boxes, so do not worry how they got there, just how you get rid of them Safely.
2006-09-08 14:53:40 · answer #2 · answered by bugsie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there can be just one roach....but not for long. However, when a roach problem is minimal, you can nip it in the bud by putting out a few roach motels in your bathroom (around the toilet and sink) and sprinkle a light trail of boric acid powder mixed with some sugar around the floors near plumbing in the kitchen. The powder must remain dry to be effective. This should eliminate the roach problem......but act as quickly as possible! (Keep the boric acid/sugar solution away from small children)
2006-09-08 14:50:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
to answer ur question, ,, lets take CRAB as an analogy,, whenever crab teaches its kid to walk the right way,, it teaches sideways,, I think same goes to the cockroach,, the papa cockroach teach baby cockroach to run towards,, and not away from Jeffy,, (or do you have doughnut crumbs sticking on ur hands?)
2016-03-17 10:48:34 · answer #4 · answered by Marie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually you dont see just one. Roaches are known to stow away in clothing. Have your house fumagated if you find more they reproduce quickly.
2006-09-08 14:40:40 · answer #5 · answered by hechicera_de_la_alma 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is rarely, if ever, just one roach. Your husbands friend could have brought it or the kids could have. Best thing to do is call an exterminator.
2006-09-08 14:39:43 · answer #6 · answered by hausfrau31557 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
call pest control now, and worry about it later.... roaches are asexual... even if there IS only one, it can reproduce BY ITSELF and you will have a roach infested house in no time!
2006-09-08 14:43:45 · answer #7 · answered by MstrChief55 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Did you kill it? If you see another....then start to worry.
Good advice above.
2006-09-08 14:45:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋