The most common cockroaches are the small, German cockroaches. Over thousands of years, they’ve adapted to living indoors and can now be found in households worldwide. For cockroaches, the most important thing in the world is finding food and water, which is abundant in dense apartment dwellings. And once an infestation occurs in one apartment, others will surely follow due to the shared walls.  One pregnant cockroach can multiply to 56,000 after just seven months, making it essential to take care of any cockroach problem immediately.

Take these frightening facts: Between 78 and 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches, and 23 to 60 percent of urban residents are allergic to the cockroach allergen, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

“The number of urban residents who have been diagnosed with asthma is alarming,” said Dr. Gretchen Phillips, an MD with Fairview Hospitals, and a medical show radio host based in Minneapolis.  “Since there is such a strong link between the cockroach allergen and asthma, it’s extremely important for people to prevent infestation and eradicate any problems that they do have.”

Cockroaches are a problem in apartments in all parts of the country and at all times of the year. While the risks they pose are clear, you may be surprised to learn that getting rid of them doesn’t have to mean calling an expensive exterminator or relying on the landlord to save you. Preventing and controlling cockroach infestations before they start is easy and affordable. Here are a few tips from Combat® insecticides on how to fight back against cockroaches on your own.

Preventing Cockroach Infestation

• Eliminate clutter, such as stacks of clothes or newspapers
• Keep food in tightly sealed containers.
• Keep the inside of the home clean, and do not leave out food or crumbs.
• Seal cracks and crevices in walls of home.
• Check items such as shipping boxes, school bags and grocery bags for cockroach hitchhikers before bringing them indoors.Reduce the amount of water available by repairing water leaks and not over-watering plants.
• Use baits and gels.

Where to place cockroach baits and gels

• Baits must be placed where cockroaches are likely to be found.
• In the kitchen and bathrooms, near dark, damp places (cockroaches need water to survive), under the sink, inside cabinets, under the refrigerator and behind the garbage can are good starting places.
•  Cockroaches tend to walk along the walls and cabinets, rather than in the middle of open rooms. Place bait stations so that at least one edge is in contact with a vertical surface and you’ll increase the chance that cockroaches will find it.
• For baits to be most effective, all other food sources should be eliminated. Don’t leave any food lying around, and clean the house thoroughly.

For more information on cockroaches and the cockroach-to-asthma connection, subscribe to Combat® product’s new blog, which is updated throughout the week: combatbugs.blogspot.com. To learn more about pest prevention and control strategies, visit www.combatbugs.com. Combat® products retail from $2.49 to $14.99 and are available at most major retailers.    

For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better and more beautiful.  Henkel operates in three business areas – Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesive Technologies – and is ranked among the Fortune Global 500 companies. More than 60 percent of Henkel’s sales are in fast-moving consumer goods, while the industrial business accounts for almost 40 percent of the company’s total sales. In fiscal 2007, Henkel generated sales of 13,074 million euros and operating profit of 1,344 million euros. Our more than 55,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust in brands and technologies from Henkel.