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I Have a Clean House! Why am I Getting Cockroaches?

Clean House Cockroach Problems in the Greater Charlotte Area

You might be surprised, but cockroaches don’t just infest dirty homes. While it’s true that messy places offer more hiding spots and food for them, we’ve seen roaches in all kinds of clean homes—places with housekeepers, penthouses, you name it. The thing is, cockroaches only need three things to survive: a place to hide, moisture, and something to eat. And unfortunately, even the cleanest homes have those!

Roaches are resourceful. They can hide anywhere—inside cabinets, refrigerators, and even appliances. As for water, they can find it in sinks, condensation near your fridge, or even the tiny amount left in sink traps. They’re also not picky eaters. Things like glue, crumbs, leather, and even feathers can keep them alive. Different species have different habits too. For example, brown-banded cockroaches don’t need much water and can live in places like bedroom furniture, while American cockroaches can wander far from water but still need it to survive.

Cockroaches can sneak in several ways. Some live in sewer lines and might come through drains, especially if they’re not used often and the water evaporates, leaving the trap dry. This is why it’s important to keep those drains wet—whether it’s sinks, showers, or toilets. You can even add a little mineral oil to slow down water evaporation in rarely used drains.

Another way they get in is through items brought into the home. Takeout from infested restaurants, antiques, rental equipment, or even moving vans can all be culprits. If you live in an apartment or townhouse, they can come from a neighbor’s place, especially during warmer months.

Roaches can hitch a ride on almost anything—like takeout food, your kid’s stuff from camp or college, or even furniture. In attached homes, they can travel through shared walls, using plumbing and electrical chases to move between units. And if there are gaps under your doors, they can walk right in!

Roaches usually come out at night, so if you’re seeing them during the day, it could be a sign of a larger infestation. Since cockroaches reproduce quickly and can survive on so little, it’s best to contact a professional to handle the problem. DIY solutions can sometimes make things worse, as over-the-counter products may not work well due to resistance or roaches simply avoiding certain baits. “Bug bombs” can also push them deeper into your home, making it harder to get rid of them later.

If you are truly looking to get rid of cockroaches in the Greater Charlotte Area, then your best bet is to call Killingsworth Environmental.

I Have a Clean House! Why am I Getting Cockroaches?

Bedbug inspection

How to Know if Your Hotel Has Bedbugs

Upon entering a hotel room, do you typically reach for the tiny toiletries, take a leap onto the bed, or perhaps start by inspecting for bed bugs? Knowing what to look for is essential. Anticimex Carolinas Service Manager Christian Tweed has shared valuable insights on identifying bed bugs in your hotel room and preventing them from hitching a ride back home with you. And if bed bugs do become an unexpected part of your vacation, remember that Clark’s Pest Control is here to assist!



Q&A with a Pest Professional


How do bed bugs get inside hotels?


Bed bugs are primarily hitchhiking insects as opposed to foraging ones, meaning that they get carried around on people’s clothes and belongings. Someone with an active infestation in their home can easily bring bed bugs to their hotel, but they can also be picked up during travel (airplanes, taxis, and rideshare services) and brought to a hotel room.


What do people misunderstand about bed bugs in hotels?


From a probability standpoint, all hotels will deal with bed bugs at some point in time. If you think about a bed bug’s method of travel, there’s literally nothing a hotel can do to stop them from being carried in. What I have realized is that luxury hotels are more likely to have an aggressive response to dealing with a bed bug case once it’s identified as they tend to have a higher quality of service and a reputation to protect. While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience more often than not.

Got bedbugs? Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today!

What do you recommend travelers do when they get to their room to check for bed bugs?


Most hotel headboards hang directly on the wall. I start my inspection here before even looking at the bed itself. I have found bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and the telltale black stains they leave behind around the edges of or in the crevices of headboards. If the headboard looks clean, move on to looking over the pillowcases and comforter for any signs or stains. You can dig into the bedding as deep as you want here, but I encourage people to look over the top layer of things at the very least.


What are some lesser-known signs of bed bugs in your hotel room?


The specifics of the black stains they leave behind, which as gross as it sounds, are just digested blood as that’s all that bed bugs feed on. If the stains are on a hard surface, they will be small dots as if left behind by an ink pen and will smear into a brownish gray when moisture is applied. If they’re on fabric, they will usually bleed along the fibers making a small diamond, square or X shape.


If there are bed bugs in your hotel room, can they travel home with you?


They absolutely can, however this is easy to prevent. While staying in a hotel, keep as much of your clothing and luggage off the beds as possible. Storing suitcases in the bathroom might sound odd, but it’s an effective method of prevention.

Don’t tackle bedbugs yourself, call Clark’s at 866-781-4991!

What should you do with your suitcase if you suspect your hotel has bed bugs?


When arriving home from a trip, leave your luggage in the garage or on a porch and bring your clothes in one load of laundry at a time. If the clothes are dirty, wash them like you normally would, if they’re clean then run them through the dryer for at least forty-five minutes. Once your suitcase is empty, vacuum over it meticulously (don’t forget to empty the vacuum when you’re done), or if you’re in the right climate, expose it to heat for a few days by placing it in your vehicle (parked in the sun) or for a few weeks in your attic.


The Clark’s Solution


If you brought bed bugs back to you home, Clark’s is here to help. Our Bedbug Control service is designed to eliminate bedbugs and create a safe, comfortable environment.


A Clark’s Pest Professional will do an inspection and recommend a plan of attack to get rid of bed bugs now and prevent them from hatching in the future. Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today for more information.



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