How to Get Rid of a Roach Problem in Your Apartment

If you have cockroaches in your apartment, be careful about how you choose to get rid of them. While it may be tempting to perform all-out maneuvers to rid yourself of this nasty creepy crawlies, utilizing the most extreme methods can be harmful to your health and safety.

Cockroaches usually appear in the kitchen or bathroom, especially if you've left these locations in unclean conditions. Cockroaches are attracted to open food and water sources, so keeping your home clean and tidy will help prevent infestations from occurring in the first place. But if you live in an apartment, the occurrence of infestations are sometimes beyond your control. When it is, you need to contact a roach exterminator in NYC. A trained, certified professional is your best chance at eliminating an ongoing problem.

The Problem with Cockroaches

Cockroaches are nocturnal species, so if you begin to see them during the daytime hours, that might mean you have a serious infestation. They tend to hide in the dark, moist places, such as behind refrigerators, sinks, or stoves, or even under floor drains. If you have an infestation, you might also notice other signs, such as feces (usually ones that resemble black pepper) as well as unpleasant odors. You may also find oval-shaped egg cases behind furniture or other hidden locations. Cockroaches don't bite, but large populations can still be dangerous. They can spread disease and will also make your home a less sanitary place to live and relax. If you notice signs of an infestation, take immediate action to get rid of these pests.   Cockroach (Photo: Janet Hurley, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Bugwood.org)

"Cockroaches are nocturnal species, so if you begin to see them during the daytime hours, that might mean you have a serious infestation."

-Rest Easy Pest Control

What Do I Do If I Find Cockroaches in My Apartment?

First, contact your on-site handyman or unit manager. Let them know you have found a roach infestation because the likelihood that it is limited to your unit is small. They might already have a pest control service on retainer to deal with the problem. If they don't you can recommend Rest Easy Pest Control as we are efficient at getting rid of roaches in NYC. If you own the apartment, you need to talk to the individuals that live around you. They might have an infestation, and even if your ownership of the apartment unit gives you full license to kill these uninvited guests, it doesn't give you the right to fog out your neighbors with your pest control techniques.  

DIY Methods to Eliminate Roaches in Your Apartment

There's a harsh truth all of us must face at some point in our lives: cockroaches aren't going anywhere. They've survived for billions of years and no amount of global upheaval or nuclear holocaust will destroy them. If your home or apartment has an infestation of roaches, what should you do? What can you do? Where are the roaches coming from?! If you want to rescue your home from these creatures, you can follow these four simple steps to get rid of them:  

• #1: Utilize preventative measures

All of your efforts will be in vain if more cockroaches continue to pour into your home, unabated, while you're trying to cast out the ones that are already inside. To prevent this, take the necessary steps to avoid it. Cockroaches typically want to get inside your house or apartment for food and water. Removing easy access to these things will do wonders in preventing a worse infestation of roaches. Basically, take your garbage out on a regular basis, seal up leftovers, and remove any standing water near your home. Also, be sure to fill in cracks and gaps around the perimeter of your home.  

• #2: Spread around roach bait stations

The gel is a popular type of cockroach bait, and it can be spread anywhere, out of the reach of children and pets. It works by lining your walls, cupboards, and other places you've noticed them with the substance. The poison contained in the gel is slow-acting, so unsuspecting cockroaches will carry it back to their nest, where it will spread to their brethren. This has proven to be a highly effective method of dealing with an infestation of roaches.  

"Take your garbage out on a regular basis, seal up leftovers, and remove any standing water near your home. Also, be sure to fill in cracks and gaps around the perimeter of your home."

-Rest Easy Pest Control

• #3: Use boric acid rather than standard chemicals

This is a popular method that people often don't consider. While you can spray chemicals in your home as a way to kill the infestation of roaches, the "wonderful" thing about these creatures is their ability to adapt. If you use chemicals and don't get rid of the entire infestation soon enough, the survivors will become immune to whatever you're using. Boric acid, however, acts by drying out the cockroaches in order to kill them, which is something they are not able to become immune to.  

• #4. Bug bombs

Foggers, or aerosol bug bombs, are often used by pest control companies to get rid of a large-scale cockroach infestation. However, you have to be careful about using these in an apartment because they won't just affect your unit, but also those in the entire building. Everybody must be gone to avoid turning the apartment building into a gas chamber. Check with your management company, or consider hiring a pest control service, before trying one of these methods on your own. There are several do-it-yourself methods of getting rid of cockroaches that, at the very least, can help keep their populations at bay. For example, flour and sugar stick traps will help draw cockroaches in and prevent them from moving away. These are best used in areas where children and pets can't find them. Other home control methods include commercial killers and traps. These utilize poison that the cockroaches eat and then bring back to their nests to share. Again, don't use these if you have children or pets as they may find them interesting. You can also purchase poisonous sprays to help control the common cockroach entry points.  

• #5. Call the experts

If you own your apartment and have decided to take the next step in getting rid of your cockroach infestation, call an expert immediately. They will have the tools and experience necessary to undercover, destroy, and prevent future infestations of cockroaches. They know where to look for and how to get rid of these creatures. Make sure you receive a contract that spells out the exact types and prices of services that will be performed. If you have detected or suspect a cockroach infestation in your apartment, don't stress. Call pest control experts today to get rid of your unwanted tenants.

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