Roach Infestation.....What do I do?

Question

I have a 6-unit building in which I have some fairly decent roach problems. I have had problems for about the last 2 years and they don't seem to get any better. I'm on my 3rd pest control company that does monthly service to each unit and I'm still not making any head way. It's finally costing me way too much money to ignore the problem. How do I solve this issue once and for all? I'm ready to take matters into my own hands and don't really care how much it is going to cost.

I've been doing research on roach baits and growth regulators that people seem to have good luck with according to reviews. Should I drop a couple hundred dollars on these products and just go to war with these roaches? What's the best solution and tactics?

Thanks for your help!

I've been doing research on roach baits and growth regulators that people seem to have good luck with according to reviews.  Should I drop a couple hundred dollars on these products and just go to war with these roaches?  What's the best solution and tactics?

Thanks for your help!

Michael Boyer · Answer

I had one roach battle (and won!)... a federal employee from the south (Houston) moved in and unpacked more that we bargained for... We don't even have these in my climate but these little tourists thrived when unpacked.  Within 6 mos, we had a roach infestation.... I tried the over the counter stuff and even went a bit overboard in a vacant unit but to no avail (yes they spread, move into walls, crawl spaces and attics, other units)...

It was not chemical force that won in the end. Instead, I had to out think them. First, I identified the roach type and studied up (alot) on their behaviors. The approach I used was actually not that toxic but labor intensive.

Here are a few fond memories and details:

1) First remove attractants (like standing water pet food, etc).

2) Apply baits. My main ingredients for weapons were simply a boric acid (borax) and sugar powder mix (about 1 to 10 borax to sugar). I mix it and sprinkle in to all their pathways, behind cabinets (even drill into inconspicuous places to insert it, then caulk up the hole). They actually (I learned) will lick themselves like crazy and track and bring this mixture back to the colony and it causes colony collapse (dehydrates them or something). It is effective as long as it is dry. I even dumped a few bags in the fire wall space between units in the attic. Don't forget the crawlspace, behind and under all appliances, etc. They also make a powder you can squeeze out of a container (same thing with flour and added pheremone, and I used a few bottles of that, too).  I also used a peanut butter looking roach poison that comes in a syringe and shot it into every wall outlet and in behind all appliances, and gaps, etc. I bought it in bulk.

3) Remove habitat and cover. For this roach species this entailed caulking all, and I mean ALL, cracks in crevices in the units; every gap between molding and wall, cabinets, etc. You can actually see dark spots where they enter and exit, (doing you know what before going inside...) Appliances are the real hiding spaces, too, so I put some of the circular poisons on the backsides of these. Try to make sure they literally have no place to go to hide or avoid the boric acid mix, etc...

Within a few weeks, we did not see one alive and never have again. The boric acid is also good for ants and other insects (used in integrated pest management I understand). I suspect I may be big free some time with these substances still in walls in between units, under cabinets, etc.

You have to do all the units, common areas, attics, crawlspaces, all appliances, etc. It just takes an almost fanatical persistence to neatly caulk up all the cracks in crevices and place your powder and poisons in behind each outlet wall plate, behind each oven or fridge...under every cabinet, in any nook and cranny (there can be no hiding places)...

At one point in my research I called a local exterminator and went through my ideas, and he was like "Man, you got this. You know more about this roach species than I do..." I am not sure I could have afforded the hourly on what I did anyway... Lots of labor..

So it worked for me (the other property managers in town told me Plan B was to get all tenants a  motel for 2 days in dead of winter; drain all pipes and winterize fourplex; then open the windows on the coldest days and freeze them all. Glad I didn't have to try that.) Best of luck

Sarah Ziehr · Answer

Never knew roaches could be decent. :)

Have you tried sending mailers to your tenants with helpful hints like keeping all their food in the refrigerator, have you made sure there are no water leaks anywhere? Roaches need food and water to exist.

James DeRoest · Answer

^ What that fanatical guy said!

First thing though is caulking everything up, foam up plumbing holes, making sure doors have sweeps, etc, so that nothing from outside can get inside. That's the biggest battle.

Eugene Kemp · Answer

German roaches require multiple trips within a couple of weeks, not months and persistent treatment until gone. Find a GOOD bug guy that knows how to get rid of them. We were successful after a couple of visits. Good luck!

Jeremy Lamb · Answer

No signs of water leaks anywhere.  I've accompanied pest control every time they do the monthly spraying to inspect apartments.  There is one that could use a little better house keep skills, but not bad enough to contribute to a huge roach infestation.  The pest control company sprays a good deal....but we are just not getting results.

Jeremy Lamb · Answer

Definitely German.

Roach Infestation.....What do I do?

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