Can I get rid of the roaches in my apartment or is it a lost cause?

Question

I live on the 6 th floor of a large apartment building and right after I moved in I realized the place had a serious roach problem. The landlord sent out the exterminator twice, I have bombed the place twice, and put out boric acid. This has been over the last 12 days! The exterminator told me it would take time. I sleep with the lights on and earplugs. None of my neighbors have roaches so I don't know why they are sticking around my place and not moving into any of the other apartments. Any hope from anyone? Should I give it more time or if they are not gone after 12 days then they are never going to be gone?

They are Geman Roaches, most are very small

Answer 1

Your neighbors are probably lying. Roaches don't usually hang out that far from ground level unless there's a regular food source. If you get a cat, it will chase them back into the neighbor's place. In the meantime, keep all your food tightly sealed, and the faucets tightly shut so there aren't any food sources in your place. A little boric acid around the perimeter of the room won't hurt you or the cat, but will repel the roaches. Good luck!

Answer 2

Did you sign a lease or are you on a month to month basis? Did you see the exterminator. Keep complaining and tell the landlord you want the exterminator to go inside your apt. or you'll be forced to leave due to an uninhabital living environment. Really if the landlord doesn't fix the problem you gotta get out of there and get a new apt. and when you go looking for apts look for signs of bugs in the cabnits and everywhere and ask the landlord if they've had any problems w/ roaches. Sleeping w/ the lights on w/ earplugs and basicly being in fear of those nastly little things is no way to live. The 1st time I saw a roach at my house i called truly nolen and since then the only bugs i see are dead. Good Luck

Answer 3

Take it from a Floridian where roaches are a big problem. Luckily I have none in my home. Every few weeks i sprinkle boric acid powder available at k-mart, wal-mart in the bug spray section. Sprinkle it under sinks, behind stoves , fridge, back of toilet where roaches like to breed. Keep your counters wiped off with clorox. To get rid of the ones that you have, clean, clean and clean. Wipe down surfaces with bleach, vaccum behind appliances to get rid of eggs. If you are really infected look in the slats of the venetian blinds if you have them, they lay eggs there. If you have a cat, make sure that box is cleaned often.They also love wet clothing in a hamper. You also need to get roach traps , not the cheap ones Be diligent. If after a few weeks they do not go away you will need to call a professional.

Answer 4

Is there paneling in your apartment? That is usually the worst scenario, as roaches love to hide behind paneling. The second problem is usually food that is left out but, given the things you've tried so far, I doubt that is the cause of your infestation.

Have you tried "roach motels"? I worked with an elderly couple whose home was over-run by roaches, and it took us months to get rid of the bugs. If you are doing your best to get rid of them, and are successful, you have a legal right (in most communities) to have your lease broken. Check with your "Tenants' Rights" through your city government.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

unfortunately when they spray in one apartment the roaches all move to another apartment. roaches are resilliant. when you move make sure you do not take roaches with you or they will multiply. if you stay the best you can do is get the landlord to keep spraying regularly and keep the window open for fresh air! If you have a pet it could get sick from the spray too. good luck.

Answer 6

Roaches are scavengers. Stop leaving food scraps around the place. Don't eat in your bedroom or living room. Once you're finished,clean up,especially with some bleach based cleaner. Roaches hate that.. Don't leave too much garbage in your aprtment,roaches love that smell. If you drink soda pop ,rinse the container before throwing it away so they don't smell the residue.

Answer 7

You need to completely sanitize your house. Clean the toilet every day, keep all food, including cereal and bread boxes in the fridge, clean every dish as you use it, sweep and vacuum every day. If they don't have anything to eat they will move on to another house. I have had them before and they are horrible although they are harmless. You can find them with a trained Beagle dog and bust up the drywall to kill them. If it is an apartment you can probably sure the landlord if he won't do anything or move.

Answer 8

roaches can go for a long time without food but only a few days without water. try to be sure you don't leave anything for them to eat or drink. although this is difficult if you have a toilet!
the next step is to get a caulking gun and seal up every minute nook and cranny. make sure there are no cracks in the paint and cover over any electrical plates not in use.

make sure there are no holes anywhere for the things to hide in.

bait them with poisoned food; make this their only option. it will take several months and a lot of nuisance, and as soon as one crawls in from your hallway, you'll be right back at it.
my solution? seal up everything you own, go on vacation for a week, and then move leave them behind, it's the only way to get rid of them. it is impossible to get rid of them from a communal building and keeping rid of them.

Answer 9

If they are the huge version... then yes it is possible to get rid of them with patience and constant spraying. If they are the little German variety, then good luck! I'd move and leave all my stuff to a yard sale because they are now in your furniture and your clothing and bedding!

You might have to take all your stuff and put it into storage and bomb the apartment.

Just move if you can and trust me... leave everything!

Answer 10

This sounds really mild (and inexpensive), but it worked for me in college....I was the only one without roaches in my dorm room - and believe me....we had some BIG ones living on our hall. I took bay leaves and slipped them in the moulding around the floor. I put one leaf for about every foot. Apparantly, roaches don't care for the smell. Good luck!