How to keep roaches from moving with you?

Question

We are moving from an apartment to a house. The apt we are living in has roaches. I'm not sure of how big of a problem it is because I've never had roaches before. I probably see 3-4 roaches a day. I don't want to bring these roaches to our new house. I have bought boric acid and roach motels to set out in the apt. We are not moving for another 2 weeks so hopefully there is time for them to die before we move. We don't have a lot of money so an exterminator or a uhaul is out of the question. What can I do to leave the roaches here and not move them to our new house?

Answer 1

Get new boxes, shake everything out before you put it in the box. Check even the crevices and cracks of food boxes like Mac and cheese/dry goods. These can go in a large trash bags tied up after they are checked throurougly. As soon as boxes are packed, don't leave them in the home, to get reinfested, put them in the car right away. Or Pack some things in large 45 gallon garbage bags and put in car. I like to use large plastic storage totes as well to pack in. Roaches are hard to get rid of cause they are in the walls, so 2 weeks with boric acid while you are waiting may not get rid of them all. They lay eggs in crevices , walls, and places ( even pots and pans and dishes) we don't look in everyday. Can you rent a small storage space for one month to put boxes in as you pack? Get one that is fully enclosed--not the kind with the chicken wire at the top but one enclosed and with metal walls. That way as you shake-n-pack, you can store the stuff away from the apt so you won't take more bugs with you.

Also: What also helped me once was these Raid roach baits. Get the kind with the Eggstoppers pads.( You'll get a box with 12 baits and about 3 eggstopper pads) You put out the baits then " specially place" these little pads under the sink stove and cabinets, and behind toilet. They keep the bugs from reproducing and dropping eggs. They worked pretty well for me.

Answer 2

It would take months of no food and water before the roaches died or left. They're among the planet's hardiest survivors of unfavorable conditions. If you still have roaches despite a professional exterminator, obviously they're finding places the exterminator isn't getting (inside walls, among clutter or building materials, on hanging clothing or behind it on the wall, within cracks between floor and wall, behind appliances...) and you're providing them with everything they need in terms of food and water. Pack all foods in glass or metal. Keep the kitchen and dining area as clean as an operating room. Don't eat or drink anywhere else. Sweep and vacuum daily. Empty and clean closets, remove clutter, get rid of renovation debris. Treat for roaches you do not see before putting anything away. I would prep the new house by seeding it with various anti-roach products (which you use depends on whether you have kids or pets) containing boric acid, bleach, etc. And before I moved to it, I would do the same at my present house. The sad fact of the matter is that if you have roaches at House A, you will move them to House B. You need to eradicate them before the move.

Answer 3

One never knows, the new place may also be infested. Wash everything washable; clothing, linens, dishes, wipe down furniture, etc., with a good, strong cleaner, lysol, pinesol, whichever is suitable for what you are washing/cleaning. The best way would be to wash/clean, then move it right away.
The serious problem will be those eggs; you move them, you move the roaches.
So, clean, clean, clean (along with that boric acid).

Answer 4

Roaches are big. When you pack look things over carefully and shake out everthing. You will be able to see anything that is hiding. and when you move something they are on they will run away.

Answer 5

TAKE NO EXISTING CARDBOARD BOXES.
They may live or lay eggs in the corrugated openings. Shake out anything that can hold them.
Use plastic containers or new boxes to pack everything.
It will be worth it.