Roaches

knucklehead G · #1 05-27-2011, 03:17 PM

German cockroach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I moved from KC to Phoenix a week ago today, signed a nine month lease and everything seemed okay for a few days.

In the last two days I've squashed five of these little ****ers in my bathroom and kitchen. Apparently these guys prefer those environments, but I'm in a studio so my kitchen is also my bedroom.

I've sprayed some stuff, and I've found a half-dead one on its back kicking at in the kitchen, so apparently its working, but it does not change the grossness of this whole event. From what I've read they are almost impossible to fully eradicate..

Anyone have any tips? If the apartment fixes the bug problem like they fixed the non-fitting, leaking dishwasher (by installing one worse) then I'm on my own. We rented this place completely unseen via a lead this Renter Connection girl gave us, and she came recommended by my school so we trusted her. That's a whole 'nother issue right there, but right now I need bug help.

emor · #2 05-27-2011, 03:23 PM

Boric acid.

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef614.asp

Selta · #3 05-27-2011, 03:26 PM

Start filing complaints with whoever you're renting from - document each time that you do. Take pictures, send certified letters if you have to. Review your contract and your local laws on Renter's Rights. If they don't take care of an infestation, I would think you'd be able to easily break the lease without any consequences.

EBodious · #4 05-27-2011, 04:51 PM

borax + sugar for the roaches.

renter laws for the management group.

thicker skin for your peace of mind.

i find that familiarity is the key. unpleasant new things can be very disturbing at first; give yourself time to settle in.

and a tip: i dealt with roaches in both new york and nor cal. when you enter a room close your eyes, turn on the lights, count to five, open your eyes - no roach problem!

Fat.Mike · #5 05-27-2011, 05:01 PM

I used to be like you, the roaches grossed me out. After a year in my current place I use my bare hand for dispatching my little friends! Just keep food sealed up, kill every last one you can, use roach powder, and eventually they will go away if you don't have anything they want (food/booze.).

Clark Dark · #6 05-27-2011, 05:11 PM

RAID is your friend..that other stuff acts like aphrodesiacs for the little critters. Spend a little extra and use RAID, get it at Lowes or Home Depot and follow the directions. If you have them the neighbor has them as well, coordinate spraying all adjoining apartments at the same time.

MJ5150 · #7 05-27-2011, 05:21 PM

Call Billy.

-Mike

Lazylion · #8 05-28-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBodious

when you enter a room close your eyes, turn on the lights, count to five, open your eyes - no roach problem!

Ha ha, man, that takes me back!

**pacojas** · #9 05-28-2011, 03:00 PM

buy a rat, then a cat, then a dog.

Skitch it! · #10 05-28-2011, 03:01 PM

YouTube - ‪Frank Zappa - The Dangerous Kitchen‬&rlm;

bassbrad · #11 05-28-2011, 05:32 PM

+1 on Boric Acid as a bait and also as a barrier to keep them out. I have a sensitivity to pesticides and pets so Boric acid it the safest solution.

**line6man** · #12 05-28-2011, 05:39 PM

YouTube - ‪Ricky Smiley- Roaches in my House‬&rlm;

**Staccato** · #13 05-28-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBodious

borax + sugar for the roaches.

renter laws for the management group.

thicker skin for your peace of mind.

i find that familiarity is the key. unpleasant new things can be very disturbing at first; give yourself time to settle in.

and a tip: i dealt with roaches in both new york and nor cal. when you enter a room close your eyes, turn on the lights, count to five, open your eyes - no roach problem!

Ebodious is on to something - with that Tip!

Side note: Occasionally, with overhead lights, I feel just like a roach-ready to run for cover!

capnjim · #14 05-28-2011, 06:12 PM

I used to keep mine in a baggie, then when my buddies came over I would combine them all together......

Hey somebody had to do it!!

Tat2dHeart · #15 05-28-2011, 07:16 PM

The German roach variety is the hardest to exterminate. I bought a foreclosed house that had previously had an infestation. In Florida, they're so common they even have special names for some of them. Tips from my exterminator through that process:

* Get rid of all your cardboard boxes, even the empty ones. They like the corrugate for harborage
* Don't leave food out. And don't take it to other rooms. Random unseen crumbs in other rooms give them something to encourage spreading
* Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. If you have a dishwasher and don't run it daily, rinse the dishes before you load the dishwasher, the critters can and will get in there to get to a food source
* Use borax (boric acid) around baseboards, backs of cabinets, doors, but it won't totally get rid of the problem
* Get professional help with the hard to kill varieties - they usually require a significant treatment, then repeated maintenance treatments to keep them fully eradicated

Renter's laws vary by state, so check yours out. In a couple of places I've lived, you are required to notify your landlord of the problem and give them a remedy period. If they fail to correct the problem, you can correct it and deduct the cost of the correction from your rent. I don't know if that's the case in Kansas and Missouri, though.

Last but not least - keep in mind that apartment complexes will have a tough time keeping that problem down. Those critters have survived for millions of years. If you get rid of them in your apartment, they may just go to another apartment in the same building, so they'll make the rounds as other apartments exterminate.