How to Get Rid of Roaches in an Apartment
Roaches are a common household pest that can be extremely difficult to eradicate. Household roaches are medium sized (approximately one inch long, fully grown), and commonly found in areas where you prepare food and eat. Apartment dwellers can get ride of them with a little persistence, but it is no easy task. Here are some tips to point you in the right direction. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Purchase a roach control product (such as Combat roach gel --- a very common and reliable poison) at your nearest pharmacy, grocery store, hardware store or big box retail store. These products are usually toxic to humans, so this is not a good option for households with pets and children. Follow the directions as indicated on the box.
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If you live in an apartment or other common dwelling, contact your management company as soon as you realize you have a problem. If you own your apartment, contact a professional pest control company and ask for a consultation. In the meantime, keep track of all areas of the apartment where you see roaches and discuss this with the pest control company when they come to your apartment. Ask them for tips on how to keep roaches at bay and be sure to follow the advice of the experts.
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Don't leave food on the counter or stove. This attracts roaches as well as other types of insects. Put all your food into plastic containers. Do not leave food in cardboard boxes or anything that doesn't seal properly. Even food in cabinets should be put into plastic containers so bugs cannot get to it.
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Clean your apartment thoroughly and keep it clean. Do not leave dishes in the sink for long periods of time, and take out your trash regularly. Sweep your floors often, and clear off the table of crumbs after every meal. Stuff any holes in your walls (such as in places where pipes enter your apartment) with steel wool as this is a great way to keep insects out.
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Talk to your neighbors or tenant association to find out if other parts of the building are stricken with pests. If your neighbors don't have bugs, then the problem could originate with you. Consider changing your cleaning habits and lifestyle.
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Tips & Warnings
When searching for an apartment, pay close attention to the lights in the ceiling. The bugs you'll find in the apartment will often be on display in the overhead lights, because insects crawl in and die before they can escape.
In urban areas, some buildings develop roach problems on a different scale than described here. XL sized roaches (sometimes known as "waterbugs") may live in the basement of apartment buildings. They commonly do not visit the apartments above, but may come up at night through the pipes. Waterbugs are approximately 2+ inches long, and a deep red-brown or black color.
