How to Smoke Cockroaches out of the Walls

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Things You'll Need

  • Paper mask or respirator

  • Insecticide smoke bomb

  • Vacuum cleaner

  • Broom

  • Mop

  • Rags

Cockroaches bring with them viruses, bacteria and other health dangers.

You may have heard someone refer to smoking out roaches to control an infestation. This phrasing commonly refers to the process of setting smoke-bomb-style insecticide disbursement units. As the name suggests, these devices create large clouds of insecticide that penetrates walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces where roaches often hide. This sends roaches scurrying into open spaces, where they breathe in even more of the poison and quickly die. Smoke bombs are quite effective but may also be dangerous if used incorrectly, so safeguard your home before beginning.

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Step 1

Remove food and cooking items, hygiene products, animals and other people from the room to be bombed. If you are smoke bombing the entire living space, board your pets and make arrangements for your family to stay elsewhere for the next 24 hours. Close all windows and doors to rooms that are not being smoked. Turn off any central air systems.

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Step 2

Put on a paper mask or respirator so your nose and mouth are covered. Place one or two smoke bombs in each room to be treated. Point the opening of each bomb away from you and quickly exit the room.

Step 3

Work from the back of your home toward the front door if you are smoking more than one room or the entire area. Close the front door behind you. Stay away for the necessary amount of time or a full day if the entire home was treated.

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Step 4

Enter your home and open all window and doors. Vacuum or sweep and mop all of the floors in your home, then wipe down the walls and moldings with a damp rag. Turn on your central air system, if you have one and bring your pets back in.

Warning

Wash all items of clothing worn while setting off the smoke bombs as well as the rags used to wipe down walls and surfaces.

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