How do you get rid of cockroaches?

Question

I live in florida, and I just found a cockroach in my bedroom?

My room is pretty clean, just the few occasional articles of clothing, and a few red bull cans lying around.

I'm going to give it a thorough cleaning.

But what else should I do?

Call pest control?

Know of anything that repels them?

Answer 1

Florida is famous for palmetto bugs. they are all over the place. is that what you are referring to??

Answer 2

There's a product you can buy and spray around your home INSIDE/OUTSIDE of your home/apt.. It's called ORTHO HOME DEFENSE... It comes in a gallon sized container with a sprayer... It's harmless to fabrics/woodwork and it will keep most bugs OUT of your dwelling.. You simply spray it along doors, windows, baseboards, behind appliances etc... Let it dry and it keeps spiders, fleas, silverfish, ladybugs, ants, etc.. Away and is guaranteed for up to 6 months.. I live in a heavily wooded area and get ants here/there as well as gigantic spiders... This spray works reallly well!  It's also NOT expensive it's around $15 for a HUGE container... Save your receipt if it doesn't work you call the #1-800 on the back of the container and you get money-saving coupons for ORTHO-PRODUCTS.... It's available at most hardware/drug/grocery stores...

*** I would use this spray in addition to the other "detailed" answer here in your question....

Cockroaches.. .LOVE cardboard so you may want to get rid of any cardboard boxes and store food/panty items in glass or sealed plastic containers...

Good luck

Answer 3

GET RID OF COCKROACHES NOW!

Once you've seen roaches in your living space, odds are there are many more out of view. You can begin an active stance against the roach by getting rid of those who have made their presence known to you. Try:

1. sprinkling a small amount of boric acid where you've seen roaches travel through your home. The roach will poison themselves by ingesting the acid during their regular grooming routine. Be sure to sprinkle in dark, damp areas, too, like under bathroom and kitchen sinks, behind washers and dryers, and around the refrigerator, and behind appliances. Note: The ingestion of boric acid is also toxic to humans. Do not use in areas where small children or animals play, sleep, or eat.

2. You can make your own insecticide by mixing equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar and setting up a mock bait plate for the roaches. After mixing your sugar and soda, eave the mixture in a shallow dish where roaches have been seen or are known to travel. The combination of sugar and soda is lethal to the cockroach.

3. Roaches hate the taste of bay leaves. You can naturally and safely keep most roaches at bay by placing the leaves anywhere you've seen roaches moving. Using bay leaves is a great way to keep roaches out of the rooms and play area of children.

4. Don't water the roaches! Cockroaches can survive for months without eating, but they need a daily source of water to thrive. Never leave water in the sink, in dirty dishes, or other areas of the house. Check other sources of water as well, such as leaky plumbing, under-refrigerator dampness, and concrete sweating. Wipe all traces of water from the sink after you've done the dishes and wipe down the bath area after use, as well.

5. Clean, clean, clean! Cockroaches naturally gravitate toward areas which are littered with cockroach droppings. Use a detergent or disinfectant to thoroughly clean the area and deter a re-infestation. On concrete floors and walls, you can use a mixture of bleach and water to disinfect the area. Other services can be cleaned with everyday cleansers or antibacterial soaps and scrubs.

INSECTICIDES

Severe home invasions will require more attention than bay leaves, baking soda, and elbow grease. Many insecticides are available on the market today which address cockroach infestation concerns. New gel-based cockroach specific insecticides work fast and are relatively effective in cockroach removal. Baits and gel insecticides work in as little as 1-2 days and often, have little or no offensive odor and are safer to use in areas where children and pets are present. Glue traps, which cause the roach to become stuck in his tracks, also work well in areas that are hard to reach. For heavier or repeat infestations, try sprays, crack and crevice aerosols and foggers, or dusting powder. If all else fails, don't be afraid to call an exterminator!

HOW TO REMAIN COCKROACH-FREE

1. Always clean food (including crumbs) from counter tops, tables and other areas of the house.

2. Fix plumbing leaks and establish a moisture control program in the house. Use a dehumidifier, if necessary, and wipe up water spills immediately.

3. Insulate pipes.

4. Get rid of clutter! Rummage through drawers and cabinets and eliminate stray bags, papers, old newspapers, plastic shopping bags, and envelopes. Keep the area under sinks and around washers and dryers well organized, clean, and orderly. Scrub basement floors with a solution of bleach and hot water several times a year. Invest in a dehumidifier to control household moisture.

5. Caulk or seal pipe moldings. If the hole is too large to be caulked, push steel wool pads into the open spaces until you've formed a tight seal. Foam caulking also works well at filling large holes around pipes.

  

Answer 4

I live in a 28 story building and my place is spotless however when i first moved here there were a few in the kitchen from dirty neighbors . I cleaned like crazy but did nothing. If you rent, have your landlord call an exterminator. They came and it worked instantly with no harm to my kitten or myself.