Is there anything I can use to kill cockroaches that WILL NOT harm my clothing?

Question

I live in Florida- and there are cockroaches (down here it doesn't matter how clean your home is- these buggers happen). And I've come to terms with that....

My problem is that they are in my closet-- near my clothing.

Is there anything I can use to kill these pests that WILL NOT harm my clothing?

I'm afraid RAID, and similar pesticides will harm my fabrics/leave them smelly..

Help?

Answer 1

You can use any type of bug fogger. We live in TX with same issues. No residue is left on clothing. You just follow directions and be sure no humans or pets are left if the house. Also, if you have gas, dont leave any pilot lights on as they can cause some ignition. This is the only way we found to effectively control them in such a warm climate.

Answer 2

Florida has been notorious for their huge cockroaches. Here is how you can prevent them.



There are things you can do to prevent them that most people just don't think about. When you clean up your kitchen, don't use your dishcloth (the one you used on the dishes) to wipe off your stove, countertops, table, etc. Use a different, clean cloth. The dishcloth, even if rinsed out, still has tiny particles of food and grease, which is then put back on surfaces. Wipe everything off with the clean one and maybe a little dish detergent. Roaches can actually live off those tiny food particles. Clean the sides of your stove, the outside of your hot water heater & refrigerator, corners in the kitchen. Clean the grease pans, the oven,..they love grease...Get some Boric Acid and sprinkle it in corners of cabinets and behind and under big appliances, also in your closet. Sprinkle it along the baseboards. Roaches go down your drains and live in the septic tank, then they come out at night. That is why they spread bacteria all over your home. Plus, they defecate on things...like your plates in the cabinets. Keep your drains closed at night if possible.

They like to get behind wallpaper and can live off the glue. If you have wallpaper peeling, they are behind it. Either get it glued down good or remove it. If you have a leaking pipe or water leaking into your roof, they will go to that water and spread from there. Fix any water leak problems, under sinks, leaky roof, etc.

Take your furniture outside, cover it with plastic and set a roach bomb off or spray under the furniture to get them out of the furniture 'outside' the house.

They have eggs all over the place and those eggs will hatch. Keep doing everything to deter them and they will actually leave. Why would they stay at your clean house when somebody down the street isn't so meticulous and they can get a smorgasbord. Lol..

I hope you can get rid of them. It's really difficult, but it can be done. "Been there, done that"...Lol...Good luck :)

Answer 3

Don't use a fogger... they are useless.  If you are going to do it right then use some cy-kick cs.  This stuff is amazing.  Plus it is less toxic then table salt in its mixed form.  

Will it harm your clothes?.... honestly I don't know, but I don't see how it could.  Ideally you wouldn't spray your clothes.   Again, using a bomb just exposes you and all your belongs to a very ineffective chemical.

Get the good stuff that not only works but again is less toxic then toothpaste.

Answer 4

they will be outside roaches coming in...start the treatment along the perimeter of the structure with the sprays that attach to the garden hose as if spraying the yard for fleas. Thoroughly treat along the perimeter of the structure and up the walls...any of the do it yourself sprays sold at hardware stores that have a residual will work fine inside by hitting around the entry points and along the baseboards of your closet.    There is no real reason to go extra crazy with cleaning for these type of roaches, for they are due to a high outdoor population that some get inside...they do not feed off of our garbage and breed inside as do the German roaches

The aerosol products such as the foggers will leave no residue behind but can dull/damage some clear plastic and can spot some white clothing if not careful

Answer 5

Powdered boric acid with kill them. Lawn and garden centers like Home Depot have powdered roach killers with boric acid. It comes in plastic containers with a pointed spout to apply it around baseboards and other areas. You can apply it accurately enough not to interfere with clothing. It doesn't have any smell to it so it's not like any pesticide spray.

I use it occasionally. I'm in Orlando.

Answer 6

All I can say is go get some space bags and keep your clothes in them. It'll be a little more time consuming, but it'll keep your clothes pest and pesticide free, and then you can spray in there when or if you need to without harming your stuff. Or try a nature based pesticide, they usually smell like pine or orange though. Good luck!