Many people prefer apartment living over traditional homes for convenience & lifestyle yet it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most common & unsettling issues residents face is the presence of cockroaches. Due to the confined walls, close quarters and limited spaces in apartment buildings, roaches grow in number and reproduce at a surprisingly fast rate. One day you see one cockroach in your apartment and next it’s a full grown colony. If you’ve ever hesitated to move into an apartment because of roach concerns or you’re currently dealing with an active infestation- this blog is for you. Let’s read it together and find out how to stop cockroaches in your apartment:
Why Cockroaches Are Common in Apartments
Cockroaches don’t need a long list of reasons to move into an apartment: one or two are enough. Apartments unintentionally provide everything the roach tribe looks for: warm hiding spots, scattered food crumbs, leaky pipes, gaps in walls, book bindings and trash can that is rarely empty. But above all, apartment buildings give roaches easy access from one unit to another. So even if your place is cockroach safe, a messy neighbor can still send them over your way.
Signs You Have a Cockroach Problem in Your Apartment
Below are some of the signs that cockroaches give when they start residing & breeding in your apartment. These should never be ignored and taken as red flags. Find below:
- Look for cockroaches’ droppings at deep and hidden spots (behind and under sinks and appliances, inside cabinets, and in cracks and crevices in walls or floors). If your apartment has roaches, you must see their droppings too.
- The weird smell! If your apartment is being infested by cockroaches, there must be a weird, almost misty smell around. Don’t pass through it, it is a clear sign of pests at your place.
- One of the place where roaches love residing is the refrigerator motor compartment. You can pull refrigerator by pulling it aside, if there is any roach, there is high chances lots of others are also hiding somewhere close.
- Cockroaches eat nearly everything. From book covers to leftover food crumbles to even human shed skin, they take everything as a meal. So, if there are roaches around, look for damage. They leave behind claw marks so the damage to your property & things will always be there and should never be ignored.
- Lots of dead small baby roaches. When roach infestation reaches an extreme, you will see dead roaches in the apartment. Most of them you can see in kitchen pavement, in the cabinets, behind sink wall and even in food containers.
- Roach reproduction is fast, very fast! That is the very reason why day you see a single roach and the next day there is whole colony. They grow faster & lay eggs everywhere. If your apartment is roach-infested, there must be many oval-shaped black & maroonish eggs lay here & there.
- Last but not least, check your bookshelf or the pile of books you have in your apartment. Roaches like binding glue so if there is any, you might see your books binding damaged or being chewed.
How To Stop Cockroaches in An Apartment
They say it’s easier to prevent a problem than to fight it later and that couldn’t be truer when it comes to roaches. Prevention isn’t only for when you’ve already seen a cockroach around; it’s something you should stick to even if your apartment hasn’t seen a single one yet. It will not only help you get informed decisions but will also save you from any potential health or property financial issues. Here are few preventive measures from us that are proven and safe:
Keep your apartment clean. Maintain hygiene and thorough cleaning of the space and front area outside your apartment. When your apartment will have nothing left outside- nothing to offer anything to cockroaches around, they will stop visiting you and find themselves another place.
Non-Chemical Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches
If you’re not a fan of using chemicals to get rid of roaches, no worries, you’re not alone. Plenty of people prefer kinder & natural ways to deal with cockroaches and we totally get that. Non-chemical and natural ways might take longer than quick chemical ways, but they can certainly bring satisfactory results. Here are five effective, non-chemical methods to kick roaches out of your space:
Use Boric Acid to Naturally Kill Roaches
Use boric acid. It is completely fine for family & pets and yet does wonders against roaches, especially in a confined space like an apartment. Sprinkle it on potential spots and leave it over night. The cockroaches will stop coming to your apartment in no time!
Repel Cockroaches with Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are repellent and keep roaches and other pests away without harming them. Just place a few leaves in the darker corners of your home, under the sink, behind the fridge or near entry points. For quick effect, sprinkle a bit of olive oil or lemon oil on them.
Neem Leaves as a Natural Roach Deterrent
Neem leaves can be used as a substitute when bay leaves aren’t available. Their strong, sharp scent is highly unpleasant to roaches. You can place them in corners and areas where cockroaches tend to hide. It’s a simple & natural method to deter roaches without harming them.
Diatomaceous Earth for Safe Roach Control
Diatomaceous Earth also acts as a natural repellent against roaches. It is a natural powder that can be sprinkled in areas where roaches frequently visit or live. While it can harm them, it works by dehydrating them rather than being a poison. It is non-toxic to humans and pets, and only remains hard against pests.
Advion Gel Bait for Apartment Roach Infestations
Advion gel works much like a glue trap. You can place it around cabinets and corners and for better results, put boric acid over it. Start by cleaning the cabinets, better if you wipe the floor with a disinfectant. Then, apply Advion gel with boric around all cabinets/corners, especially where food particles might be left behind. This will take you 2-3 hours to do it right. The gel will trap roaches before they cross the barrier. Remember to repeat the process every 3–4 days for the best results.
As mentioned above, non-chemical methods may take longer and work gradually against pests, but they are effective and will help keep roaches from coming into your apartment. (A Pro tip: When you purchase natural products to prevent roaches, consider getting some for your closest neighbor as well. Even if you successfully keep roaches out of your apartment, they can still find their way in from a neighboring unit if the problem continues there. Hence, share the products with your neighbor too, it’s not only a thoughtful gesture but it can also help prevent future infestations for everyone around.)
Use Roach Baits and Traps - Stop Cockroaches in Your Apartment
Baits and traps are another effective method to eliminate roaches from your apartment.
Roach baits contain a slow acting poison combined with an attractant. Roaches consume the bait and then carry the toxin back to their hiding places. Since roaches function by eating leftovers that other roaches bring back and also on droppings left behind, baiting utilizes this behavior. Other roaches come in contact with the contaminated droppings, eat them and also become affected by the poison. Over time, this chain reaction can significantly reduce the infestation.
Traps, on the other hand, use sticky adhesive to capture roaches as they walk over them. Once they step onto the adhesive surface, they become stuck & eventually die. Traps work best when placed along common roach pathways such as near walls, behind appliances and under sinks.
When to Call Professional Pest Control
If all these DIY strategies don’t work, it’s best to call in a professional pest control company. They can help you eliminate roaches without you having to get your hands dirty or struggle with tricky techniques. A roach exterminator will target the hidden areas that are easy to miss on your own, ensuring a more thorough and lasting solution.
Get regular pest control help even if the infestation is not touching the roof! Pest control must not only be done when the problem gets severe, but it should also be done where there are signs or possibilities of pests living. Go for the pros and watch the roaches go!
Dave’s Pest Control- Stop Cockroaches in Your Apartment
Dave’s Pest Control is a proud veteran and family-owned business serving Floridians for over 45 years. With decades of experience and true local knowledge, we understand the cockroach problems, and every other pest issue you’re dealing with. That’s why we back our services with a complete satisfaction guarantee. Reach out today and we will be at your doorstep in no time!
