Eliminating cockroaches...

[Dimples]

:confused: I keep the house clean all the time yet have not been able to eliminate them. I live in a multi-family, so that in itself is a problem. Terminator has come out twice unsuccessfully. Anyone know some natural means I can use? There's no food lying around, floors clean, surfaces wiped, generally, clean.

[4forme]

I have a hard time getting rid of cockroaches as well, we live in a tropical climate.
One thing I have found to be semi-successful is Pandan leaves. The cab drivers here swear by them, and we put them in our car to get rid of them also.
Hope that helps, they sure are icky creatures!

[Rawkincake]

I haven't researched if this stuff is safe but I have always used Boric Acid - you sprinkle it under cabinets and in crevices and other places you see them. My grandmother's house was infested with them and she put it down and we never saw another roach. I think it is effective for around 6 months. Some places I have only had to put it down once and other places it had to be every 6 months. It also helps with ants.

[Veganforlife]

Check this out:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG105

[Dimond]

Tips that have worked for me living in cockroach-land (after years of experience & living in many homes):
Plug all holes-under sinks, behind appliances, etc. They can get in anywhere.
Cover any large drains when done using them.
Either throw out your garbage often or keep any food scraps in your freezer until you can.
Keep your home cool.
Get rid of all cardboard if possible.

[ShantiDass]

I haven't researched if this stuff is safe but I have always used Boric Acid - you sprinkle it under cabinets and in crevices and other places you see them. My grandmother's house was infested with them and she put it down and we never saw another roach. I think it is effective for around 6 months. Some places I have only had to put it down once and other places it had to be every 6 months. It also helps with ants.

I know people who have done this and it works. It also works if you mix it with jelly or something sweet and put it where they cruise around. They are attracted to the sugar and will ingest it. BUT, it is also toxic to animals so you want to make sure there aren't other animals around. Most people put it in drawers, etc. so their cat or dog doesn't get into it.

[Dimples]

Thanks all for your replies. I am going to incorporate all methods suggested. I have declared serious war on the roaches as they have equally assulted me.

4forme: never heard of pandan leaves before today. I googled and figured out I may get them in an Asian mkt.

Rawkincake/ShantiDas: someone told me if I add to the Boric Acid some baking soda it will work great. So I am going out to buy it today as I already have some B.soda.

Veganforlife: what a great article. really appreciate. greatest shocker for me is that roaches thrive on water/moisture. no wonder it's been so hard to eliminate them. I could never figure out why they loved hiding under the fridge and was forever moving the fridge and cleaning the floor to no avail.

GilmoreGirl: ur so right about closing all holes, i had to put caulk in little places in the kitchen as i discovered they loved laying their eggs in those small places. as for the garbage can, I probably have the cleanest one in my whole neighborhood;) I am forever emptying it and giving it a good scrub.

[VibinOnLife!]

I actually just found out about this stuff today while searching how to get rid of bed bugs for a friend of mine. She had family over this weekend, and happened to notice that one of them had bites all over their wrist! She asked it he/she had been bitten and they said yes. And for some reason she just happened to ask, "were you bitten inside of the house?" And they said yes and then proceeded to tell her that they had a bed bug infestation!

Anyway, once they left, she said that she found one crawling along the crack of the wall! And when she went to pick it up (with her fingers which is gross in itself) it burst and blood squirted on her fingers!

Oh, sorry. Don't know why I feel the need to give you the background. TMI! :o Anyway, this stuff is supposed to killl just about everything and it's not hazzardous to humans or pets. It's a mineral.

Hope this helps!

[steveoregon]

I haven't researched if this stuff is safe but I have always used Boric Acid

I will double the recommendation on boric acid, a blue powder you can buy at most hardware stores. I used it when I used to live in Texas. You want to lay it down in a fine powder - I used to use a turkey baster to blow the powder under anything roaches might travel. It clings to them, then they carry it back to the nest and lick it off themselves while cleaning. It's when the eat it off their little bodies, it kills them.

From this link: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef614.asp



Using Boric Acid Like a Pro
The key to success with boric acid is proper application. For best results, the powder should be applied in a very thin layer barely visible to the naked eye. Piles or heavy accumulations will be avoided by foraging cockroaches much as we would avoid walking through a snow drift. To apply a fine layer, shake the container and puff a small quantity of the powder into the target area. Cockroaches succumb to boric acid when they crawl over treated areas. The tiny particles of powder adhere to the cockroaches' body, and the material is ingested as the roach preens the powder from its legs and antennae. Some boric acid is also absorbed through the greasy outer covering of the insect's body. All species of cockroaches are susceptible to boric acid provided the powder is applied into areas where the roaches are living.

.

[linda7276]

Yep, Boric acid works for me, but yes, be careful where you put it, as it's toxic to humans and pets.