I live in an very exclusive apt. & about two months ago I saw a roach. I figured then that would be the start?
Question:of a problem. I have 4 neighbors connected to my unit. Have been living here almost a yr. & haven't seen any pests besides 1 or 2 gnats. The Mgr. assured me that this wasn't a roach infested complex & I agree. He seems to think that they were brought in from moving boxes. I bought that at first, but with the reaccurance, it seems to be a unclean neighbor. I received pest control 2x already, they go away a couple wks & are back again. Pest control is administered on the outside & only in the inside if requested. Any suggestions on how to get rid of the pests. P.S. - my place is close to immaculate.
Answers:
Roaches and almost all other undesirables are called transient pests. because if they don't like 1 place they just walk to the next.
immaculate or nasty doesn't matter to a roach - much.
food and water - thats about it. (Oh, and an occasional mate 3-4 times a day - they may be nasty and repulsive, but they like to live life too. And hey, to another roach, they look really cute!
Do they all look alike to each other? Alas, I digress.)
They are a communal creature, meaning that they like to live in colonies, the more the merrier.
If you have had a lot of rain (like here in DFW), or construction in empty lots next door (new apts. going up?), they look for a new place.
moving boxes, grocery bags (paper or plastic, mam?) , inside food boxes (cereal, flour, pasta, etc) open windows/doors - they can fly! also they can fit under many doors or through tiniest holes.
blah blah blah!
Here's this mans answer:
If "they" reside in your neighbors abode, you can try to keep them there.
Caulk around all openings in your home!
The two biggest paths for intrusion are under sinks (kitchen/bathrooms). Where the drain and hot/cold water lines go through the wall (those little metal disks - if you have them - don't stop them), and ill fitting weatherstrip on doors/windows - hinged and sliding.
Also, another way for those critters to get in is to swim, yes you heard me right, swim. (heard?)
Ever see that sign?:
"We won't swim in your toilet, Please don't pee in our pool."
To a roach, theres no difference.
They can swim through toilet/sink drains to get inside your home!
Since there is soooooo many places for roaches to go to get around and through, this will prevent only the lazy roaches from coming to visit and dine with you. The determined bugs will still make it - most likely.
Southerngal, my guess is you saw "them" just glaring at you... in that defying look they give, just before darting away in that "try to catch me" game they play. Like any true Southern Gal (or any Gal, I guess) would ever want to, or even make an attempt to, catch one! That's what us manly-men are for! (I digress, again)...in the kitchen or bathroom most likely on the floor.
SG, may I call you SG?
Since you live in an exclusive apt, me, as a non-roach would love to live there, so I can see why a roach would want to cohabitate with you!
Would it be as bad if they paid their share of rent/utilities? (oops, again)
With the reoccurrence, if it seems to be a infested/unclean neighbor, having pest control in your apt. ONLY, is much like draining your bubble bath while the faucet is on.
Since you have 4 neighbors connected to your unit, the most likely source of your problem(s) is the neighbor that lives on the other side of your kitchen/bathroom wall (most likely a "common wall").
SG, you said pest control is administered on the outside & only in the inside if requested. I assume this service is "free"/included as part of your rent, but it doesn't matter - really.
Pretty much 2 options: You or apt mgnt go to neighbors.
Also, I would suggest going to every unit that shares your same roof! Have all 5 units done at same time, otherwise, they just move from apt-to-apt.
Instead of telling your neighbors that they are slobs and they need to keep their pets in their own home (usually not conducive for invites to BBQ's and Christmas parties), you may offer yourself up as the sacrificial lamb.
Tell them that you have seen "bugs or pests" (whichever is least nasty to them) in your apartment, and your "concerned" about YOUR little friends getting into their "home" (your apt. - their home. How nice and thoughtful are you!)
The reason it doesn't matter if it's free or not, is that since you had it twice, and you still have the problem, you could have paid once for you and once for them, it would still be twice that you had it, and probably the problem resolved! And you'd still be that nice, sweet thoughtful Gal next door!
BTW, you didn't say their approximate size.
Approx. size of half of a dime - Kitchen.
Approx. size of 2 nickels or quarters - everywhere.
If it ever gets really bad... your apt management is required to take action... in your neighbors apt. but it has to be pretty nasty before they do this.
In addition to pest control, get some borax (the "20 mule team" stuff) and put in under sinks and wherever else you see "them".
http://straightdope.com/classics/a1_019.
http://homeparents.about.com/cs/househol...
good luck, SG.
P.S.
The next time I come over, I expect your place to be absolutely immaculate.
What's up with "my place is close to immaculate." anyway?
I think it is time to move.
Use borax acid sprinkled around the baseboards of where you see the little critters. If it's the kitchen, make sure you keep dishes clean and out of the sink. Make sure your sink is always dry. Don' t forget under the sink!! Before using the borax acid put all food away and out of the way of children!!
I had roaches & wasted lots of $ on foggers with repeated treatments, various sprays and even an exterminator. While visiting in Louisianna and discussing my exasperating situation during those 2 months, each person told me to get Bengal Gold roach spray. It sprays like WD-40. Did a spray around all baseboards including behind appliances, etc... with ONE application (smell was not offensive, either).
I see they have a website you can order from; time I was talking about, had to get it from Louisianna which was several states away.
I sold that home 3 years later, still had no signs of roaches.
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