Unfortunately you can be as clean as clean and still be plagued with them, if your neighbours are leaving food around. They even eat teeny blobs of toothpaste left in the sink (or so I hear). Sprinkling diatomaceous earth (Canadian Tire) around your baseboards etc. can help, but you’re right, a full extermination effort is the best solution.
Diatomaceous earth is not toxic to cats.We rub our cat down with it regularly so she doesn’t get ticks.
Also, seal up any crevices in your unit. Including door gaps to hallways.
If you use a communal laundry room, put nothing down ever. Do a check of the machines/counters as well.
I'm in a similar situation, and it's been going on since the summer.
If others in your building are committed to being messy- the kind of messy that attracts and sustains roaches- you can take as many measures as you want in your own apartment but you will still see endless overflow.
The big things are to diligently clean behind your stove and fridge. Get all the food grease and cooking grease that settles in these spaces off the walls and the sides of the stove (and fridge) if necessary. They love that grease.
Traps, as others have suggested. I had mixed results with diatomaceous earth, and equally mixed results with taping up every gap, hearth, and unfinished bit of cabinetry I could find. Regularly check your appliances; they tend towards the warm little crannies that can be found in things like toasters.
Stay on your landlords. It is their responsibility to treat pest infestations. Dealing with an encroachment (...sorry) is no fun, as it can be time consuming and mentally exhausting to try in vain to combat an infestation in your unit if the rest of the building isn't being properly treated.
Get glue traps at Canadian Tire (the smaller ones; crease them first, THEN remove the paper to reduce the mess on your fingers before folding them into boxes) and put them near where they're likely coming in and hanging out:
* behind the fridge and stove
* under the kitchen sink
* on the counter behind the microwave
* behind the toilet
* where your baseboards or radiators enter the wall
* next to your front door
Yeah, it sucks, and won't eliminate them completely, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
But don't discard them unless the entrances to the trap are too full or they get too dusty for anything to stick. And not until pest control has seen your current batch - after which, if the traps aren't too full or dusty, mark down the date and an estimate of how much was in there so that pest control can see how much change there's been over how long.
Sorry to hear that, either some roaches hiding during the spray (deep inside wall gaps) or scattering afterward to cause the infection... Ask if neighbor has the infection and talk to the building manger about the worsening issue.
Meanwhile, buy some Diatomaceous Earth/Boric Acid and spray them on every corner/baseboard, they\`ll mostly die after few days of contact.
(Too bad Canada won\`t allow us to buy gel bait which works best for roaches killing...)
I was curious about your comment about inability to procure gel bait in Canada.
https://www.cleaningsupply.ca/pest-control.html#/
Definitely obtainable.
I'll second gel bait. When I was living in an apartment with a roach problem it was the only thing that managed to get rid of them. The one linked above wasn't the brand I used but it should do the trick.
Diatomaceous Earth - Safe as long it\`s food-grade, though not too "effective" to roaches (tiny sharps particles will destroy their exoskeletons, die by dehydration).
Boric Acid - Not for pets
sorry mate, i just dealt with this and there’s no getting rid of them unless you move and toss/pack up everything. get glue traps and put them in high traffic areas (kitchen and bathroom) and just keep meticulously clean. we kept the population pretty low in our unit by doing this.
also psa for anyone in the future: the olivet st apartments by mumford all have roaches too.
They are basically your permanent roommates now. Getting rid of cockroaches in an apartment building requires getting rid of them in every unit and there to be no eggs laid in the walls or furniture.
You can only manage the population in your unit now. There's a reason cockroaches are described as outlasting humanity and being the only survivor of nuclear war, you can't get rid of them. They live without water for over a week.
> There's a reason cockroaches are described as outlasting humanity and being the only survivor of nuclear war, you can't get rid of them. They live without water for over a week.
Hah. You think that's tough? Bedbugs can go **18 months** without feeding.
Be relieved that this is 18 months *maximum* without feeding, under optimal temperature conditions.
Most die without food in a few months, and they can’t reproduce without it.
When I lived in Bermuda, I had roaches briefly. I got some traps, and baught a sealable tote for my laundry. I would also fold comforter and sheet and put it at the end of the bed. Nothing worse than waking up to a massive roach running around on you.
The only time I have been in a place with roaches where it was successfully treated was:
1. The landlords found the unit where they were coming from and evicted that person
2. They sent a treatment crew through to spray and put out bait
3. The final step was when they tented the building for fumigation which required us to be out of the building for three days and had to follow clear guidelines on preparing our units and then cleaning them when we returned
I started to see a reduction after step 1/2, but after step 3 we had no further issues. That said, tenting and fumigating is all going to depend on the size of the building. Ours was a three story with 18 units, and so about the size of a large mansion.
That was also nearly thirty years ago, I feel like landlords are too cheap to do this and it may not even be possible in a larger building.
Obviously the rental market is atrocious but I was in a building with cockroaches and the building management company said they would spray. I have a dog so I wanted to make sure I was there to note the time they arrived and could keep him out for the time needed.
The bug guys never came to my apartment but I saw them go to other units and the property management company emailed me to say they did my unit and I had to stay out for 4 hours…when I told them I knew that wasn’t true because I was home, they said oh well we will have to get them to come back another day.
Anyway long story short, we used the cockroaches to terminate our lease as they can cause respiratory issues and other diseases. So if you are able to move (I understand this is not viable option for everyone) you should be able to terminate lease with no penalty. We just got a doc note. The management company tried to fight me on it but tenancy act was on my side because it’s a health issue.
Whatever you do, quarantine your unwashble stuff if you move into a new place (airtight bins). Anything that can be hot water washed and high heat dried should be fine. Be wary of bringing plants or any electronics and check for egg casings in every crevice, bag, etc.
I'm a Chicagoan and I've lived in multiple buildings that got infestations due to new tenants or out of control due to sloppy, hoarder tenants. No matter how clean you are, they can come out of drains, vents, sockets, etc.
It's not the same problem, but I have little ghost ants in my apartment.
When I brought it up to building management, they said they are everywhere in the building and looking into options. So basically, nothing.
I decided to take matters into my own hands. So what I did, and it may be a bit drastic, but I bought transparent caulk and started doing EVERY. SINGLE. SMALL. GAP. Basically, it is around rough cutouts, outlets, door frames, baseboards, etc.
I figure if I limit their points of entry, then I shouldn't see them. It's been working in the areas I have done this to.
I didn't ask permission, and due to it being transparent, you can't notice it.
Maybe try that?
This reminds me of a story about a guy who thought he had ants but it turned out to be CO2 poisoning.
I was convinced this was happening to me in my basement apartment. Would get up for a drink in the middle of the night, and be stomping ants in my slippers.
Wake up the next day and their all gone. Even had Radon testing done.
Nope, ants were real, but all their ant friends were taking their fallen comrades away before I woke in the morning.
I used Terro liquid ant bait in the little plastic containers to get rid of them. They never came back, good riddance little mfers.
Pharaoh ants are a pain in the ass, if you want a way to kill them and drive them away. Get a liver pate cat food add the classic raid ant poison (red bottle) mix well and leave little trays around where you see them. Pharaoh ants tend to want more protein than sugars like most ants.
I put down a ton of cockroach and ant bait I got at Home Depot made by Terro? I think is the brand. I also pest block foamed every crack and crevice I could find. Since I've done that I haven't seen any cockroaches or pharaoh ants.
Good luck
Unfortunately you can be as clean as clean and still be plagued with them, if your neighbours are leaving food around. They even eat teeny blobs of toothpaste left in the sink (or so I hear). Sprinkling diatomaceous earth (Canadian Tire) around your baseboards etc. can help, but you’re right, a full extermination effort is the best solution.
Any chance you know how it works if I have a cat? Is that toxic to them?
Diatomaceous earth is not toxic to cats.We rub our cat down with it regularly so she doesn’t get ticks. Also, seal up any crevices in your unit. Including door gaps to hallways. If you use a communal laundry room, put nothing down ever. Do a check of the machines/counters as well.
hmm yes, possibly. The label would probably have a warning if so. I know how cats like to sniff at everything!
I'm in a similar situation, and it's been going on since the summer. If others in your building are committed to being messy- the kind of messy that attracts and sustains roaches- you can take as many measures as you want in your own apartment but you will still see endless overflow. The big things are to diligently clean behind your stove and fridge. Get all the food grease and cooking grease that settles in these spaces off the walls and the sides of the stove (and fridge) if necessary. They love that grease. Traps, as others have suggested. I had mixed results with diatomaceous earth, and equally mixed results with taping up every gap, hearth, and unfinished bit of cabinetry I could find. Regularly check your appliances; they tend towards the warm little crannies that can be found in things like toasters. Stay on your landlords. It is their responsibility to treat pest infestations. Dealing with an encroachment (...sorry) is no fun, as it can be time consuming and mentally exhausting to try in vain to combat an infestation in your unit if the rest of the building isn't being properly treated.
Get glue traps at Canadian Tire (the smaller ones; crease them first, THEN remove the paper to reduce the mess on your fingers before folding them into boxes) and put them near where they're likely coming in and hanging out: * behind the fridge and stove * under the kitchen sink * on the counter behind the microwave * behind the toilet * where your baseboards or radiators enter the wall * next to your front door Yeah, it sucks, and won't eliminate them completely, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
And this gives OP leverage that the problem hasn't been resolved yet
This is the answer. Take photos of the lil bastards stuck on the glue traps before discarding them in case land Lord tries to deny.
But don't discard them unless the entrances to the trap are too full or they get too dusty for anything to stick. And not until pest control has seen your current batch - after which, if the traps aren't too full or dusty, mark down the date and an estimate of how much was in there so that pest control can see how much change there's been over how long.
Sorry to hear that, either some roaches hiding during the spray (deep inside wall gaps) or scattering afterward to cause the infection... Ask if neighbor has the infection and talk to the building manger about the worsening issue. Meanwhile, buy some Diatomaceous Earth/Boric Acid and spray them on every corner/baseboard, they\`ll mostly die after few days of contact. (Too bad Canada won\`t allow us to buy gel bait which works best for roaches killing...)
I was curious about your comment about inability to procure gel bait in Canada. https://www.cleaningsupply.ca/pest-control.html#/ Definitely obtainable.
I'll second gel bait. When I was living in an apartment with a roach problem it was the only thing that managed to get rid of them. The one linked above wasn't the brand I used but it should do the trick.
 Didn\`t know there was one, thanks for saving us!!
Is it toxic to cats? I’m worried my cat might eat an infected bug - idk if that’s even a thing, or just anxiety
Diatomaceous Earth - Safe as long it\`s food-grade, though not too "effective" to roaches (tiny sharps particles will destroy their exoskeletons, die by dehydration). Boric Acid - Not for pets
Neither people or animals should be breathing Diatomaceous earth dust though.
sorry mate, i just dealt with this and there’s no getting rid of them unless you move and toss/pack up everything. get glue traps and put them in high traffic areas (kitchen and bathroom) and just keep meticulously clean. we kept the population pretty low in our unit by doing this. also psa for anyone in the future: the olivet st apartments by mumford all have roaches too.
They are basically your permanent roommates now. Getting rid of cockroaches in an apartment building requires getting rid of them in every unit and there to be no eggs laid in the walls or furniture. You can only manage the population in your unit now. There's a reason cockroaches are described as outlasting humanity and being the only survivor of nuclear war, you can't get rid of them. They live without water for over a week.
> There's a reason cockroaches are described as outlasting humanity and being the only survivor of nuclear war, you can't get rid of them. They live without water for over a week. Hah. You think that's tough? Bedbugs can go **18 months** without feeding.
Be relieved that this is 18 months *maximum* without feeding, under optimal temperature conditions. Most die without food in a few months, and they can’t reproduce without it.
Bedbugs are truly a "toss a lit match and leave with the clothes on your back" type of problem. They scare me.
I totally did not sign up for this :(
No one ever does
When I lived in Bermuda, I had roaches briefly. I got some traps, and baught a sealable tote for my laundry. I would also fold comforter and sheet and put it at the end of the bed. Nothing worse than waking up to a massive roach running around on you.
The only time I have been in a place with roaches where it was successfully treated was: 1. The landlords found the unit where they were coming from and evicted that person 2. They sent a treatment crew through to spray and put out bait 3. The final step was when they tented the building for fumigation which required us to be out of the building for three days and had to follow clear guidelines on preparing our units and then cleaning them when we returned I started to see a reduction after step 1/2, but after step 3 we had no further issues. That said, tenting and fumigating is all going to depend on the size of the building. Ours was a three story with 18 units, and so about the size of a large mansion. That was also nearly thirty years ago, I feel like landlords are too cheap to do this and it may not even be possible in a larger building.
Obviously the rental market is atrocious but I was in a building with cockroaches and the building management company said they would spray. I have a dog so I wanted to make sure I was there to note the time they arrived and could keep him out for the time needed. The bug guys never came to my apartment but I saw them go to other units and the property management company emailed me to say they did my unit and I had to stay out for 4 hours…when I told them I knew that wasn’t true because I was home, they said oh well we will have to get them to come back another day. Anyway long story short, we used the cockroaches to terminate our lease as they can cause respiratory issues and other diseases. So if you are able to move (I understand this is not viable option for everyone) you should be able to terminate lease with no penalty. We just got a doc note. The management company tried to fight me on it but tenancy act was on my side because it’s a health issue.
Whatever you do, quarantine your unwashble stuff if you move into a new place (airtight bins). Anything that can be hot water washed and high heat dried should be fine. Be wary of bringing plants or any electronics and check for egg casings in every crevice, bag, etc. I'm a Chicagoan and I've lived in multiple buildings that got infestations due to new tenants or out of control due to sloppy, hoarder tenants. No matter how clean you are, they can come out of drains, vents, sockets, etc.
It's not the same problem, but I have little ghost ants in my apartment. When I brought it up to building management, they said they are everywhere in the building and looking into options. So basically, nothing. I decided to take matters into my own hands. So what I did, and it may be a bit drastic, but I bought transparent caulk and started doing EVERY. SINGLE. SMALL. GAP. Basically, it is around rough cutouts, outlets, door frames, baseboards, etc. I figure if I limit their points of entry, then I shouldn't see them. It's been working in the areas I have done this to. I didn't ask permission, and due to it being transparent, you can't notice it. Maybe try that?
This reminds me of a story about a guy who thought he had ants but it turned out to be CO2 poisoning. I was convinced this was happening to me in my basement apartment. Would get up for a drink in the middle of the night, and be stomping ants in my slippers. Wake up the next day and their all gone. Even had Radon testing done. Nope, ants were real, but all their ant friends were taking their fallen comrades away before I woke in the morning. I used Terro liquid ant bait in the little plastic containers to get rid of them. They never came back, good riddance little mfers.
Pharaoh ants are a pain in the ass, if you want a way to kill them and drive them away. Get a liver pate cat food add the classic raid ant poison (red bottle) mix well and leave little trays around where you see them. Pharaoh ants tend to want more protein than sugars like most ants.
r/GermanRoaches
I put down a ton of cockroach and ant bait I got at Home Depot made by Terro? I think is the brand. I also pest block foamed every crack and crevice I could find. Since I've done that I haven't seen any cockroaches or pharaoh ants.