Cockroaches are very tenacious creatures that are unpretentious to their living conditions. However, they are comfortable living next to a human home, but even better - inside. Uninvited guests love the comfort of cockroaches - warm, humid places with food present.
Variety of anti-cockroach products
Cockroaches are not an indicator of uncleanliness in the house. They can be brought from another home, a trip, even by mail along with a parcel. But most often they “come” themselves from the basement, entrance, from neighbors, or appear with new things in the house.
It is impossible to maintain perfect cleanliness every day, and cockroaches will quickly find crumbs and water on the floor. Physiology allows them to survive for several weeks without food, or to feed on paper, leather, wood or even fabric.
They can pretend to be dead. If you find a cockroach that is not showing signs of life, do not rush to throw it in the trash. You should flush it down the toilet to get rid of the parasite for sure.
What types of cockroaches are there?
There are several thousand species of longhorned beetles in the world. In apartments in our country you can find two types: the most common is red (Prussian) and black (kitchen).
Cockroaches living in apartments and houses: Prusak and black
The Prusak has a size of 1.3 - 1.5 cm and can go without food for up to 40 days. The kitchen one is twice as large, up to 3 cm in length and can live without food for up to 70 days.
Everyone knows about their resistance to unsuitable living conditions. And the fact that they can survive a nuclear explosion is not a myth. Therefore, some kind of hunger is not a barrier for them.
Ammonia
Ammonia or ammonia is not a poisonous substance for cockroaches, but its pungent smell can drive pests out of the apartment. In order to get rid of barbels, it is enough to dilute a dessert spoon of ammonia or a teaspoon of ammonia in 10 liters of water. Use this solution to wash the floors throughout the apartment and let them dry. To completely get rid of cockroaches, you will need several wet cleanings.
The result will not be long in coming. The interval between cleaning the apartment must be at least 3 days. Since ammonia vapors can adversely affect the health of humans and their pets.
How dangerous are they?
Cockroaches do not bite and are generally afraid of people. There is no visible harm, but the dirt they bring will not leave you in good health. They examine the garbage in search of food, the toilet in search of water, then they carry a bunch of different bacteria around the apartment on their paws, leaving them on children's toys, on furniture and, worst of all, on the table and cutlery.
For some people, the activity of insects may not have any effect, while others may be seriously poisoned. Bacteria are different, each body reacts to them individually, so you should not let cockroaches multiply and run wherever they please.
It is better to start baiting them in the first days, as soon as you notice them. Cockroaches live for approximately 6–8 months, and during this time the female can lay 320 eggs. The more of them there are, the harder it is to get rid of the brood later.
Adviсe
Finally, we will give you some recommendations on how not to attract cockroaches into your home or how to get them out if they have settled in the house against your will.
Prussians can't stand cleanliness
In a clean room, cockroaches have nothing to eat, and they will not settle where there are problems with food. Assess the degree of cleanliness in your home and ask yourself the following questions:
- whether you leave crumbs of food on the table;
- Do you put food in the refrigerator after a meal?
- does your trash can have a lid and how often do you take trash out of your apartment?
- Do you carry out daily wet cleaning?
- Do you disinfect your floors weekly by adding some vinegar or ammonia to your mopping bucket?
Exposure to high temperature
It has been observed that longhorned beetles are unable to tolerate heat. If you have a steam-generating device, such as a steamer, use it to treat the areas where the Prussians left their marks. The steam will penetrate into the most hidden places and destroy the clutches of cockroach eggs.
The use of plants with a special smell. It has long been established that longhorned beetles cannot stand the smell of certain herbs, which include:
- sagebrush;
- geranium;
- honeysuckle;
- wild rosemary;
- lavender.
Mechanical traps
If the number of baleen insects is small, they can be caught using primitive mechanical traps consisting of double-sided tape and bait. The tape is glued to the cardboard so that the sticky side is open. A piece of lard is placed in the center of the cardboard as bait. Cockroaches will flock to its smell and stick to the adhesive tape.
By paying due attention to all of the above issues, you can get rid of red-haired beetles once and for all.
How to find a nest of cockroaches in an apartment
Cockroaches themselves are timid creatures; they try to stay away from human eyes and direct rays of light. Strong lighting directly signals them about danger, so they try to stay in the shade and live in dark, damp, cluttered places.
There is clearly no fight against cockroaches
To find out if there are cockroaches in the house, go into the kitchen or bathroom in the middle of the night. If there are insects, at least one will still catch your eye. And where there is one, there is a whole colony. You can also find the products of their vital activity - feces, they look like dark brown small spots. They can be seen in different drawers, at the joints of doors, under the sink. When a colony of cockroaches grows, a specific unpleasant odor appears in the apartment.
Since cockroaches need darkness, warmth, water and food, the best places to hide are the bathroom, toilet and, of course, the kitchen. In the kitchen, they most often live under the sink, refrigerator, inside kitchen furniture and some electrical appliances.
Their flattened body shape allows them to inhabit cracks in baseboards, floors, behind hanging cabinets, in ventilation, near pipes, under bathtubs and even under wallpaper. If the house is old, then there will be several times more cracks and other defects suitable for living parasites.
Since the first time after the “housewarming”, cockroaches are very careful, you need to carefully inspect every corner (not skipping the bedroom, the passer-by) for the presence of them or traces of their vital activity.
To kill cockroaches in hard-to-reach areas, you can use a steam generator.
Prevention
In a private house, the fight against barbels seems less difficult than in city apartments. The house must be carefully treated once, and then constantly adhere to preventive measures to prevent Prussians from re-populating your home.
And in an apartment building, you can get the same result only in case of coordinated actions with your neighbors living in adjacent apartments and those living on the floor above. Only with simultaneous disinfection of all apartments at the entrance, it is possible to ensure that cockroaches, after treating the premises, do not enter your apartment again and again.
Here is what preventive work should be done to prevent the invasion of the Prussians:
- Do general cleaning of your home regularly. Wash the floors in the room more often, do not leave crumbs, wipe off dust.
- Keep food in a sealed container. After a meal, immediately wipe the crumbs off the table and keep your pets' feeding areas clean.
- Conduct an audit. It will be great if you inspect all the kitchen drawers and put away any spilled cereal in them.
- Timely washing of dishes. Make it a habit to wash spoons, plates and glasses after every meal. After that, wipe them dry.
- Taking out the trash. There is no need to keep the garbage under the sink for a long time. Buy a trash container with a tight-fitting lid and empty it frequently.
- Deal with water leaks. It is absolutely unacceptable for water to drip from the tap. It is known that Prussians can live more than a week without food, but only 24 hours without water. Therefore, systematically inspect the toilet tank, pipe connections and sink for leaks.
- Keep your bathroom dry. Always wipe it dry after taking a bath. After that, wash and wipe the bathroom floor.
- Seal all cracks. If you are sure that your neighbors are unclean, take care to make your apartment inaccessible to cockroaches. After a thorough inspection of all surfaces of the apartment, putty all discovered cracks and holes.
- Protect ventilation ducts. Seal the existing openings to provide ventilation in the home with a mosquito net with a mesh size that does not allow cockroaches to get through.
Important! After processing, it is important to ensure that the cockroaches do not have the opportunity to quench their thirst. Even drops of water left on the walls of the sink can nullify all efforts to kill insects.
Types of poison
If you have to deal with such nasty pests as cockroaches, then your war may be long. It is important to take into account the fact that they multiply very quickly and, in search of a better life, spread not only throughout the apartment, but throughout the entire residential complex!
Before poisoning cockroaches, you need to talk with your neighbors about their presence in other apartments. If you poison only in your apartment, then later your neighbors’ cockroaches will crawl to you. Therefore, everyone needs to start poisoning parasites at the same time.
To combat small pests there are many different means, both professional and inexpensive folk. They may be in the form:
- gel;
- pastes;
- spray;
- powder;
- liquid product;
- tablets;
- microencapsulated products;
- chalk.
Each of the means is good in its own way. We will discuss all their advantages and disadvantages below, but it is important not to forget that cockroaches reproduce quickly and adapt to harmful substances.
Household products
There are many household products that are inexpensive but still effective. Before treating surfaces, it is important to fix the taps, remove food and wipe all surfaces dry at night, since water is the main source of life for any living beings.
Let's look at popular cockroach repellents and some of their varieties.
Pastes
Paste is one of the best options of all cockroach repellents. It is not addictive to parasites and works 100% percent. The result can be seen in the first days, and the paste will do all the work in 2 weeks. It needs to be applied precisely near the cockroaches’ habitat. Most of all such products contain chlorpyrifos - this is an active substance that belongs to toxicity class 4. A good option is Globol paste.
Global paste is a proven effective remedy for cockroaches, and also very economical
Gels
Gel against cockroaches is the most effective in terms of time, which is why it is very popular. It can handle an entire colony in 7-14 days, which is a very short time considering the fact that it sometimes takes months. Available in special syringes, and more often in tubes. Its soft consistency, more liquid than that of a paste, and a thin tube attachment allow you to apply poison even into the most inaccessible crevices. The following gels have proven their effectiveness:
- "Raptor" - kills the nervous system of the pest. When consumed, the cockroach remains paralyzed and quickly dies.
- “Dokhlos” acts quickly and prevents a new generation from appearing. Belong to toxicity class 1 or 2.
- “Killer” - it will not destroy an entire colony, but one tube is enough to treat a room of up to 25 square meters. m.
- “Sturm” and “Fas” - contain 2 active ingredients (two different insecticides), which increase the strength of the gel on insects.
Sprays
When treating an apartment with a spray, it is advisable to wear protective clothing and a mask to prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions in the body. Children and household members should leave the premises at this time. The advantage of sprays is that they act quickly and after 24 hours you can remove dead cockroaches, carry out wet cleaning and ventilation. Works well against small and medium-sized parasite colonies. The best sprays for cockroaches are:
- "Raptor".
- "Baygon."
- "Raid".
- "Combat".
- "Gett."
Sprays to control cockroaches
Powders
Powder products have both their advantages and disadvantages. This is not the newest type of poison for cockroaches, but they are often overlooked, but in vain. They are very often used when cockroaches have just settled. Additional treatment is desirable, as parasites quickly get used to the drug. This is a completely safe cockroach repellent for pets and children. Powder is always much easier to treat hard-to-reach areas. The best powders are:
- "Tornado".
- "Clean house".
- "Clean world".
Liquid products
Treatment against parasites with such preparations is considered the most effective, since the liquid gets into almost any cracks and nooks and crannies. Since cockroaches most often hide in cracks, it will be enough to simply douse their habitats. Before choosing a liquid poison, it is important to familiarize yourself with its mechanism of action to understand whether it is suitable for your case.
- “Cucaracha” is considered a professional remedy and it is very important to study the instructions before processing. The second class of toxicity of the drug (destroys pests instantly) involves processing exclusively in protective clothing.
- "Tsifoks" is an instant cure for cockroaches. The parasites either die or leave the apartment. One big drawback among all the advantages is the duration of action, due to which you cannot stay in the apartment for the next 48 hours after use.
"Cucaracha" is a powerful remedy against cockroaches. Available not only in liquid form, but also in the form of spray and tablets
Pills
The tablets are not only an effective poison against cockroaches, but also a bait for them. Often manufacturers themselves call them lenses. It should be noted that they are quite effective and easy to use. There are tablets that are safe for both children and pets. The most popular are the following tablets:
- "Delicia" - from a German manufacturer. It kills not only adults, but also young animals, as well as eggs.
Boxing bait "Delicia" - Dupont Advion - may be hazardous to children and animals. These are traps of medium toxicity. The insect crawls into them and then dies.
- "Adamant Tab" is considered a professional remedy for cockroaches. It has a moderate degree of toxicity - it can be used independently only if the instructions are fully followed.
Microcapsules
Another type of very effective means is the strongest chemicals against cockroaches. The beauty is that after the liquid dries, it will not leave annoying insects alone. The most lethal means are:
- "Get" It is good because it acts upon direct contact with the cockroach and upon ingestion. Microcapsules remain on the legs and are transferred closer to the colony, quickly poisoning and killing all individuals.
- “Delta zone” is completely similar in its effect to “Get”. This product is odorless and completely safe for pets.
Insect repellent "Delta Zone"
Insect repellent "Lamda zone" - “Lambda-Zone” is a drug that is harmless to animals and children and is not addictive to insects. The substance itself is placed in nanotubes, and is located in the microcapsules themselves.
- “Xulat-25” is often used by professional parasite exterminators. The liquid is concentrated, you need to dilute it with water, following the instructions from the manufacturer. It is very toxic to cockroaches, but is safe for people and pets.
Crayons
This type of poison was used several generations ago. In the fight against a large colony of parasites, it is practically useless, and in comparison with more modern methods of control, the crayons are significantly inferior and losing ground. The most commonly chosen crayons are from the following manufacturers:
- "Mashenka."
- "Clean house".
Folk remedies against cockroaches
In the case when cockroaches are replaced in small quantities, you can also resort to effective folk recipes in the fight against them. There are a large number of them, but the best home remedies are the following:
- Boric acid is a very effective substance and works quickly from the first attempts. You can make the product yourself using the following recipe: Hard-boil eggs. Grind the yolk, add boric acid. Stir. Roll the mixture into balls and spread around the apartment. The cockroaches will feel itchy and will soon leave the apartment.
- Vinegar. Many parasites do not like it. Ammonia and vinegar are often used in spray form. You need to dissolve a little liquid in water and wipe the surfaces every day.
Cockroach traps
Traps are often used for prevention. Small houses are placed in dark and warm corners of the house. Cockroaches, having eaten plenty of poison, return to their brothers and also infect them.
Some traps have an adhesive base inside, from which parasites can no longer escape. This method helps to get rid of a colony that is just emerging.
Top brands:
- "Raid".
- "Raptor".
- "Foresight".
- "Combat".
Ultrasonic repellers
In some cases, such devices can be the most effective means of controlling cockroaches, for example, in grocery stores and apartments. Ultrasound has a negative effect on them. The use of ultrasonic devices has its pros and cons:
Pros and cons of using electronic devices
The characteristics state that humans and large animals do not feel any effect on the body. However, low-quality devices can negatively affect the human body, causing unpleasant symptoms such as headaches and/or insomnia.
Geranium
Geraniums are plants that are used as methods of preventing the appearance of cockroaches.
Its smell is excellent at repelling pests. Geranium is unlikely to be able to cope with severe infestations of cockroaches, but it will do as protection against defectors from neighboring apartments.
When fighting cockroaches with folk remedies, you need to remember that they are inferior in effectiveness to industrial insecticides. But if you follow the rules and remain patient, you can remove the bulk of the pests.
Professional products
Highly effective products include concentrated liquids, such as “Tsifoks” and “Xulat-25”. They are considered professional products and therefore must be used strictly according to the instructions. They are designed for use over large areas.
It is beneficial to contact specialists, since they can always qualitatively assess the situation and select a drug that is suitable specifically for your case.
Cockroach repellent "Tsifoks"
Liquid repellent for cockroaches Skulat-25
There are situations when, for various reasons, it is impossible to call disinfectants. In this case, you need to at least consult with them about the required drug and subsequent actions, and treat the apartment yourself.
In very difficult cases, when insects literally fall from the ceiling, you need advice from knowledgeable specialists. Professional workers know how to act correctly in such situations. After all, sometimes it may turn out that not just one family needs treatment of an apartment, but all the neighbors on the floor or in the entrance.
Crayons
An alternative to gels are specialized crayons, which are used to draw thick lines in places favored by cockroaches, for example, behind furniture. If a cockroach crosses such a line, it will contain an insecticide that will kill the insect in a few hours.
It is recommended to use crayons once every couple of months, remembering to erase old lines first. When working with them, you must follow safety rules and use protective equipment: masks and gloves. Cockroach crayons are also toxic to humans. Therefore, this product should not be used if there are small children or pets in the house.
