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Need some advice/recommendations on what to do about a pest problem I'm having in my apartment. It's sort of embarassing but I'm at my wits on what to do. I'm getting big cockroaches in my place and I don't know if spraying all over will work or not.

Saturday I found one in my kitchen cabinet and needless to say I freaked out. I called this morning to my landlord and she is going to send the maintanence person over to check under the sink for any holes and hopefully to spray again, but I have a feeling that this problem is not going to go away.

Is roach bait okay to put in cabinets? I appreciate any advice or recommendations...hate roaches in my house not to mention the bigger they are the more freaked out i get.

I had a roach problem once - but they were tiny roaches not big ones.

The guy at the hardware store recommended sprinkling boric acid in the corners of cabinets and whereever I saw cockroach poop (it looks like ground black pepper).

Boric acid isn't a good solution if you have pets, though.

I think I did a three-pronged attack.
1. Bombed my place before going out of town.
2. Boric acid.
3. Roach bait (the kind that says it kills the roach eggs as well as the roach).

It seemed pretty successful.

Martine,
I lived in a place with a persistent roach problem once and I understand your grief. I had them in my STOVE. Ugh. Get some boric acid. They sell it at the drug store or at hardware stores in the pest section. It's relatively safe to use in kitchen situations. I mean, obviously, you don't want to ingest large quantities. But, you can spread it in cracks, under the sink, and behind the stove, fridge etc. The idea is roaches get it on themselves and also take it back to the nest. It works on ants too.

goodmorning, hope everyone had a nice weekend.

i was cleaning up this morning and the motor on my vacuum went. it's not worth spending the money to fix it and i'm thinking about taking the plunge and buying a better unit. my husband has allergies and i've read such great things about the dyson, i was thinking of the low reach model.

anyone have any experience with these machines? pros/cons or specific models to suggest?

it's an investment for a vacuum and i'm wondering if it's worth it or if there is another option out there i should look into.

thanks so much for your help with this one.

On the subject of vacuums, I bought the Shark vacuum that was recommended on this site. It's tiny and has a strap to go over your shoulder BUT the tube part isn't long enough to stand up straight and vacuum the floor with it. You have to hunch over A LOT.

Now, I'm thinking that this is a very strange way to make a vacuum cleaner. All they needed to do was to make the tube thing longer.

Anyone else have this vacuum and can actually use it??

Hi,
I love the British magazine, 'Living Etc.', and they've recently amped up their website. Check out "See my home" under Forums.

http://www.livingetc.co.uk/

Martine, I completely understand your frustration. This would freak me out too.

I remember seeing something at the Farmer's Market once that was a natural fruit/vegetable something like that and it was supposed to be natural roach repellant? Anyone else heard of this?

For the meantime, clean down all of the surfaces and floors that you can, maybe with a low bleach/water solution. We had a problem when we first moved into our apartment and the management sent someone to spray and that seems to have solved the problem. (For now at least...but it's been about four months).

christina, I'm a dyson devote. I've had mine for a few years now and I still love using it. I have a dog that sheds very fine fur and the dyson handles it wonderfully.

one thing you want to establish is whether the roaches are lone maverick outside roaches who are coming in for a visit, or whether you actually have an infestation.

during the summer, especially when the weather is abnormally hot, wet, dry, or at some other extreme, roaches like to seek shelter. so they come into the house through holes and cracks (or even through the windows). they're REALLY big (like the size of a quarter or more). all you have to do to get rid of these guys is kill them as you find them. they're not planning on moving in.

or we could be talking about the smaller more golden-brown roaches that actually do infest your house. in which case i second JenPDX's three-prong attack.

2nd DC Christine -- I'm also a Living, Etc. fan, didn't know about their website -- many thanks for the link, where I'm going now ;)

Martine--
We moved to North Carolina last year and encountered our first roaches ever our third night in our new place. We were unhappy to say the least. We have the problem under control now, after some research and experimentation.

You need to practice an integrated approach, and it's an ongoing struggle, especially if you live in an apartment building. An integrated approach is one that deals with the problem you currently have and prevents it from happening in the future.

You need to:

1. clean the places where you've seen the roach(es). They leave a scent that other roaches follow to food sources, so you need to go over your counters and cabinets with a bleach solution.

2. don't give them a place to breed. Roaches love cardboard, newspaper, paper bags, etc. Don't let that stuff pile up in your apartment. Recycle it frequently.

3. use caulk. caulk up cracks in your baseboards, in your cabinets, etc. Buy expanding foam caulk (I think it's called Stuff It or something) to seal large gaps, especially that around your plumbing. This is critical.

4. kill them. Boric acid and diatomaceous earth are good, relatively non-toxic killers of roaches. Boric acid poisons them (roaches walk in it and then ingest it when they groom themselves). DE kills roaches by drying them out--it's abrasive and cuts through their shells). boric acid needs to be spread very thinly, just a dusting underneath your stove, inside cracks and voids in the walls, under your refrigerator, etc. I would not use boric acid in your cabinets. Use roach baits in your cabinets. Follow the instructions on the pack; place them in corners and along the backs and sides.

5. remove food and water sources (esp. water). don't leave dirty dishes in the sink, wipe your counters down, wipe out your sink. fix any leaks in your plumbing (roaches cannot survive without water, so do whatever you have to send them somewhere else for water).

6. fill a spray bottle with a dish soap-water solution (maybe 1/3 soap and 2/3 water). This kills roaches--I know from personal experience. Just keep spraying the suckers--trust me, they'll die. Also, if you have a pet and need to leave out water for him/her, you can place the water dish in a tray or cookie sheet that you've filled with soapy water.

I never expected to have this much experience with roaches, but living in the south teaches you all sorts of things...

Would it be possible to maintain a modern sensibility if we had this chair in our living room? I'm wondering if you guys think it would be possible to integrate this chair into a modern space, or if you think it would clash. Thanks for your opinions!

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=947&f=21398&viewall=1

Frankie Lee, I'm in love with club chairs and think they work with almost everything from modern to antique stuff. I love having ARMS to put my arms on.

But I think tossing in something eclectic (like a crystal chandelier in a mod room) keeps things interesting and adds character.

For roaches, one word -- COMBAT. It's the best product out there. (The trap style things, not the gels or whatever).

Also, excellent advice above re: cleaning (they do leave a smell that tells other roaches they;ve foudn a cool place); getting rid of unnecessary cardboard and paper (they love paper!); and caulking ALL crevaces, holes around plumbing, etc etc (also, steel wool in cracks etc is a great help, too.)

One more note on roaches. My hardware guy said that roach elimination tactics need to be kept up for at least three-reproductive cycles. For the smaller german cockroaches - that is about 3-months.

http://www.kiwicare.co.nz/experts-pestinfo.asp?id=4

Christina, not to end the talk on Dysons, but I thought you might find previous comments (for and against) useful:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/test-lab/the-dyson-ball-in-the-test-lab-002770

starbuckNYC, great description of the problem and proposed solution. I can picture exactly what you are talking about.

I remembered reading about a guy AT recommended who advertised his services on craigslist and I found him:

Luke Lownds.

Do a search on craigslist, services offered, skilled trades for Luke Lownds and you'll find his ad. Also search AT using google for references to him.

jamie pup, perfect! that is exactly what i was looking for but couldn't find it in the archives. thank you!!

You're welcome.
That was indeed a bit tougher than usual to find.

I have hardly had a problem in the entire 20 years in my place.

But when I did, I killed the ones I saw with foaming bathroom cleaner. Killed 'em instantly, whereas with insecticides, you spray directly at them, and they're still running around. Foaming cleaner is less harmful to me and the cats.

After spraying the foaming cleaner, you wipe up. Clean and kill in one step.

FrankieLee - depends on what you mean by modern...

If you have a VERNER PANTON look going on in your space, I'd say ix-nay on the club chair.

But go with your gut - sometimes a less style-forward piece works well because it isn't competing for design-accolades. Maybe changing the color of the leather will make it blend more seamlessly into your space. I think an modern iconic table like the Eileen Gray side table would be great paired with the parisian club chair.

I will soon be moving to my first real city apartment and I am terrified by all the roach horror stories posted here and in previous posts. How careful do you have to be to not invite a problem?

I’ve heard that they are attracted to cardboard and paper, does this mean I have to store dried goods like pasta and rice in airtight containers and not leave them in the box? How about lining shelves with paper, or storing stuff in cardboard boxes in closets?

I know some of you are going to laugh at my ignorance/paranoia but those stories really don’t help reassure a girl.

A-- one of the key elements of roach prevention was mentioned by ocgirl, eliminate opportunities for roaches to find water. Ridding the place of food sources is important, but water is more so. Making sure there are no leaks (and if you're looking for an apt, no evidence of recent leaks) around valves under sinks and other exposed plumbing leading to and from major fixtures (including radiators). Feel the pipes and the floors of cabinets. Slight warping of the wood/wood-like material, drips or regular "sweating" of the pipes could indicate a serious problem after dark. Once you're in a place, keep one of those superabsorbant rags in the shower and do a quick wipe-down of the walls after each use. All the erradication information above is great. Hang on to it in case you end up with an infestation anyway.

My husband's old apartment was full, FULL, of roaches. While the complex continued to have major problems, his place was relatively roach-free after he put out boric acid and roach traps (many of them, in every place that might appeal to roaches) and maintained them through several life cycles.

My sister's living room is sunken down from the kitchen/dining area by about 8". There is an awkward corner at one side that she'd like to build out, on an angle, to create a chamfered corner on that corner of the living room. So the construction would be a triangular piece that would fit into that corner so you don't have to step down and then back up to get from one part of the hallway to the other. It would need to be finished to match her existing hardwood, and the overall square footage on it would be about 4 s.f.

Does anyone have any concept of what such a thing might cost, or how she could go about hiring a contractor to do it? I've heard from other people that it can be tough to find someone to take a really small-scale job like that. There's always craigslist, but I think she was hoping to have some better way of finding someone...

please take a look and let me know what you think--

http://www.designpublic.com/shop/gus-design/4545

I'm looking for a danish-ish looking chair and this seems like it is well made and abargain--what do y'all think? any experience with the Gus Design Group?

thanks!

A-
Unless your place has a pest problem when you move in, you are probably ok. I would consider glass or plastic for dry goods to keep temptation away. Shelf liners are good because they help in keeping the shelves clean/easy to clean.
Nothing wrong with ignorance and your "paranoia" says to me that you have thought through all the possibilities of the new apartment.

A-
You'll be best off if you can store your rice and pasta and breakfast cereal and cheez-its and all the other pleasures of life in canisters (or tupperware) with tight seals. At the very least, consider sealing these items in ziploc storage bags. Line your shelves with vinyl-like shelf paper--makes them easy to clean, which is important in your attempts to make your home an unwelcoming environment. Just make sure the liner is secured well to the shelf, otherwise they'll be able to hide/breed/harbor underneath it.

I live in fear of one day being known as the roach lady, but I have to share this tip that I just found. A natural and cheap roach trap, courtesy of KVBC tv in Las Vegas. Take a wide-mouth jar, dump used coffee grounds in it, add a little water and leave out overnight. http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3630244 (check out the roach cam--if you dare!)

I have the yellow/gray Dyson upright. I also have three large hairy dogs. You will have to empty te canister often but it works well and is worth the price.

thanks jamie pup!

Frankie Lee -

Hope you see this, as I am chiming in very late.

I think that French club chairs fit in a home with a modern sensibility; as posted earlier though, it really depends on what else you have going on. As well, some french-style club chairs are a better fit than others.

Since I espouse an eclectic sort of design, mixing different periods can work (there are other things to watch for). For example, I think that it could look great if you put in a REAL French deco club chair. You can get reconditioned ones at Depression Modren (150 Sullivan) on Saturday mornings. They open at 12, people line up around 11. The chairs are gone within minutes of opening because the prices are so reasonable.

Another option is this chair, which I am very fond of. http://www.roots-direct.com/Product_Detail.aspx?styleID=22010042&dptid=6&catid=102&subcatid=&WT.svl=22010042

The leather is truly gorgeous (it comes in a variety of standard colors, aothough you can always special order anything -- red, white, whatever), and I find the detailing to be really great. I think it was designed by Diane Bald, the wife of one of the 2 Roots partners. She is an architect, and worked under Andree Putnam in Paris. She has many of these pieces in her own home (they have lots of club chairs -- check them out), and they marry particularly well with modern design classics, a la Andree Putnum.

Hope you see this!