Helpful Tips on DIY Pest Control For Apartment Renters

Apartment living may be convenient and affordable, but the close quarters of families living together increase the risk of pests like cockroaches and bed bugs infesting your home.

In this guide, we will share tips and solutions for combating pest problems in apartments.

Pests In Apartments

Apartment renters are more susceptible to pest infestations due to multiple families living near each other. It may seem unfair, but you could inherit a pest problem because your neighbor has a pest infestation despite your efforts to keep your apartment unit neat and sanitary.

Among the prime reasons that pests like roaches, rodents, and bed bugs are attracted to apartment complexes is the ease of traveling from unit to unit and the variety of food, shelter, and water sources available to them.

A convenient perk of living in an apartment complex is that you can report your pest control problem to the management, who usually conducts pest control on your home. However, apartment pest control by management offices usually leaves much to be desired.

Apartment management teams often skimp on being thorough regarding inspections, and the treatment methods used are usually ineffective. You may likely see a much better result by going DIY to tackle your pest problems.

Identification

The usual suspects concerning pest problems in apartment complexes are bed bugs, cockroaches, flies, wasps, rodents (like rats, mice, and even possums), and birds (pigeons). Once you know your pest and even the type, you can go about a more focused pest control approach.

If you can spot a pest, closely observe them and note their physical characteristics and habits. Do they have wings and/or antennae? Can they crawl up walls? How many legs do they have? Where are they most active? What evidence do they leave behind (droppings, eggs, etc.)? Answer these questions when making your observations.

It may even be helpful to snap a close-up photo of the pest and compare it with images found online of pests. You can even share it with a local cooperative Extension Service or our Solutions Pest & Lawn staff to help with identification.

Our pest control library is chock-full of helpful articles and how-to guides you can check out depending on specific pests. This can help you come up with a treatment approach and the best products for a particular type of pest.

Inspection

An inspection is essential to identify your pest problem. Once you know what pest you are dealing with, you will need to carefully inspect your home to locate where the pest is active.

Where to Inspect

If you have a rodent, you may need to look in areas along the perimeter of your apartment. Rodents like to move along walls and tight spaces. The kitchen will be the main area to inspect since they will likely find food. Dark areas like closets and vents should also be checked.

If you have cockroaches, look in your kitchen and bathrooms where there is moisture or warmth. Check under appliances, behind your fridge, cabinets, electronics, and other dark, secluded areas where roaches try to stay out of sight.

Check your bedding, bed sheets, mattress folds, under couch cushions, around picture frames, and drawers for bed bugs.

What To Look For

Look for live pests while they are active or any traces of their activity through their droppings. Cockroaches leave their droppings in areas they frequent, and they have a musty smell. They will also cast aside egg casings.

For rodents, you should look for bite or claw marks and where rodent droppings or urine have been left behind. Dark reddish-brown fecal deposits should be checked around your bedding and mattress for bed bugs.

Treatment

If you already have an infestation, you need to arm yourself with professional pest control products. Don’t bother heading to a big box store; the stuff they carry is not effective enough.

While it is important, as we mentioned, to identify specifically what pest problem you have, we do carry products that can effectively control many different species depending on the pest.

For cockroaches, we recommend a combination of products such as Apex Cockroach Gel Bait, Gentrol Point Source, and Novacide Aerosol. Apex is an effective slow-killing bait with food-grade attractants that cockroaches won't be able to resist. Apex Gel Bait is also easy to apply; make small bead-sized applications strategically around your kitchen and bathrooms where you have seen roaches active. Before long, you will see a lot of dead roaches.

Gentrol Point Source is an insect growth regulator that interferes with the reproductive process of German cockroaches and some pantry pests. Preventing pest eggs from hatching and making juvenile pests unable to become adults can dramatically reduce the pest population.

Novacide Aerosol works as both an adult pest insecticide and an insect growth regulator. It can be sprayed on carpeting, baseboards, furniture, and other active pest areas to kill cockroaches, pantry pests, fleas, and many other pests.

For bed bugs, there is a detailed process required to successfully eliminate them, so by browsing our bed bug control page; you will get the specifics on everything you need for total control.

A solid control program for rodents involves a strategic plan and multiple methods of treatment (such as baiting and trapping), so click the link to get a detailed guide. 

For general pest problems, we highly recommend Pyrid Aerosol. Pyrid is labeled to control a wide range of common household pests and delivers a quick knockdown on contact. Use it to treat cracks and crevices and to kill pests with contact.

Combining all these products will make you well-equipped to protect your apartment from any common pest threat.

Prevention

The most important step in preventing an infestation is keeping your apartment clean and sanitary. Reduce clutter as much as possible, and don’t leave food out that can attract pests. While you may believe you already do a good job keeping your apartment clean, you may not be thorough enough to prevent pest issues.

Blaming another tenant in the apartment complex may be easy, but it doesn’t solve the problem. What your neighbors do is out of your control; you can only control what you do. There is a way you can be pest-free even if your close neighbors have pest issues. Here are a few things you can do:

• Seal Cracks and Crevices—Bugs, especially cockroaches, can make their way into your apartment through the smallest of cracks, so using a caulking gun, seal off any openings and crevices inside your apartment that may allow roaches or rodents to slip in and out of your home easily.
• Secure and Seal Gaps Around Plumbing—Either get your apartment maintenance to do this or do it yourself. Any leaks or plumbing issues lead to excess moisture, which pests love and flock towards.
• Repair loose-fitting doors and windows—When your doors and windows fit loosely, they create entry points for insects and rodents to enter your home. This may be a simple task you can do yourself. If you have a screwdriver lying around or another one, you can call maintenance to come over and do it.
• Inspect and clean up thoroughly after traveling. If you’ve just returned from vacation, be very wary of your clothing and luggage to make sure you haven’t brought any critters along with you. Hotels and motels are notorious for bed bugs, which may have hitched a ride on your clothes or belongings.
• Sweep Up Leaves and Yard Debris—Leaves and debris on your patio can attract cockroaches, ants, and other insects, so grab a broom and sweep them away to ensure no bugs are hiding under the leaves.

Key Takeaways

• Living in an apartment makes you more susceptible to pest problems than living in a single-family home.
• The most common pest issues in apartments are cockroaches, bed bugs, and rodents.
• Our top recommendations for pest issues are Apex Cockroach Gel Bait (for roaches), Gentrol Point Source, Novacide Aerosol, and Pyrid (for general pest problems).
• Prevention is key to keeping pest problems from re-emerging in your apartment. Maintain cleanliness and seal cracks and crevices to keep pests out.