How to Get Rid of Roaches in an Apartment

Quick Information

How to Get Rid of Roaches in an Apartment

Most Effective Products

Novacide Flea & Tick Killer
Aerosol
As low as $27.99
Apex Cockroach Gel Bait
Gel Bait
As low as $24.99
D-Fense Dust Insecticide
Dust
As low as $11.54
Gentrol Point Source IGR Plastic Disk
Ready-To-Use
As low as $1.67
Keith's Pro Tips

"Cockroach infestations can not be successfully overcome with a one and done approach. You may need to reapply our recommended products multiple times to get complete control."

How To Get Rid Of Roaches In An Apartment

This page is an expert guide on getting rid of cockroach infestations in your apartment using the products and methods suggested by our experienced pest control specialists. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of cockroaches in your apartment.

Cockroaches infesting a home can be a tough problem to deal with, but if you live in an apartment, getting rid of a cockroach infestation may seem like a battle that can't be won.

This is because no matter how clean and tidy you try to be in your apartment, you may still encounter roaches because you can't control how your neighbors behave. Couple this with the fact that cockroaches in apartment buildings can easily travel from unit to unit, even if roaches are gone for a period of time, they can just as quickly make a return.

All hope is not lost if you have a roach problem in your apartment as there are measures you can take to eliminate cockroaches and prevent them from infesting your unit. Read on to learn the tips for getting rid of roaches from your apartment permanently and top product recommendations that our experts have put together for apartment roach control.

Identification

Cockroaches in apartment

Before you can proceed with a treatment program, you need to be sure that you are dealing with a cockroach infestation and not some other pest. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong products for the job, leading to a waste of time and money. 

  • Cockroaches are quick-moving, sneaky and adaptable pests that love to infest human dwellings. They are normally brown, have flat bodies, six legs and a pair of antennae.
  • While there are 4000 species of cockroach found around the world, the most common species that infest indoor structures and apartment buildings are German cockroaches, which range between 5/8th of an inch to half an inch long.
  • Cockroaches rest in the day time and are active at night. They like to stay in warm and moist places which is the reason why they lurk and hide inside apartments where there is plenty of areas to congregate, lay eggs and feed.
  • Aside from its ability to multiply and reproduce rapidly, cockroaches are also carriers of diseases and allergens because they crawl over dirty areas and pass along filth on their legs.

Use the image and description above to aid you in identifying cockroaches in your apartment. If you are not totally sure, contact us and we will have one of our pros assist you with correct identification.

Inspection

Kitchen area

If you have identified cockroaches in your apartment, you will need to conduct an inspection to see how severe of an infestation you have on your hands. To do this, you will need to scan for signs of the cockroach infestation.

Where To Look 

Cockroaches prefer areas where there is warmth, seclusion and moisture. They also like being close to a food source. With this being the case focus your inspection on your kitchen and bathrooms. Check cabinets, drawers and other such secluded areas. Cockroaches may even be near your electronics because of the warmth it gives off.

What To Look For 

Look for gatherings of cockroaches in the areas we mentioned. Aside from this, you should also look around for roach droppings. This will look like black pepper and are usually scattered around the power supply or wire ports of your system. You may also notice a strong musty odor where there are lots of droppings. Another sign of an infestation to watch for are the little brown oval-shaped egg capsules roaches leave behind.

Treatment

To treat cockroaches in your apartment and get rid of them permanently, it is best to use a combination of products rather than just one product for best chances of control. This is because cockroaches are adaptable so by using a multi-pronged approach if one treatment method doesn't get them, another one will.

Our top products for treating cockroaches are Apex Cockroach Gel Bait, Gentrol Point Source, Novacide Aerosol and D-Fense Dust. Apex is used to kill adult cockroaches and will kill a significant amount of the infestation via bait transfer. Novacide Aerosol and Gentrol Point Source will hinder the reproductive development of cockroaches so eggs don't hatch and nymphs don't reach adulthood. Finally, D-Fense dust is useful for treating those hard to reach areas that cockroaches hide or travel through such as wall voids, electrical outlets, cracks and crevices.

Step 1 - Bait Placement with Apex Gel Bait

Apex

Apex Cockroach Gel Bait containing a variety of irresistible cockroach attractants. Apex is a slow-killing bait, allowing the roaches time to ingest the bait and return to their nest, spreading the baits poison to the rest of the population. A poisoned roach will die and other roaches will feed on their dead body, becoming poisoned as well. The bait also comes in a convenient syringe for easy and precise baiting.

Apply a pea-sized amount of bait on index cards then place the cards in those hot spots you noted during the inspection. The index card helps make for an easy application and cleanup. Be sure to place the card in an area that is out of sight from children and pets.

Apply Apex in small beads around cracks and crevices in cabinets, shelves, pantries, cupboards, under the fridge and microwave, behind your toilet, around your plumbing and other common areas. It will take 3 to 5 days to see a reduction in activity using bait alone. Check the areas after 1 or 2 weeks and replenish until there is no further cockroach activity.

Step 2 - Apply Gentrol Point Source

Gentrol Point Source

After you have baited, use Gentrol Point Source to address cockroach eggs and nymphs. Gentrol Point Source is an IGR (insect growth regulator) that will interrupt the life cycle of the cockroaches so they won't be able to multiply and grow their population. Gentrol Point Source comes in the form of plastic disks that can cover a 75 square foot area and has a residual of up to 3 months. The product comes in increments of 20 so you can get good coverage around prime areas where roaches may be.

To use, first crush the ampule on the disk with your thumb to cause the IGR to wick into the cotton pad then place the disc in cabinets and drawers either horizontally or vertically and at least 3 feet away from exposed food.

Step 3 - Residual Spray with Novacide

After several days pass, apply Novacide Aerosol to address a heavy infestation as it will aid in halting the rapid reproduction of the cockroach population. Novacide is a residual spray that can be applied to floor surfaces and baseboards. This will kill adult cockroaches with contact and also contains an insect growth regulator (IGR). An IGR interferes with the life cycle and reproductive abilities of roaches. This will disturb the egg-laying of adult roaches and will also prevent egg hatching and younger stages of roaches growing into adults. This is key to eliminating a cockroach infestation because roaches multiply rapidly as it prevents a new generation of cockroaches from adding to the infestation.

Spray in a downward sweeping motion in areas around your baseboards and floors and the internal perimeter of your home. Stay off the treated areas and allow your home to ventilate after spraying. Novacide creates a deadly barrier and its IGR can last for up to 7 months. Avoid spraying Novacide onto or into the appliances.

Step 4 - Apply D-Fense Dust

Dusting

D-Fense Dust is a waterproof insecticidal dust that is great for applications of cracks and crevices and wall voids that are hard to treat. With the product being a dust rather than a liquid, you can safely apply into sensitive areas like behind electrical outlets and under appliances.

To use, add D-Fense Dust to a handheld pesticide duster and apply the dust around appliances, under the fridge, voids, around plumbing and into electrical outlets after unscrewing the plastic plate. A small puff of dust is enough and carries a long residual that will remain effective months after application.

Prevention

Caulk

After the cockroach problem has been eliminated, you can't rest easy. Unfortunately, because you are living in an apartment, roaches can easily return. Here are some preventative measures you can take to limit or prevent reinfestation.

Sealing Points of Entry and Fixing Leaks

As mentioned earlier, roaches have flat bodies perfect for sneaking their way through tiny openings so find all the cracks, holes and openings in your home and seal them with caulk.

Also, address any moisture issues in your home and fix all the leaks of your plumbing pipes, sinks, faucets and other areas that might have leakage. 

Consistent Apartment Cleaning

Remove all the clutter from your apartment and dispose of material you don’t need. Keep your trash can clean before reusing it and use a proper garbage bag and trash can with a tight lid. Throw the garbage on time and dispose of it immediately outside in a sealed bag. After every meal, make sure to clean up the dishes and dry them. The table should be cleared up and crumbs should be swept and vacuumed up to limit cockroach food sources.

Make sure the sinks are clean and dry and your washroom is clean dry and free from mildew and mold. Make sure your drain is clean as well. 

Reapplication of Novacide

As mentioned earlier, Novacide Aerosol has a residual effect that lasts up to seven months. Reapply Novacide to prevent reinfestations every 7 months or so for continued control.

Key Takeaways

How Common are Roaches in Apartments?

  • Cockroaches can be a frustrating problem for apartment residents because of their tendency to travel between units.

How to Get Rid of Roaches in an Apartment Permanently

  • To treat for cockroaches, you will need to carry out a multi-pronged treatment approach with Apex Cockroach Bait, Gentrol Point Source, D-Fense Dust and Novacide to address all stages of the cockroach life cycle.

Preventing Cockroach Reinfestation in Your Apartment

  • After the cockroaches have died, maintain cleanliness and keep a reinfestation from occurring by fixing leaks, sealing off possible points of entry and reapplying Novacide Aerosol every 7 months.
Questions and Answers
No Question Found
  1. Size:
    SOLUTIONS
    Novacide Flea & Tick Killer
    $27.99 - $27.99
  2. Size:
    SOLUTIONS
    Apex Cockroach Gel Bait
    $24.99 - $45.99
  3. Size:
    CSI
    D-Fense Dust Insecticide
    $11.54 - $11.54
  4. Size:
    ZOECON
    Gentrol Point Source IGR
    $1.67 - $1.67
© 2024 Solutions Pest & Lawn. All Rights Reserved