How To Get Rid Of Roaches In Your Apartment

Cockroaches are everywhere. Gross, we know.

Being resilient is only one trait associated with these insects. They're also associated with dirt. The stigma attached to cockroaches makes them the nemesis of all apartment dwellers. Seeing cockroaches in an apartment causes all kinds of issues, which is why nobody wants them around. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to get rid of roaches in your apartment.

Are roaches common in apartments?

The awful truth is that roaches are common everywhere. According to Pegasus Pest Control, cleanliness does play a role in what attracts roaches to a particular residence though. "There are living conditions that will suit cockroaches more. Like us, they need food and water to survive."

Having a home where food gets left out or a kitchen with crumb-covered counters is a definite welcome sign for roaches. Especially in an apartment building where another tenant is on the messy side, if you're not keeping things clean, the roaches already in the building may pay you a visit.

It's best to assume your building has roaches, whether it's only a few or a larger population, and behave proactively in your own space to keep them at bay.

Why do I have roaches in my clean apartment?

Even if you've put all your food away and meticulously cleaned your kitchen, you can still end up seeing a roach or two. A clean apartment is a great way to deter roaches, but there's something else they're looking for that your apartment has no matter what — water. "Roaches need moisture to survive and this search for water will bring them into even the cleanest of homes," according to Northwest Exterminating.

Leaky pipes or a drippy faucet, things you don't associate with dirt at all, call out to roaches. It's why you often see them in bathrooms in addition to the kitchen. They can hide under refrigerators or air conditioning units to drink the condensation, or even try to sneak a sip from a pet's water bowl. We may associate roaches with dirt, but their needs are much bigger than grabbing a quick snack from left out food.

How do I get rid of roaches in my apartment?

Cockroaches are quick, sneaky and adaptable pests that are very hard to eliminate. They are also harmful to have around, as carriers of bacteria and other infectious agents, with the potential to contaminate food. Because of this, it's important to address the issue immediately after you spot one of these unwelcome house guests.

While these are some of the most common methods to get rid of cockroaches in an apartment, you'll most likely end up needing a combination of them in order to get a roach-free home.

1. Use bait

roach bait

Often the safest and most effective, baits work over an extended period of time, killing roaches. They'll either kill on contact or use an unlucky few to carry the poison back to their buddies. Both gels and bait traps are available at your neighborhood hardware store, drug store or supermarket.

After you identify where the roaches are hiding, based on where you usually see them, place the bait, in containers, as close as possible. You can also target where food and moisture are most readily available. For any cracks or small areas, use gel bait. Change out the bait every three to six months.

If you want to take an organic approach to bait, you can make your own. Especially if you have pets or children at home, a simple recipe of baking soda and sugar can help take care of these pests.

2. Do a little dusting

dead roach

Dusts come in three different types — silica, diatomaceous earth and boric acid. The first two damage and desiccate a roach's exoskeleton while the boric acid is toxic when ingested.

The safest option is diatomaceous earth, which is a completely organic insecticide that actually kills roaches, fleas, ticks and bed bugs. It's a great preventive option, as well, if you want to avoid a roach encounter.

To use, sprinkle pesticide dust where roaches like to hide — inside cabinets, behind appliances and around cracks in kitchens and bathrooms. Reapply every three to four months.

3. Set a trap

roach trap

Traps are for the brave souls who don't mind dealing with the disposal of live roaches. You can buy them or make them at home. Sticky traps will stop a roach in its tracks and you can usually find them at your local hardware or drug store.

One homemade option requires a jar and some tempting food. Put a moist piece of bread and some slices of raw potato in an open jar. Then, line the inside walls of the jar with petroleum jelly and set in an area you've seen cockroaches. They'll come in for the food but won't be able to climb back out. To dispose of the roaches you catch, fill the jar with soapy water and screw on a lid.

4. Hire exterminators

exterminator

This is an extreme solution ideally meant for an actual roach infestation. You should contact your property manager before going this route since your lease may include this type of maintenance. To be effective, an exterminator should spray the entire building, which is why you should loop in your property manager to handle the bigger picture.

What can I do to keep cockroaches away forever?

While there's no guarantee you won't see a roach again, once you've gotten rid of them, there are things to do to make sure they don't come back.

Alert your property manager that you've taken steps to deal with roaches in your own apartment. Since it's most likely a building-wide problem, your property manager should take steps to have the whole building treated. If they don't already have an exterminator coming in, it might be time.
Keep things dry, avoid clutter of any kind, even if it's temporary and store food in plastic containers with tight seals. Sweep up crumbs, wipe down countertops and clean spills quickly.
Make sure garbage is in tightly-sealed containers which you empty regularly. Give your apartment a once-over for small cracks in doors, windows or walls. If you find any, ask your property manager to fill them in, or, if you're able, do it yourself.
Get rid of bar soap and house plants. Cockroaches like these items, too. You can replace bar soap with liquid soap where possible, like in the kitchen and on bathroom sinks. If you want to keep your house plants around, smear a little petroleum jelly on the outside of the pots so it is too slippery for the roaches to climb.

Learn how to get rid of roaches in your apartment

Remember, it's not if you'll see a roach in your apartment, but when. They're most likely already living in the walls because they're already everywhere. All you can do is focus on keeping your home as uninviting for them as possible while being quick to get rid of them if they appear.

Since cockroaches aren't the only pests that can invade your apartment, practicing good habits to keep your home pest-free, in general, is always a good rule of thumb.