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Post by messyang on Jan 24, 2010 15:13:09 GMT -5
I haven't posted in awhile, but let's just say things are much better! I am a single mom (husband died), with four kids (one autistic), and I have kept a level three squalorous house for years. I am now down to about a level one. I am in the process of remodeling some of my rooms, repainting, etc. The place looks SOOOO much better, and I feel so much better. Just one big problem remains: ROACHES! I have written about them before, and some of you have given me some good tips, but the infestion is so severe that I guess I need an exterminator. I have tried boric acid, lemon spray, bay leaves, baits, chemical sprays, even those things you plug into the walls. I figured once my house was clean, they would go away. Not so lucky...
Here are my questions:
1. Does anyone have any last tips/advice before I call an exterminator?
2. What are the chances that the exterminator will call child services due to my severe infestion? It is obvious the infestion has gone on for quite a while, and I am scared to death to call anyone. Now that my house is clean, THEN I get reported? I can't stand the thought!
Thanks in advance...you are great!
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Post by binky on Jan 24, 2010 16:48:03 GMT -5
Your roach problems sounds severe even though you've tried many things to get rid of them. I would call an exterminater. It's MUCH better for your children to be rid of the germ carrying roaches.
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Post by Rory on Jan 24, 2010 17:08:00 GMT -5
Call the exterminator. My biology teacher said that roaches were one of the few life forms that would survive a nuclear war so they will need something strong.
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Post by Chris on Jan 24, 2010 17:08:58 GMT -5
 I'm so sorry you're going thru this. My personal opinion is that if the place turned you in (an exterminating place) that would be crazy -- you're someone doing something about the problem -- so wow that would have to be very low. I live in South Texas and I know how difficult the problem can be. We are having better luck with it now that we don't have quite as many boxes. It can flare up pretty bad here at times. Even some people I worked for had severe problems and they didn't have near the "stuff" we had -- they even had a severe flea problem. The thing with roaches is that they lay their eggs on/in everything so it takes awhile to rid them once it gets going. When I was younger we used to buy those bomb things and set off 3 of them and leave the house for several hours -- but I never liked them -- oh they helped quite a bit but I felt they were dangerous. I think an exterminator is your best bet along with continuing to get rid of cardboard boxes and stuff the best you can. The people I worked for used Terminex and they'd come back and spray again free if they saw any fleas or roaches between treatments. Good luck!!!!
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jan 24, 2010 17:22:40 GMT -5
An exterminator won't turn you in, especially not if things have been improved to reasonable livability. Don't let it concern you, these guys have seen everything. There might be some external reason for the infestation too, it wouldn't hurt to have a professional take a look at it.
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Post by charis on Jan 24, 2010 17:51:23 GMT -5
Like Chris, I am in South (well, Southish) Texas, and when I moved down here I was surprised at how casually people spoke of roaches--warm, humid places just attract them and no one really feels shame about it, they just fight them. We have our "bug man" who 4 times a year does a prophylactic spray. It has kept our house clear for 5 years. You, now, are in Florida-- roaches are practically the state insect  . Fighting roaches is just what people have to do. I am certain your exterminator will be very accustomed to your situation. If you are favorably impressed with the service and the cost, ask about setting up an appointment to have a regular service. |
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lysistrata
New Member
Joined: January 2010
Posts: 6
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Post by lysistrata on Jan 24, 2010 18:12:57 GMT -5
I am new here, but what I found is helpful is the Gentrol Point Source. Once you get the exterminator in, he will kill what is alive and the residuals, but after a while, they may come back. The Gentrol is a disk that you can put in the cabinet, under the sink, etc., and it has an ingredient that affects the reproduction cycle of the pests. Over time, the nest becomes sterile and you will not have anything. You swap them out about every 3 months and they work well. No one would ever know you are using them unlike the traps and stuff. You can get them at store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/default.aspx. The page specifically for the disks are store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/search.aspx?criteria=gentrol. Believe it or not, I never had pests, until I had a visitor who had them and brought them to me. So after freaking out, I did some research on them, I have been using them ever since 2006. They are worth the money. I keep them in stock. |
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Post by Looking_Forward on Jan 24, 2010 18:35:29 GMT -5
Go here store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/cgi-bin/pestcontrol.storefront/EN/Catalog/1043make sure they are german roaches and I suggest the maxforce bait gel (you can squirt it like a caulking gun along where they run) and until things get under control some growth retardant. When we moved in here there was a roach infestation so bad that I got up in the middle of the night and they were so thick under the carpet that the carpet was moving. It was beyond awful. Baits are nice too because they don't get insecticide all over the house (problematic with kids and covering dishes and oh can roaches hide) and roaches are cannibals. One dead roach filled with a bait poison will kill 17 others that feed off of it, and each of those will kill 17 others. I don't know how far down the line the multi-level marketing scheme it goes, but for a week I had to vacuum up roach corpses several times a day. |
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Post by Butterfly on Jan 24, 2010 22:21:58 GMT -5
I, too, would suggest calling an exterminator and getting the problem in check. Then, you might consider the Riddex Plus ultrasonic pest control. You plug it into an outlet, you may need more than one depending on the size of your home, and it repels pests. I lived in the SE and, although my clutter/messy house problems weren't as bad then as they are now, I used this and did not ever have one more roach. I can't swear the Riddex was my solution but it sure seemed like it and if I ever move back then I'll certainly use it again.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Jan 25, 2010 0:01:52 GMT -5
I used the stuff that had the birthcontrol in it spray wise and that helped me a little....it lets you sterilize the breeding males.....after a while they go away....I am really surprised I do not have roach problems here with the way my kitchen gets....but I have mouse problems instead....so do they make mouse birthcontrol??
hugs btt
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Post by serenitynow on Jan 25, 2010 8:28:07 GMT -5
Yep. They're called cats.  serenitynow |
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Post by AnnieOkie on Jan 25, 2010 9:30:46 GMT -5
Hi Messyang! I have written this same reply over and over again on many other threads. I am just telling you what worked for us. Fiance had horrible roach problem. So bad that once we went out to Home Depot and a roach crawled out of my purse (and I don't even live with him). He had a friend who is an exterminator and supposedly used the baddest stuff around for roaches. If anything, it made it worse! We tried this for months. Finally we bought a TON of the Combat roach baits.. www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204612846&listingid=35918815...and I promise they worked! Any time I have ever seen a roach in my own home, I put out fresh baits and I don't see them anymore. I hope this helps. |
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Post by sporadic on Jan 25, 2010 9:47:39 GMT -5
Call a professional exterminator. It sounds like with all you've tried, you could have paid for one by now. Look in the yellow pages for reputable exterminators and begin making calls to get the best prices. This will likely be best for you financially and finally get the problem solved. |
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purple57
New Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 74
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Post by purple57 on Jan 25, 2010 11:02:45 GMT -5
I have always lived in apartments, and had them a few times, and Boric Acid did the trick for me each time.
Do you live in a house or an apartment? Because if you're in an apartment, every time someone new moves in they could be unwittingly bringing roaches with them from their old building. If you're in a single-family house, I strongly suggest a professional, if the Boric Acid didn't work.
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