Successful roach control depends on a combination of methods and tools. Prevention and sanitation are the foundation of the effort as its way easier to prevent roaches than to get rid of them once they have become established. Next we will discuss baits, dusts and sprays. You might consider calling a professional to perform the dirty work. They have the gear and know-how to do a methodical job and have access to chemicals unavailable to homeowners.

Roach management begins with prevention and sanitation. Prevention just means barring roaches from your home. Keeping window screens repaired and the doors and windows shut will make prevention easier, but the majority of the time roaches catch a ride into the home in bags or boxes. So inspect everything and anything before it comes in your house. Any sign of roaches or roach eggs, or brown liquid stains is a red flag.

The next step is sanitation. Thoroughly vacuum everything. cleaning every surface with hot soapy water will destroy the pheromone (scent) that roaches find attractive. Then eliminate the roach necessities, that is, food water and shelter. If you can do this phase well, roaches will find it very difficult to get established. After all would you want to live where there was very little in the way of food, water or shelter?

Although chemicals are used for roach control, the tactics have changed greatly over the last few decades. Baseboard sprays, once widely used, have been found to be ineffective. The methods of choice today are baits and dusts. Sprays are customarily reserved to find and clean out nests or high populations. The fact is that chemical products alone are not the most effective way to control roaches. Used correctly and combined with prevention and sanitation techniques however, they can be an important supplement to the arsenal.

Baits are valuable and highly recommended. They function well and reduce pesticide exposure. Baits usually come in plastic stations, or big syringes for gel applications. Position bait stations in corners wherever roaches have been sighted. Squirt small amounts of gel into cracks and crevices near roach sightings. Also place gel around windows, doors, and any other suspected roach hiding spot, but not food handling areas.

Insect growth regulators (IGR) are another useful roach control tool. Even though they take longer to work (4 to 6 weeks), the control lasts much longer that other chemicals since the cockroaches can no longer breed. Watch for adults with twisted wings since that is a sure sign the treatment is working.

Another useful group of tools are dusts. Dusts work slowly but work for a long time. The most common dust labeled for roach control is boric acid dust. Do not confuse the boric acid available in drug stores with the roach control chemicals. They are not the same. Boric acid dust is best used indoors in clean, dry locations. Use dusts in concealed areas like beneath appliances and in cracks and crevices. Be cautious not to go overboard with dusts. A very light dusting is plenty. This is one product where less really works better.

Here is the bottom line on roach control. Vacuum thoroughly and clean everything with hot soapy water. Position baits where you have seen roaches. Use either gel or container type of baits. Use dusts in hidden locations. Inspect monthly, exchange when gone or empty. Do not use liquid sprays except to clean out or knock down nests. Be sure to read the directions and be safe.

Florida Bug Inspectors is an Tampa expert in roach control. They have been solving pest control problems in Tampa for more than 25 years. Call the best – call Florida Bug Inspectors.