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Indoor Roach Control - Tips and Tricks

By: Ben Draggin


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Effective roach control depends on a a number of techniques and tools. Prevention and sanitation are the basis of the effort because its way easier to prevent roaches than to eliminate them after they have arrived. Next we will discuss baits, dusts and sprays. You might want to think about calling an expert to do the dirty work. They have the gear and training to do a methodical job and have the right to use products unavailable to homeowners.

Roach control begins with prevention and sanitation. Prevention just means keeping the roaches out of your home. Keeping screens repaired and the doors and windows closed will make prevention easier, but most of the time roaches hitch a ride into the home in bags or boxes. So examine everything and anything before it comes in your house. Any indication 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 odor that attracts more roaches. Then get rid of the roach basics, that is, food water and shelter. If you can do this phase properly, roaches will find it very difficult to get established. After all would you be able to survive where there was no food, water or shelter?

Although chemical products 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 unproductive. The methods of choice today are baits and dusts. Sprays are usually used only to find and wipe out nests or high populations. The fact is that chemicals used alone are the least effective way to control roaches. Used properly and combined with prevention and sanitation techniques however, they can be a valuable addition to the arsenal.

Baits are valuable and highly suggested. They function well and limit pesticide exposure. Baits usually come in plastic containers, or big syringes for gel applications. Position bait stations in corners wherever roaches have been seen. Squirt small amounts of gel into cracks and crevices in the vicinity of roach sightings. Also use 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 product. Even though they take longer to work (4 to 6 weeks), they work much longer that other products because the roaches can no longer reproduce. look out for adults with twisted wings since that is a sure sign the treatment is effective.

Another helpful set of tools are dusts. Dusts are slow-acting but offer long term control. The most common dust labeled for roach control is boric acid dust. Do not confuse the boric acid accessible in drug stores with the roach control products. They are very different. Boric acid dust is most effective inside the home in clean, dry areas. Use dusts in hidden areas like beneath appliances and in cracks and crevices. Be careful not to go overboard with dusts. A very gentle dusting is plenty. This is one product where less actually works better.

Here is the bottom line on roach control. Vacuum thoroughly and wipe everything down with hot soapy water. Locate baits where you have seen roaches. Use either gel or station type of baits. Use dusts in concealed areas. Check monthly, replace when used up or empty. Do not use liquid sprays except to clean out or knock down nests. Read all directions and be safe.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Florida Bug Inspectors, a leading Tampa pest control service, has more than 25 years experience solving difficult pest control problems. If you experience roach control problems, call Florida Bug Inspectors.

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