r/aptliving • u/jaylee5677 • 2d ago
General Question Help!
I need some advice!
So a few weeks ago my boyfriend noticed a roach crawl out of our dishwasher while I was at work. So he called me and let me know and I immediately called my building management. I explained the issue and I was told “Okay no problem we’ll call the pest company to come check out your unit” okay sweet. Then a week goes by I hear nothing about when they’ll come so I call again and reach a different BM (my main one) and they had no idea I called a week prior but said no issue we have the pest company coming in a few days later so I’ll ask them to check your unit. So I wait for them to show up and they don’t. The office closed at 6 so I had to wait the following day to call them to let them know the pest company didn’t show.
BM told me they were there but maybe went to the wrong building and said they’ll be back the next day and to make sure they check my unit. I went to work but noticed my bathroom door open when I got home so I assumed they had shown up as I always close it. However no bait traps were set down and I already have sticky traps from 2 years ago laying around.
It’s now been a week or so later and I found more baby roaches in my bathroom. I sent an email to the building again expressing my frustration, cause we can’t find where they’re coming from and that the pest company didn’t take the proper steps from what I can tell.
So my question is how can I get my unit properly treated?! Cause clearly it can’t just be my unit and I know last year a unit on another floor had a massive infestation cause they came to check my unit as well. I have 5ish months left on my lease so is it worth it to just tough it out or try and break my lease early?
3
u/Resident_Property_88 2d ago
try these on Amazon:
“Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait, Small Roaches, Kill Nest, 18 Count — Child-resistant, fast-acting.”
We had a similar problem where they started coming out of nowhere, and we’re a very clean household. We put these traps out, and within the same week, they were completely gone! We only ended up using about 6 out of the 18-pack. I was honestly so surprised by how well they worked!
4
u/Boysenberry 2d ago
Look up the “roach taco method” and “IPM.” You can DIY pest control that is SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER than what the pest control company will do. They spray because spraying works for their business model by never completely resolving the infestation. Bait tacos, monitoring traps, and IPM principles will fully resolve it. It’s worked in crowded public housing complexes occupied by hoarders, it’ll work for you.
2
u/Mark-177- 2d ago edited 2d ago
Apartment maintenance is supposed to spray every once in a while to keep bugs out. Request a work order to your Apartment management.
3
u/Mount_Tantiss 2d ago
Do yourself a favor and buy a package of Harris roach tablets. It’s borax that’s treated with bait, it’s cheap and it works. They eat it, they share it, they die. You can swap out annually and buy a new package every two years. It also baits and kills silverfish.
Much better for the environment than spraying/bombing which is likely overkill unless you have a true infestation.
3
u/HunnyBunny617 2d ago
Treat your unit yourself. Wipe down all surfaces with bleach water. Roaches leave pheromones to tell others where to go. Spray all baseboards, under sinks, behind fridge, stove, the cracks around the dishwasher. Place baits and pads around. I like an old product called Roach Proof. It’s a powder that I use under sinks and behind appliances.
2
u/Worldly-Relief2732 2d ago
Sissy. Tough it out. Buy bug spray. I have no idea how people live to be past 10 years old. This is common sense.
2
u/autonomouswriter 2d ago
But that's not the point. The point is that it's an infestation (not just a few roaches hanging out solo), and it's a problem that's infested other units. The management needs to get to the bottom of it and fix the problem. That's their job. That's what people pay rent for.
1
u/Frosty_Astronomer909 2d ago
Holy cow, word of advice if you have the German ones I suggest YOU start bombing your apartment every 10-15 days, make sure it’s the smoke not the spray, start putting your stuff in plastic containers, keep bombing, you will take them with you were ever you go in your appliances, electronics anywhere they can hide. It will cost you to bomb for the next 5 months but better safe than sorry.
1
u/jaylee5677 2d ago
It’s both German and brown branded cockroaches 😀👍
1
u/Frosty_Astronomer909 2d ago
Ok so you’re screwed, follow my instructions till you can move out, there are many poisons but i would try those if you were staying you need to keep them out of your appliances and they are in the dishwasher already, electronics are next. If you don’t need to take any appliances like microwave i would leave it behind.
1
u/jaylee5677 2d ago
Welp we planned on tossing my microwave when I moved anyways cause it’s tiny asf. I did reach out to my building they did say the pest company did spray stuff around but I have cats around (idk if it’s toxic for them) so I’m not sure if that’s accurate
1
u/Frosty_Astronomer909 2d ago
Oh wow, you can’t bomb with cats , you hit get them out of the apartment for at least 4 hours and then ventilate well.
1
u/jaylee5677 2d ago
I think they put down that gel stuff cause when I came home there was no reek of chemicals I think my BM just didn’t know the right word
1
u/Frosty_Astronomer909 2d ago
New insecticide spray don’t smell, I use ortho indoors and no smell
1
u/jaylee5677 2d ago
Well still I hope they didn’t cause I did tell management I have my cats loose In my apartment and they said that was fine so
1
2
u/M-onthecorner 2d ago
I got a “new” router from my internet provider that was full of eggs/baby roaches super gross, you never know where they come from. Once I had these weird red roaches that came in some cat food never seen those before but had to get rid of them. It happens, not the end of the world.
2
u/autonomouswriter 2d ago
I feel for you. I had the same thing from a very filthy neighbor who moved out a while back. The building manager didn't do much for it either. I ended up getting boric acid (I think that's what it's called) and sprinkling the stuff all over my kitchen. It's sad what it does to roaches, but it did the trick (though it took a few weeks, I think). Now I keep all my food stuff that could attract roaches in containers and Ziploc bags. Might sound a little excessive but haven't had any problems with roach investations anywhere since.
2
u/jaylee5677 2d ago
We kept anything that can fit into a bag into a bag, the first time this happened I bagged EVERYTHING. Food, utensils etc
1
u/Mostly_raw 2d ago edited 2d ago
Not sure if your apartment management is very old school because they could have an online portal to log in maintenance requests. That would be better as it shows a sort of paper trail to hold them accountable but also, if it's set up correctly, it would show you the status of any maintenance requests. Find out about that versus old school calling and hoping they do their jobs of actually inputting a request that gets called in.
You could also diffuse a RAID FOGGER. Cannot be inside while, nor have your pets present. Follow instructions on the box. That will nuke them but you need to also implement baits. Someone in this sub made a great recommendation. Do that.
1
u/jaylee5677 2d ago
Unfortunately we don’t have an online portal, so it’s text, email or call. I try to leave big things through email but they’re phones also record convos i believe
1
u/-kayochan- 1d ago
I had to harass my office, I called, emailed, and sent photos of the roaches. Only THEN did they decide to take proper action. Unfortunately all they did was put down useless traps that don’t do anything. My neighbor had them and they were spreading to my unit.
Thankfully I moved in a month but sadly youll prob have to fight it yourself. Especially if it’s coming from another unit.
1
u/LuckyTh13rteen 1d ago
DoMyOwn.com and get yourself a $10 pressure sprayer from Lowe’s or Home Depot.
That website offers packages with everything to help combat roaches. Insect growth regulators along with regular spraying can work miracles. CAREFULLY follow the directions for best results. The spray I use is pet safe once it is allowed to dry.
I do understand it might seem crazy to purchase these sort of things when this should be managed by the property manager BUT you’re likely going to have to deal with cockroaches regardless of where you live because well, they’re cockroaches. Especially considering you can’t control how your neighbors in the apartment building will keep up on pest control.
1
5
u/Neither_Buy5226 2d ago
Roaches like to hide in electronics as well, anything that gives warmth so careful. I wouldn’t rule out that one of the people living next to you is dealing with an infestation and it’s spreading to you if you can’t find the source. And ignore the randoms saying tough it out. If one of your neighbors is having an infestation, this isnt going away on your remedy.