Unfortunately the most effective cockroach repellent in my apt is toxic

[La Lioness Priyanka]

Mothballs so far have proved far more effective than boric acid or whatever other cockroach bait i have used.

However this is apparantly too toxic for a long term solution

sigh!


PS .. 1. Dont keep food lying around
2. They seem to love my school paper/books. cannot get rid of books/paper but have no cardboard.
3. Dont keep unwashed dishes

[Midlodemocrat]

1. They LOVE the glue in paperbags. Discovered that in FL many moons ago.

And, I feel your pain. I once moved out of an apartment that had mice into one that had roaches.

Problem is, unless everyone in the building gets rid of them, they're gonna stick around.

I do not miss apartment dwelling for that reason alone.

[sasquatch]

5. I cannot see you living in an apartment, in Floiduh no less

:D

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Have you tried ultrasound

or my NYC friend's recommendation of lining the sides of a coffee can with grease or vaseline, and putting a cup of used coffee grounds at the bottom? Collect, and disgard.

[Deep13]

3. Ah, the joys of city living.

Goddamn, those things are nasty.

Don't worry, eventually the cockroaches will be eaten by the rats.

What are mothballs too toxic? People use them on clothes.

[LynneSin]

4. Boric Acid is your friend

I swear by the stuff and it's not super harsh.

Also, I put all food in plastic bags - they love paper & cardboard. But it's the oddest places I'd find them - like the back of a framed picture (because cardboard was used).

Boric Acid dehydrates roaches and it's safe around your pets. (I mean I wouldn't feed them Boric Acid but if they taste a bit of it, it won't harm them)

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Combat bait stations work. Cedar balls/blocks are good repellents & non-toxic

You pretty clearly have some sloppy neighbors, and until and unless they leave you're going to be getting invaded by their roaches. (Been there, got overrun by that.) Cedar will keep them out. Personally, I don't care for the smell, but it's certainly better than mothballs. Available at just about any hardware store.

[Roon]

7. I used to manage a roach motel 20 years ago

Roaches are a part of life, I concluded. The only way you can get rid of roaches it to turn off your heat, stay with someone for a couple of moths and they will freeze to death.

[Maine-ah]

8. hairspray and a lighter.