How to get rid of roaches in NYC apartments!

led6777
led6777 Posts: 268
in Chit-Chat
I'm moving to NYC in a few weeks and my roommate is already there. He said he's already seen several roaches in and around our place. He's freaked out and I am too. I've done lots of research but I'm just wondering if anyone here has some good advice, especially regarding how to convince the landlord to get all the units in the building sprayed!
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Replies

  • MILICA1986
    MILICA1986 Posts: 168 Member
    Stomp out the monsters ! ! !
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    Eww clean the place up. My nyc apartment doesnt have roaches so its not a normal ny thing. If you have dirty neighbors you'll probably have to move. Or you can live with roaches like that movie Joe's Apartment.
  • led6777
    led6777 Posts: 268
    Eww clean the place up. My nyc apartment doesnt have roaches so its not a normal ny thing. If you have dirty neighbors you'll probably have to move. Or you can live with roaches like that movie Joe's Apartment.

    good, i'm so glad it's not a normal nyc thing.. that's what everyone says and i just don't believe it. I WILL NOT LIVE WITH ROACHES.
  • crazy8ts
    crazy8ts Posts: 360
    I've lived in NYC all my life...

    Boric acid. You can find it in most hardware stores or 99 cent stores... run lines of it along the base of the cabinets and walls where you see them most... Note: Not safe if you have pets... Every couple of months, sweep it up and reapply.
  • NotThePest
    NotThePest Posts: 164
    Roaches will eat anything, wallpaper paste, some wiring insulation, food crumbs, so living roach free in NYC, or any place, means doing due diligence. I've been living in Brooklyn, NY for a long time and fighting roaches is a constant battle. Up until recently the Roach Baits really worked, especially the ones made by Combat. But they probably developed an immunity to them so it was back to exterminators but I don't want the toxins they bring. Then I fell in love with Mrs. Meyer's products, specifically their Lavender products then I noticed my battle lines seem to retrench as I didn't see them anymore.

    I have her All purpose cleaner, kitchen counter top spray, etc. and no roaches. I just put two and two together and began looking up natural pest control and lavender was one of the many scents used to keep pests at bay. I already knew about peppermint and rodents, they don't like it 'cause it messes with their sinuses, but I didn't know about Lavender.

    Mrs. Meyer's is a natural based, not toxic cleaning product company, you may want to check them out.
  • laurielie
    laurielie Posts: 133 Member
    Lol..just curious, what roach free state are you moving from? In fl we have "giant" roaches! (not us) cause we pay.for pest control. I really dont think all 8 million plus new Yorkers live with roaches!
  • led6777
    led6777 Posts: 268
    Lol..just curious, what roach free state are you moving from? In fl we have "giant" roaches! (not us) cause we pay.for pest control. I really dont think all 8 million plus new Yorkers live with roaches!

    i'm from seattle. i had never seen a roach in my entire life until i went to college in chicago and I HATE THEM!
  • MermaidFaith
    MermaidFaith Posts: 495 Member
    Lol..just curious, what roach free state are you moving from? In fl we have "giant" roaches! (not us) cause we pay.for pest control. I really dont think all 8 million plus new Yorkers live with roaches!


    I am originally from florida and i laugh at what people in indiana refer to as roaches. But up here they are more rare than florida. usually just dirty people who let food lie around in their house instead of cleaning it up have them here.
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    HIRE WILL SMITH! :drinker:
  • marywanoKC
    marywanoKC Posts: 176
    Lol..just curious, what roach free state are you moving from? In fl we have "giant" roaches! (not us) cause we pay.for pest control. I really dont think all 8 million plus new Yorkers live with roaches!

    OMG, YES! Palmetto bugs are SO gross! I kinda never want to go back to Florida because of those things. *laugh*
  • led6777
    led6777 Posts: 268
    Lol..just curious, what roach free state are you moving from? In fl we have "giant" roaches! (not us) cause we pay.for pest control. I really dont think all 8 million plus new Yorkers live with roaches!

    OMG, YES! Palmetto bugs are SO gross! I kinda never want to go back to Florida because of those things. *laugh*

    why oh why did i choose to google that?
  • NotThePest
    NotThePest Posts: 164
    Ugly and gross as they may be, roaches do serve a purpose, they are scavengers. So don't give them anything to scavenge.:smooched:
  • barongaston
    barongaston Posts: 109
    Some object to it but there is always your friend the Gecko. Buy a couple and turn them loose in the appartment, you wont see them or roaches again. So you dont think I am crazy I remember reading something about it and found the article for you.

    http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/12/nyregion/buyers-snap-up-geckos-a-cockroach-s-tyrannosaurus.html
  • znm100
    znm100 Posts: 148
    Stomp out the monsters ! ! !

    don't stomp on them!

    I was an exterminator all throughout college. If you stomp on them, pieces of the smashed little buggers get into the tread on your shoes. Including the eggs. Then you spread their eggs all over by walking around. (This is especially important if you do not currently have roaches. NEVER step on a roach that isn't in your home and wear those shoes inside your house).

    Have your roommate call the landlord and get the exterminator in there. Really what he will do is add your apartment # to the list of his monthly accounts, as I'm sure they already come at least once a month.

    Best thing that you can do, is stay clean. Don't leave food, cat food, dog food, dirty dishes, etc laying around. That's for german cockroaches. American cockroaches are bigger, and are associated with warm, dark, damp areas. You may see those in your bathroom, and they are probably coming up from the boiler room or laundry room in the building. Make sure the exterminator is treating there as well, which i'm sure they already are.

    Hope this helps
  • NotThePest
    NotThePest Posts: 164
    znm100 - No stomping - that is great info to have. Thanks.
  • EmCarroll1990
    EmCarroll1990 Posts: 2,832 Member
    Stomp out the monsters ! ! !

    DO NOT STOMP ON THEM! That is the worst thing you can do, they automatically release their eggs once stomped on.
  • Foxypoo61287
    Foxypoo61287 Posts: 638 Member
    Are you POSITIVE they are roaches.

    cockroach-31.jpg

    or Palmetto Bug

    roach_palmetto.jpg

    try to see if your room mate can catch one ( alive or dead) and bring it to an exterminating company or something so you know your treating for the right thing... and if your landlord does nothing about it, im pretty sure it violates health code.
  • SofaKingRad
    SofaKingRad Posts: 1,592 Member
    You can collect them and substitute them into this recipe.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/620116-cookies
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    I can't personally vouch for this, but I've heard about it and would give it a try if I was looking to get rid of creepy crawlies:

    Diatomaceous Earth:

    http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
  • Lil_MiSsSunshiNe
    Lil_MiSsSunshiNe Posts: 167
    Tell him to go get a room at a hotel and bomb the apartment. Order some room service as well. I have never done that but its on my bucket list.

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