You can purchase baits in the form of small containers filled with bait (bait stations) or dispensable gels. A variety of bait gels and baited traps are available from most hardware stores, drug stores, and supermarkets. Common brand names include Avert, Blue Diamond, Combat, and Max Force.
Mix small, equal portions of white flour, cocoa, oatmeal, boric acid, and Plaster of Paris. Mix 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of citrus pulp, ¾ teaspoon (about 4 ml) of brown sugar, ½ teaspoon (2. 5 ml) of corn meal, and ¼ teaspoon (1. 25 ml) of boric acid. Bait mixtures containing boric acid should be kept out of reach of children and pets.
Avoid leaving your bait stations out in the open. They are more likely to be effective (and less likely to be found by pets and children) if they are placed under or between appliances, in dark corners, and inside cabinets. If you made your own bait, put it in a small container, like a shallow bowl or a plastic food storage container lid, and place it as you would a commercial bait station.
How quickly your bait stations become empty will depend on how many roaches you have. Commercial baits may include instructions to replace your baits every 3-6 months, or more frequently if roaches return before the recommended period ends. If you make your own baits, inspect them every few weeks and replace them once the bait is depleted or cockroaches begin to reappear.
Borax (sodium borate) is often used as a homemade roach pesticide. Borax contains the same element (boron) as boric acid, but may be less effective as a pesticide.
You can purchase sticky traps in most hardware stores, drug stores, or department stores. You can make your own traps by lining the inside of a jar with Vaseline and placing a slightly moist piece of bread and some slices of raw potato inside as bait. You can kill the roaches you trap in the jar by filling the jar with soapy water. [3] X Research source Dispose of the trapped roaches in a garbage container outside your building.
Keep food (for humans and pets) in glass or plastic containers, with lids that fit tightly. Transfer any food that you keep in bags, boxes, or other materials that are easy for roaches to chew through. Replace bar soap with liquid soap dispensers, and spread a bit of petroleum jelly on plant holders and pots to keep roaches away from the plants in your apartment. Keep garbage, compost and recycling in tightly sealed containers, and take out your garbage frequently.
Take extra care to sweep and scrub up any roach droppings that you find, since these can attract other roaches.
