Well this is embarassing...question about killing roaches
rosemaryt
12 years ago
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Georgysmom
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMomof6
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Spiders and roaches everywhere
Comments (18)Boric acid is not an organic material but it is allowed for use in organic agriculture. That distinction might make a difference to some people. Living in San Antonio I have become immune to the occasional roach. I don't tolerate them but at least I don't run screaming when I see one. When my house was being remodeled I talked to the builder's exterminator. He told me that boric acid would work against roaches, earwigs, termites, and wood ants but it had to be everywhere in the walls. Based on that advice I had the builder put a tablespoon of boric acid into each space before blowing in the insulation. I have not had more than a handful of roaches since then. That stuff really works. Every time we have seen a roach, we can attribute it to bringing in a cardboard box from a grocery store. Boxes from our local Sam's Club are always good for a roach or two. Boric acid is good against most all insects. Use it only indoors because your soil might be very sensitive to additional boron. Whenever I move I go in to a new house or apartment, the first thing I do is dust the entire place with boric acid. It is amazing how many roaches can die in a month. I counted them in my first apartment and got about 300. After that I never saw another one in five years. I even had the manager stop spraying my apartment. For normal prevention I use it in the corners of every drawer and cabinet and behind the stove and refrigerator. By doing that I have lived roach free in the land where roaches rule since 1981. What are they eating? Anything from fungus to food. What eats roaches? Lizards, geckos, birds, and toads. If you are fully organic, you should have those in abundance. If you want more of one of them quickly, put in a bird bath, bird house, and bird feeder. Regarding spiders, their most effective natural predator is the mud dauber wasp. Mud daubers shun publicity so you will most often see them in out buildings and in the garage. Leave them alone and they will not bother you but they will rid the garden of most spiders....See MoreWhat is the safest way to get rid of roaches?
Comments (8)I agree with the boric acid, though it should not be placed where animals or children can get hold of it. It should be puffed into crevasses and behind cabinets and appliances. The boric acid roach baits work well, too. And the growth regulator roach baits. These measures will likely take care of small infestation of roaches. However, some species will literally take up housekeeping between your walls, in your insulation, and will be very difficult for you to get rid of. If you seem to be inundated with these little beasties, then an exterminator might be a good thing. They use long lasting growth regulator products now, which don't produce harmful fumes. Roaches will eat the insulation on wires, they will get into the guts of your stove and fridge, eat wall paper and book bindings....See MoreMoved to Houton- will I be attracting roaches??
Comments (6)I am about 70% blind. I've been Diabetic for 30 yrs and started to lose my sight. I'm 35 so I don't want to feel like my life is over yet but because of a few health issues I can't work outside of my home. Living on the east coast was just getting too expensive so I have a cousin here in Houston so here I am! I have a 6 tray worm factory I bought online that I really enjoyed having and taking care of but really now I'm not so sure I want to get it started again. Moving from Zone 6 to 8 is alot different and I had to leave all my gorgeous plants behind and my zillion worms went on Freecycle as well. I only have one prickly pear I picked by the side of the highway now anyway. I do it more to fill my day with something to do. If I thought about putting it on my patio outside, how do you think it would do? Thanks so much for your help as well, it's nice to have somewhere to go and have people with the same interest. When I mentioned composting everyone thought I was crazy!! Let alone with worms!! It's amazing how different the mindset cab be from one part of the country to another, it saddens me that people don't recycle here. It kils me everytime I see milk jugs, newspaper ect. going in regular garbage. Anyway, I'm rambling now... Thanks...See MoreRoaches
Comments (9)A simple mixture of flour and borax...like you find in the grocery store with the laundry detergent, will kill them. Mix the flour and the borax about 1/2 and 1/2...no need to be exact and put some on a piece of paper...like a 2 inch square of peper and lay several of these around your room. Leave them for at least 2 weeks...3 is better, and they will be gone! What happens, is the borax is poisionous to the roaches...but they like the flour and go onto that piece of paper, eat the flour and take some of the borax back to the nest on their feet and that also poisions the other roaches in the nest. Don't use anything with edges for the powder....just a square of white paper. And you have to leave it out for at least 3 weeks, because if any eggs hatch, you want the babies to die too! You may have a neighbor who is not as clean as you are....so you may have to repeat this process. Linda C...See Morepudgeder
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