- GERMAN ROACH CONTROL REQUIRES PATIENCE
- HOW DO GERMAN ROACHES KEEP COMING BACK?
- MONITOR YOUR GERMAN ROACH PROBLEM
- SHOULD YOU TREAT FOR GERMAN ROACHES OR HIRE A SERVICE COMPANY?
- HOW TO GET RID OF GERMAN ROACHES
- GERMAN ROACH CONTROL TAKES TIME
- CONTACT US
German roaches are every homeowners nightmare. If given the opportunity, german roaches will become a permanent family member! There are different ways of dealing with this pest, but three qualities you need are 1) patience, 2) persistence and 3) knowledge.
GERMAN ROACH CONTROL REQUIRES PATIENCE ^
Patience is needed when dealing with a german roach problem because you cannot spray one time and expect to never see another roach. Egg cases will hatch and follow-up treatments will be necessary. When german roach sightings continue after treatments, use these sightings to your advantage. There must be a nest or two you missed so attack that area and stay focused. You will have to win several “battles” before you win the “war” with this pest.
HOW DO GERMAN ROACHES KEEP COMING BACK? ^
Persistence is needed when dealing with german roaches because of their biology. German roaches develop rapidly and studies confirm they will develop faster when their population is under stress. Egg sacs will routinely produce 30-40 young nymphs so just one surviving german roach can cause a local problem to rebound in 30-60 days.
If you’ve been treating a german roach problem for any length of time, then you have no doubt noticed a population explosion within 4-6 weeks after a major treatment. This is nature’s way of preserving the species. To “head off” the rebound effect, you must strictly adhere to systematic applications. Think long term and schedule treatments for at least 6 months if not a full year. This will insure eradication and not management.
MONITOR YOUR GERMAN ROACH PROBLEM ^
Knowledge is another key ingredient when combating german roaches. If you hire a professional, ask questions. Learn what products they’re using and understand why. Make sure to monitor your problem areas both visibly and with GERMAN ROACH TRAPS. If you’re catching german roaches in between treatments, step up the frequency.
SHOULD YOU TREAT FOR GERMAN ROACHES OR HIRE A SERVICE COMPANY? ^
Every homeowner and small business with german roaches must decide how to handle the problem.
1) You may choose to use a pest control company full time for all of your german roach control needs.
2) You may hire a pest control company but also supplement their treatments by doing some work yourself.
3) You may choose to handle all your german roach control needs. If that is the case, read on. The rest of this article is designed for do-it-yourselfers.
HOW TO GET RID OF GERMAN ROACHES ^
In general, there are two methods for treating a german roach infestation: spraying and baiting.
The old style, traditional way to treat for german roaches is to chemically treat cabinets, wall voids and appliances where german roaches like to hide. This would involve a lot of preparation. You would need to empty cabinets and make voids accessible. Only then can a treatment be complete and thorough.
But today the strategy is different. At this time we have german roach bait which actually works. And it works well. More importantly, it may be used safely in cabinets where food and dishes are stored without having to remove everything. But how do you choose which to use?
Simple. For small, isolated problems in sensitive areas like kitchen cabinets or pantries, baiting with a german roach gel is the best way to proceed. At least to start.
But if german roaches are being seen throughout the home or if you want to insure they don’t spread, you will to spray too. The key is knowing which gel bait is best and which spray to use.
THE “BEST” GERMAN ROACH GEL BAIT ^
At this time, we have a wide range of german roach bait on the market. In the past 10 years, many have come to market and many have proven effective. But when tests are performed to see which german roach gel is “best”, what we discover is that in fact the best roach gel is all of them.
Now what does this mean? Essentially it means a combination of 2-4 flavors of german roach gel used at the same time will yield the best overall results. This is largely due to how german roaches like to feed; they like to forage around and “graze”. So by offering 2-4 flavors of gel throughout the problem areas, you’ll surely get it accepted and in the end, faster results. For this reason we offer the best german roach gels in a series of 2 ROACH GEL KITST listed below.
A 2 pack of gel should last 2-4 weeks and when its gone, you should rotate to another different flavor 2 pack. Logically you should start with Kit 1 and then get Kit 2. Each kit has different professional roach gel and we have learned they all work well so you won’t go wrong with either.
More importantly, we’ve learned they all work best when used together and when flavors are rotated every 3-6 weeks.
For more serious problems, get a 4 GERMAN ROACH GEL KIT or a 4 GERMAN ROACH GEL BAIT GUN KIT. The bait gun will make applying the gel very easy and for an ongoing treatment schedule, well worth the investment.
WHERE TO APPLY GERMAN ROACH GEL ^
If you are careful, you should be able to apply german roach gel without having to remove items from your kitchen cabinets or pantry. Use it along the back corners of these areas making placements both high and low. Get 2-3 spots applied for every cupboard. Be sure to treat all cabinets as well as pantries, under the sink, behind the refrigerator and basically anywhere german roaches have been seen crawling and foraging.
HOW MUCH GERMAN ROACH GEL SHOULD BE USED? ^
Not much. For mild to average problems, you should apply 1/4 to 1/2 of each tube. Since you’ll be getting at least 2 tubes, you’ll want to use about 1/2 of each for the initial application and then 1/4 of each tube every 10-14 days until the problem is gone. For severe problems, you should use 2 tubes to start (basically 1/2 tube of 4 different flavors). This should be repeated every 10-14 days as well.
Average roach problems will be controlled in 4-6 weeks; severe problems will take 1.5 to 3 months.
Remember, placements of the german roach gel should be small (basically about the size of a grain of rice). And the more placements yo make the better. Space them every 2-3 apart along gaps, seams and where they like to forage. The good news is that you only need to get the german roach gel close to where you see activity. Because these products use real food for lure, they’ll will find your offering immediately as seen in the following video.
As you can see, german roaches will come crawling out of cabinets and wall voids to get the bait! So attracted to these products are roaches that you only have to get them close to where they are seen and they will find it.
For extra protection and ease of removal, use REFILLABLE BAIT STATIONS to make your gel placements. These stations are small, just 2.5″ wide, and come apart easily. Gel can be placed inside where it will remain protected from UV light, dust and other contaminates. They feature 6 ports to enter and will do so readily as roaches like to feed in protected environments like the space these stations provide. These make setting out gel easy and removing unused portions even easier.
BEST GERMAN ROACH SPRAY ^
As good as german roach gel works, its generally smart to spray the baseboards and other rooms of the home to insure the problem doesn’t spread. But what should be used?
Most any “ready to use” spray bought over the counter is smelly and will contaminate the gel. More importantly, these sprays will chase german roaches causing them to find new nests which in the end, make getting control that much more difficult.
To avoid this problem, use a non repellent spray. And the best non repellent on the market for german roaches is ORTHENE WP. This product won’t be detected so they’ll readily forage over the chemical and in the process pick up a lethal dose and die. Orthene is the pest controls “go to” product for tough german roach problems and when mixed with GENTROL EC, the BEST SPRAY available. Period.
Gentrol is a juvenile growth regulator. It interferes with developing german roach nymphs life cycle so they’re not able to develop to mature, reproducing german roaches. For this reason its vital to add some Gentrol to your orthene when spraying.
The only problem with Orthene is that it naturally has an odor. To remove this odor, we’ve added the odor neutralizer known as T.O.N. as part of our ORTHENE KITS. These kits include all you need: a pack of Orthene, a vial of Gentrol and vial of T.O.N.
You’ll want to add the pack of Orthene, the vial of T.O.N. and the vial Gentrol with a gallon of water into a good PUMP SPRAYER. Apply this mixture to the areas you want to protect. Safety wise you need to keep the children and pets away when spraying and for at least 1 hour afterwards so the treatment can dry. But after that, everyone can return and use the treated rooms like before with no hazard present.
The Orthene isn’t fast working so it will take a few days to see dead german roaches. But this is by design. Expect to see dead german roaches for 1-3 weeks but if you notice any alive after 3 weeks, spray again. In general, you’ll want to treat once a month during a ongoing problem. But once they’re gone, treating every 3 months will usually keep them from returning.
One big benefit of the Gentrol is that it will “translocate” naturally. What this means is that because Gentrol is highly volatile, it will naturally move from the baseboards (where you sprayed it) to the surrounding areas like the walls and even the ceilings in the home. This means more german roaches will be exposed to it and consequently, the treatment will have more of an impact well beyond where you spray.
Lastly, if you need a good sprayer to treat, we offer this one one gallon unit which is easy to use and includes free shipping when ordered using the button below.
GERMAN ROACH CONTROL TAKES TIME ^
If you follow the guidelines listed above, you will eventually achieve german roach elimination. We can make this statement confidently because we’ve been helping customers do this for over 20 years. The key is the right products applied at the right location. Use 2-4 gel baits for cabinets and sensitive areas for immediate results of small problems. For large scale treatments, use both the gel and the spray. But don’t settle for anything over the counter. Get the Orthene kits we have listed for an odorless formulation that will work better than anything else on the market.
CONTACT US ^
Give us a call if you need further help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. On Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time).
Email questions here: https://bugspray.com/about-us/contact-us
Order online and get a 5% discount! We ship fast with 99.9% of all orders shipping within 1 business day!!
Learn more about BUGSPRAY.COM and why it’s never been easier or safer to do your own pest control.
Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around to answer your questions and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Mr.Terry Spears says
Whatever happened to the very effective PT-280 Orthene? I used to use this and would like to order several cans but can not seem to find it now. Or is the PT-Phantom its replacement?
Tech Support says
Phantom is the replacement. Orthene in a can is no longer available though you can get the concentrate if you need some serious roach spray.
Known as Orthene WP, it’s highly effective on roaches but does have a strong odor. You’ll need to spray it as explained above in our article but for problem roach situations, it’s very effective.
Orthene WP: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/wettable-powder/orthene-wp-1-4-oz-pk
Eliminator: https://bugspray.com/equipment/sprayers/eliminator-gallon-sprayer
As for the aerosol; the Phantom is the next best choice. It doesn’t repel roaches and once they start moving over treated surfaces, they’ll pick up the active ingredient in the Phantom, contaminate the rest of the nest and end up killing many more roaches.
Here is a link to this item in our cart. Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Phantom: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/aerosol/pt-phantom-17-5oz
julia says
Can the spray be purchased in stores?
Tech Support says
Not at this time. To get what we have listed in our article, you’ll need to click on the products where they appear in “blue” in the article. This will link you to the item in our on line catalog where you can read more about it, see pricing, etc. From there you can order and since we ship within one business day, most orders are received quickly.
Deborah McRee says
I am still a bit confused. Our issue is waterbugs (type of roach). They come in during the summer through late fall. I do not leave food out or keep messy floors or counters. Everything is clean in my kitchen. They get in I am sure because we have an older home with holes in the baseboard. Which product should I start with; the dust or the Phantom? Also, are these products adverse to bees and butterflies?
Tech Support says
First, the treatments for waterbugs should not have any kind of impact on bees or butterflies since you won’t be treating the areas where bees and butterflies are normally found.
Second, it looks like you missed our waterbug article which covers this pest in detail. Treating for them is a bit different compared to german roaches since waterbugs tend to come in from outside. Definitely read our article posted here:
Waterbugs: https://bugspray.com/catalog/products/page147.html
So in general, the best way to handle this pest would be to treat the exterior of your home on a regular basis during the spring, summer and fall. This will effectively take away their outside nest locations and if you stay the course doing these treatments, you should be able to minimize if not eliminate inside activity.
As our article covers, there are several products that can be applied to accomplish this task so take your pick. The only rule to follow here is that if you have a current problem and want the “strongest” spray available, get the Orthene.
Orthene WP: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/wettable-powder/orthene-wp-1-4-oz-pk
But if you’re not seeing any activity now and just want to start doing preventive treatments to make sure none are nesting around house, the Suspend will do the job. And because it’s odorless and lasts up to 3 months, most people feel the Suspend is the way to go for preventive treatments.
Suspend SC: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/suspend-sc
You should definitely treat around the home with some Maxforce Granule bait too. This material works on roaches, ants, crickets and other pests and only needs to be applied every 2-3 months.
Maxforce Granules: https://bugspray.com/bait/granule/maxforce-gran
In theory, treating with the spray and bait around the home should keep these roaches in check and come fall, none should be around to migrate inside the house. But if you end up seeing any inside or have some activity now you’d like to treat, set out some Magnum Gel and some Roach Traps. I wouldn’t recommend spraying inside since the bait is easier to do, more effective in the long run and a “can’t miss” option.
Here are links to these items in our cart. Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Roach Gel: https://bugspray.com/bait/gel/maxforce-magnum-roach-gel-1-oz
Roach Traps: https://bugspray.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/roach-trap-6-pack
Good luck and as always, if you need further help we’re just a phone call or email away.
Ryan says
Which is better for German Roach control, liquid Phantom or a wettable powder such as Demon?
Tech Support says
Ryan,
These products are very different from one another and should be used based on their strengths and advantages. So here’s a brief description of their “differences” and when one should be used instead of the other.
So if you have a vacant home or apartment and want to treat it for Roaches, the Demon would be ideal. Its fast working and when you’re able to spray every surface, its thorough. Demon tends to flush roaches (and other insects) so there is no excuse for not being able to knock out a problem quickly when you’re able to spray an entire area.
But if the home is occupied and you’re not sure where the roaches might be hiding, its hard to use a spray like Demon effectively. Typically the roaches “detect” the active and learn to avoid the treatments making any roach problem worse and harder to handle. For such scenarios, Phantom would prove to be the better choice.
Basically Phantom is undetectable by roaches. This means they’ll readily walk over treated surfaces unknowingly since they have no idea of the danger (hence the name “Phantom”). But as they pick up the active, they’ll inadvertently “share” it with other roaches and after 2-4 days, they’ll all die.
So for wide open structures where everything is accessible, Demon is a good choice. But for areas where people are present and there is a lot of things in the way of being able to properly treat, the Phantom is the way to go.
It would also be wise to set out some Roach Gel and Roach Traps in any “sensitive” area no matter which concentrate you employ. This way if you miss an= key location with the spray, the gel or traps will have you covered.
Demon Packs: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/wettable-powder/demon-wp
Phantom EC: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/phantom-21-oz
Phantom Aerosol: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/aerosol/pt-phantom-17-5oz
Roach Gel: https://bugspray.com/bait/gel/maxforce-magnum-roach-gel-1-oz
Roach Traps: https://bugspray.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/roach-trap-6-pack
Give us a call if you need more help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mon-Thur; 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Friday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday, Eastern Standard Time.
Jonathan
Customer Care
https://bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep our web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Gabbie says
What do you recommend for a problem that is mostly in the garage? I suspect they are in the attic as well but the problem is most concentrated in the garage. Spot treatment in house would be one bathroom and maybe the kitchen – what would you suggest for those or other rooms? I need something safe for dogs and birds too (odor wise and safe when dry).
Tech Support says
Gabbie,
We recommend the spray and gel listed above. As our article above clearly explains, spraying as much of the home inside and outside should be done first focusing on “low” areas like baseboards. Second, applying gel up high, like on countertops and inside cabinets etc. should be done for any hard to treat area.
Lastly, all of our pest control products are safe for use around people and pets as explained here:
Product Safety: http://www.bugspray.com/about-us/who_is_bugspray.html#safe_for_the_home
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: http://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html
Jessica says
We have had a pest control company spray our house for the last year. Since we found a german cockroach inside. They use phantom and baits and growth regulators. For the last year we have been doing dishes every night, taking out the trash, vacuuming, and wiping down all surfaces. We also have all food sealed or in the fridge. It honestly doesnt seem to matter what they use though because I am still seeing 1 every 3 or 4 weeks.
It’s obviously not a big infestation if that’s all I’m seeing, but it has been a whole year and they are still not gone.
Just wondering what should be my plan of attack. Do I continue with this company, switch to a new company, or is there simply no hope for us? I’m tired of paying for something that’s not working and of not being comfortable in my home for the past year. Please advise.
Tech Support says
Jessica,
Unfortunately we’re not able to make decisions for you. In this case, you hired a service company and if they are not performing to the level you want, you should either hire another company or do the work yourself. Think of it this way. If you had a flat tire, I’m pretty sure you’d go to the local service shop to get it repaired. Well if you kept finding the tire flat every 3-4 weeks, would you just keep going back to that same company hoping one day they’d get it right? I surely hope that answer is no but I guess some people like who they hire and stick with them through thick and thin. But I’m certain I’d make a change.
In summary, where we can help is by providing you with the best products for the job. Sure, we sell to professionals but we also sell to businesses and homeowners. And if you review our article, you’ll see what we have that will work. Our roach spray kit and roach gel baits used together will not fail. But whether you apply our products or get someone to use them in your home is your call. The only thing we’re certain of is that when used enough, no roach will be around unless they’re coming in from outside, like another apartment (assuming you live in a condo, townhouse or apartment building) or if these roaches aren’t german roaches but instead, an outside invader like Palmetto bugs (which can be small). In the last case, failure to spray outside as our Palmetto bug article details means you will have more coming in on a regular basis.
Palmetto Bugs: https://bugspray.com/palmetto-bug-control.html
Technical Support
800-877-7290
PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: https://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html
Robynn says
Hi! We recently obtained roaches through a housemate who had them previously. Ever since, we have been fighting them.
My question is will the system that is spoken about in this article able to COMPLETELY erradicate them? I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on treatments to just keep seeing roaches in a couple of months. I don’t mind preemptively spraying or baiting to keep them away, but once they’re gone, I would prefer them to stay that way.
Any advice on this?
Tech Support says
Robynn,
If you spray all the rooms of your home, focusing on baseboards, under appliances, etc. and then use the bait up high like in cabinets, countertops, etc., you will get rid of all your roaches. And this will take 3-6 weeks depending on the severity of the problem.
For most who use our products, they see huge improvement within a week. After that, its just a matter of time since it will take 2-4 weeks for any eggs to hatch and then a few days for the treatment to kill those newly hatched babies. So plan on doing a thorough treatment at least twice.
Now how much you’ll need depends on the size of the home but you should use a good 1/2 to 1 gallon of mixed material per treatment and about 1/2 to 1 tube of gel at the same time. Plan on doing the second treatment 2 weeks, no longer than 3 weeks after the first one and after that, the problem will be gone.
The spray will remain active for 1-2 months so remember that eventually, the home will be vulnerable to re-infestation if you don’t treat every 2-3 months. So if you want to make sure you never get them again, plan on treating once a quarter (about 4 times a year) and you should be able to keep the home roach free forever.
Technical Support
800-877-7290
bonnie woods says
i have a really bad infestation of german roaches and its bad. i would like to buy a cheapest fogger machine and whatever stuff that goes in it and try and rid us from them but not sure what i need to do and when i say its bad its bad. one night i got up and came in the kitchen and turned the light on and u couldn’t see the floor for them thousands and thousands of them.
Tech Support says
Bonnie,
Fogging is a waste of time. Get 3 of our Roach kits listed above. This will ensure you’ll have enough to solve the problem. And if you tell me the approx size of the home/apartment square footage wise, I’ll be able to tell you how much you’ll need to spray and how often. Regardless of how bad it might be, our kit will solve the issue. It might two weeks or as long as two months but I’ll outline a plan and if you follow it, you’ll be fine. I just need to know the size of the home/apartment and we’ll go from there.
Technical Support
800-877-7290
PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: https://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html
Matt says
I live in the southeast in a condo that I purchased 8 months ago and I’m dealing with the most persistent german roaches. My neighbor a few doors down is also fighting then. I’ve had some success knocking them down with bengal spray initially. At the beginning of july their numbers ballooned so I bought invict gold and max force gel and had good initial results. I only realized recently that they are coming inside through small gaps in my doors. No matter how effective my treatment, they continue to reinfest the house. I’ve been very good about dishes and drying the sink after every use so their definitly steered to the bait. I was wondering what would be the most effective exterior spray I can use around the foundation and doors, windows.
Tech Support says
Products like “bengal” are highly repellent and not a good option. True, they will kill a few roaches but the ones that come back will simply avoid where you spray it, lay eggs in new areas and the problem will go on and on and on..
If you read the article above, you’ll see we have a “roach kit” which uses a trio of products guaranteed to knock them out. These products are not detectable by roaches so they’ll walk over the treatment with no clue they are killing them selves. Use it inside and outside every 2 weeks until they’re gone. Plan on spraying 1/2 to 1 gallon of mixed material per treatment.
Now if they’re in the cabinets, you’ll have empty them to spray or you can get our roach bait kit and use it safely without the trouble of removing everything.
See above for details on these products and order above as well.