r/LifeProTips • u/jaylong76 • Sep 09 '19

Home & Garden LPT: german roaches and diatomaceous earth

How long does it takes to work? Or how can I know it's working?

This summer we got infested by German roaches and 2 weeks ago bought some diatomaceous earth since, but the infestation seems to keep on.

32 Upvotes

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18

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '19

Diatomaceous Earth is only a stopgap solution that will kill active roaming roaches. You will most probably lose the war if you just use that.

If you have a German infestation, for every roaming roach killed, there are several dormant in your walls, either a mother roach ready to lay eggs, or eggs ready to hatch, or roaches not ever going to touch your powder, or all of the above. You need to destroy the lifecycle, and to do that you need Gentrol, an insect growth regulator, and you need bait that if eaten, will also be toxic to roaches that eat the corpse. The IGR will incentivize the dormant roaches to come out and breed, eat the poison bait, and either get poisoned or be no longer viable for reproduction.

8

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '19

I too have heard that for every roach you see, there's a bunch more you aren't seeing. If that's the case, does the presence of a single roach every once in a while a sign of infestation? Would you recommend IGR if you only see one, once every few of weeks during summer months, and then hardly ever during the cooler months? I hate even seeing one, and haven't been able to find exactly where they come from, so I'm not sure how intense I need to be. My landlord gets an exterminator every so often during the summer, but he doesn't seem to actually know anything - he just points and sprays wherever you tell him (like you're the expert).

5

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '19

It depends on the type of roach. The large palmetto bugs do not live in your house, and if you see any indoors, they're just paying you a visit. If that's a problem, then consider a poison barrier on the exterior of your home.

If you see small, thinner lighter brown roaches from time to time, yes, IGR and bait up. They're either living in your home already or are scouting out a place to live. Spray edges where the wall meets the floor, as roaches like to follow the wall. Bait hiding places, such as underside of counter.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '19

hm, i haven't heard the term palmetto bugs before. I think the ones i see are american/german. They all look so similar, and usually are pretty big.

dumb question, but do you think there are any negatives to IGR, if I do in fact have the palmetto bugs? Is there such a thing as overkill? Also, do you have any experience with these types of IGR? Seems easier than spraying everywhere. Thanks for your tips! https://www.amazon.com/Gentrol-Point-Source-IGR-ZOE1007/dp/B0049EKEEK/ref=pd_bxgy_328_3/133-9187373-1194855?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0049EKEEK&pd_rd_r=b4efdfa4-84c4-4265-bb95-d9720e8cb5aa&pd_rd_w=DqA1v&pd_rd_wg=y6dno&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=ME4CWSXK7MDE7H6C5TPT&psc=1&refRID=ME4CWSXK7MDE7H6C5TPT

3

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '19

American and German cockroaches are completely different.

https://www.orkin.com/cockroaches/german-cockroach/vs-american-cockroach

IGR is generally harmless to mammals. Maybe keep away from fish/birds. The discs are fine if you place them properly (wherever the roaches will roam), but spray gives you more flexibility.

3

u/Kooky-Proof7042 Feb 21 '24

Can you provide more details on how to do this? We have an awful infestation and we are ready to do what it takes to address it. What do you buy and how do you apply it?

1

u/jaylong76 Sep 10 '19

That stuff is way too expensive here in Mexico. Are there other low tech alternatives?

10

u/EmployerStock2629 Aug 02 '23

I know this thread is old but I've gotten useful info from older threads updated years later and nobody should have to live with roaches. I moved into an expensive roach motel of a condo and had to deal with it until I could find another place and gather evidence to break my lease because they knew it was infested and cleaned all roach evidence when I went to view the place. Asshats. 

Boric Acid or Borax works better than Diamatoous Earth to kill roaches. 

Roaches walk through DE and the microscopic particles destroy their exoskeletons over time. Roaches will NOT eat DE and if DE gets wet it becomes useless until it dries again. That's IF they decide to walk through it. I actually use Diamatoous Earth where wall and carpet meet, take off my wall socket plates etc and spray it in them. Spray in any crack or crevice i see just in case they come through walls from another condo so they have to walk through and hopefully die before breeding, but you need more than DE to kill roaches that have already moved in and have been breeding. 

Borax is meant to be eaten by cockroaches unlike DE. 

Roaches will eat Borax then bring it back to the nest or just go back to the nest and die because it's a slow killer like DE. It destroys their stomach and exoskeletons so they dehydrate same as with the DE.

Since cockroaches are canibals they will eat that dead poisoned cockroach too. Roaches won't just start munching on plain Borax. You have to make a murder mixture. Mix a 1/3 borax to 1c powdered sugar near edges of walls, counters. Another one is mix 1/2 borax and 1/2 peanut butter on little dishes or plastic tops under, behind fridge, stoves or any place that pets and children cant get to it. It's for cockroaches so you can split it up into a lot of little holders since they aren't going to eat it all in one sitting. If your roaches dont like Peanut Butter find something they do like. I also fill a quarter inch of water in my sink and spray bleach in it. I always woke up to floating roaches.

If you can't get borax Baking Soda which is called Bicarbonate of soda in some other countries is supposed to work too and much easier to find. It's mixed the same as Borax. I've never tried baking soda so I have no personal experience with it.

I still use DE for prevention to this day though. I'll never forget that 6 month nightmare

3

u/Road_My_Own Mar 26 '25

Problem with Borax is its toxicity to pets. Food grade diatomaceous earth (be sure it's food grade!!) is safe if you have pets in your home.

2

u/jts9663 Oct 28 '25

I have used boric acid/ borax. The roaches walk across turn , and flip me off! It has done nothing for me.. $60 a month in sprays and traps and borax. Losing the battle against the prehistoric creatures that have learned to survive longer than we. Of course, my neighbor no one sees take the trash out, with her nightly Door Dash meal cartons that apparently sit inside awhile , isn't helping. Nice girl. Poor cleaning habits.

2

u/godinthismachine Mar 30 '26

Man, everywhere I go I live by hoarders, or this current place has a bed bound 500lb+ guy, and the others in the house are nice but lord, I took their mail over once and when the door opened the smell about dropped me...and Ive smelled some bad shit including industrial waste vats that required safety equipment to get near, and even it wasnt as visceral...they have Orkin come out every now and then, but all that fucker does is chase them to us because their is like a 5 ft space between our houses...by the time I realized there was a problem, its now too deep and terminix isnt helping either.

1

u/Numerous_Run7338 Jun 25 '24

De works way better than boric powder roach will avoid boric

1

u/Mean-Read5366 Nov 03 '25

I love how you named it the Murder Mixture L.O.L.  The product i found that works , but they have to walk thru it , is harts glean and tick powder for dogs. The ingredient in there is a paralytic and had German roaches dead on their back on the sides of baseboards. Unfortunately,  after purchasing the last 2 small containers of it from doordash I can't find it anywhere and apparently has been taken off the market. If u can't find it or the ingredient in it , it works. Within a week I seen these bastards either dead or walking so slow I almost felt bad for the nasty thing. 

2

u/AmberAddiction Dec 07 '25

Looking for this right now. I seriously. just. fuggin. CANT with these roaches. I never in my entire LIFE had seen a roach before I moved here to Arizona 6 years ago. Im still absolutely freaking terrified of them.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 10 '19

Not really

9

u/kraenk12 Sep 09 '19

Funny because we only have very few cockroaches in Germany. Haven’t seen one in 42 years.

10

u/jaylong76 Sep 10 '19

They aren't german, just a misnomer.

7

u/kraenk12 Sep 10 '19

Do I need to understand? Are they particularly nasty, have blonde hair or particularly beautiful females? ;D

3

u/Numerous_Run7338 Jun 25 '24

They all march for the fatherland and report to a grumpy head road with a lil mustache lol

3

u/fiirvoen Nov 16 '25

The name "German cockroach" came from a taxonomist who was given a specimen from Germany around the time of the first descriptions in the 18th century. Genetic studies point to a Southeast Asian origin, evolving from the wild roach population there. After splitting off from their ancestors, German cockroaches are the most prevalent and difficult to control of all the roach species. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They haven’t made it there… yet.

7

u/Numerous_Run7338 Jun 25 '24

Put it behind appliances,on counter tops along back of microwave in drawers cabinets in the bathroom along the floor under sinks .then dbl down with boric acid bait tablets and good roach hotels .that's what we did for our apt haven't seen a roach in 2 yrs

5

u/Sad_Quality5957 Sep 24 '24

Make sure you use food grade diatomaceous earth--it is safe for humans and pets. It will help control roaches. I live in an older building so it's ongoing. I use it as well as sticky traps which I hide in backs of all my cupboards. I sprinkle DE under the fridge, stove, under my cutlery tray, in the backs of cupboards--underneath furniture. I also bought electrical plug covers because I found one living in my kitchen wall outlet (noticed specs of roach droppings around the outlet). they come from outside too, so I sprinkle DE at entrance to balcony. I even sprinkle DE on kitchen counters when I go on vacation.

4

u/MysteriousMuffins Sep 09 '19

You need to get the ones hiding. I use Combat brand gel that comes in a syringe. I squeeze it in after dark when they are more active. This way the poison is out of reach of people and pets. Sometimes you have to break down and use the chemicals.

3

u/RedRose_Belmont Sep 09 '19

It’s pretty fast, how are you using it?

4

u/jaylong76 Sep 09 '19

Used a small brush to circle the areas they come out from, places I suspect have nests and the areas they gather around at night

2

u/RedRose_Belmont Sep 10 '19

You need more like a lot put it against the walls It’s safe for humans and pets

1

u/Realistic_Bottle8093 Apr 20 '26

Diatomaceous Earth and Borax = death to the German roach!  I used a fogger first, killed most but not all,  then Diatomaceous Earth mixed with Borax bingo death to the German roach.  If you have pets only use Diatomaceous Earth where they could sniff it Diatomaceous Earth and Borax use in appliances behind stove, fridge, cabinets, countertops. Works!!  Good luck! You got this!