The IPM Method works better then sprays at keeping roaches away. And IPM is safer because it reduces exposure to bug spray poison. The best pest control companies now use IPM. IPM uses the principle of prevention before management.

The IPM method

• Deny roaches food, water, shelter and entry.
• Do not use roach bug sprays, foggers or bombs.
• Use borate powders, as needed.
• Use roach baits, as needed.

Use Borate Powder

Borate powders are effective chemical treatment for roaches. Examples are Borid™ and Roach Prufe™. Borate powder takes several days to begin killing roaches. But it can keep working for years. You can find it in many stores and it is not very expensive. It is important not to put borates to areas where children and pets can get to it.

Borate powder should be lightly applied in areas where roaches are active. As roaches walk through the powder, it sticks on their bodies. When they lick the powder off, it poisons them.

Borate powder should be applied with a plastic squeeze bottle with a narrow pointed spout. It should be applied lightly. It forms a barrier and roaches avoid it if applied too heavily. Be sure to mark the bottle BORATE and keep it out of the reach of children.

Apply the borate powder where roaches have been seen. Put it in these places:

• along baseboards
• under stove and refridgerator
• in electric switch boxes
• in holes in hollow doors
• around door frames, and
• in open spaces under and behind walls
• in open spaces around shelves, sinks and cabinets

After you place the borate powder in cracks and open spaces, seal it in with caulk or other sealer. The powder will keep working for years.

Place borate powder in a safe place, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not apply borate powder onto plants - it can kill them.

Roach Bait

Use roach baits along with the borate powders if needed.

Roach baits contain food that attracts the roaches. Poison in the bait kills them. After a roach eats the bait, it goes back to its hiding place and dies. Other roaches eat the body of the poisoned roach and they die too.

Each roach that eats the bait can poison dozens of roaches. So only a small amount of bait is needed to do the job. The baits should be placed where people do not come in contact with them.

Baits come in the form of gels, pastes, granules and dusts. Gels and pastes come in syringe applicators. This allows tiny amounts to be placed exactly where needed. Gels contain water and work best in the first three days. It may be necessary to put bait out twice, a week apart. Bait stations are bait containers that the roaches find and eat from.

You can buy roach baits at some hardware, grocery and drug stores. Common brands are Combat T and Max Roach BaitT.

How to Use Roach Baits

• Place the bait in a safe place, out of the reach of children and pets.
• Putting baits in the best place is very important. Roaches will eat the first food that they find. To work the bait has to be closer to the roach hiding place then other sources of food.
• Roaches need to find the bait during their normal activity. Place baits within 10-12 inches of hiding places, food sources, water sources and where you see droppings.
• Place baits next to the wall, along baseboards, at edges and in corners. Good spots are under sinks, in cabinets, under appliances, and near plumbing fixtures.
• Apply small BB-sized dabs of gel bait in many different places. Big blobs of bait do not work.
• Put more bait in the same spot if the bait is completely eaten. Roaches leave behind smells and droppings to mark good food sources.
• Baits will not work if roach bug sprays are nearby. DO NOT SPRAY ANY BUG SPRAY.
• Baits will not work if there are strong smells nearby. Cigarette smoke and strong smelling cleaners can keep the roaches away from the bait.

Deny Roaches Shelter and Entry

Roaches like to hide in very small spaces. A young roach can fit in a space as thin as a dime. An adult male can fit in a space as thin as a quarter. Roaches hate open spaces and love clutter.

• Clean up clutter such as piles of newspaper and clothing.
• Throw out grocery bags, cartons, boxes, and other containers. They may bring roaches and roach eggs in from the outside and provide hiding places.
• Use a caulk gun to seal cracks and holes around baseboards, shelves, cupboards, pipes, sinks and bathtub fixtures.
• Spray foam can be used to fill holes, openings and electric outlet boxes where roaches like to hide.
• Plaster repairs may be needed where there are large holes or damaged walls.
• Screening can be used to block entry where there are openings such as vents.
• Knitted copper mesh (for example, Stuf-fit) will last longer than steel wool that rusts. It is a good barrier for holes that are hard to block.
• Weather stripping and door sweeps may be used around doors to create a tight seal.

Deny Cockroaches Food

Try to remove all roach food sources. Roaches look for food at night. The best time to make sure that things are cleaned up is before you go to bed.

• Keep clean all surfaces where food is prepared, stored, eaten or spilled. Clean up food scraps from floors, tables, chairs, counters, around appliances and anywhere food spills. Be sure to check the living room and bedroom areas where people eat.
• Don't leave food out on counters after use. Store all food in tightly sealed containers.
• Put pet food dishes away overnight or put the pet dish in a "moat." A moat is created by placing the pet food dish inside a bigger container with an inch or so of soapy water. Roaches will drown in soapy water.
• Wash dishes before going to bed or leave them in soapy water in the sink over night.
• Keep trash in a closed container. Remove all trash from the house daily. Keep the outside of the garbage container clean