Cockroaches Still here.

iammumtoone

I am sorry to hear of your difficulties I also can't believe that the council put someone in accommodation like this. don't they check it before allocation?

Having said that you need to try to look at the positives, to get a two bed as emergency accommodation that is also near to your sons school is lucky. The cockroaches won't be there forever, they will go, you just need to get through these few weeks and then can settle in a home that sounds like it will be good for your family.

I would keep getting onto the council direct about this, ring them every day until they get the pest controller back, leave it for the time he recommends then start the process again if they have still not gone. Also keep doing what you are doing with the homemade traps (you said one went in your coffee, maybe keep some bowls of coffee around if that attracts them) Whilst it is the pest controllers job to get rid of them you will be helping yourselves if you do everything you can to aid this.

Good Luck

[Deleted User]

I've been cleaning the walls as I go along but stopped because of this stupid asthma (haven't gotten as far as I'd like). Trying to make sure that there is nothing to attract the roaches so was making a concerted effort to scrub/steam more walls. The walls are in a bit of a state.., but had to stop, asthma just too bad. So irritating.

I do appreciate lucky to get this place and its got a lot of pluses.., it was the only two bed they had so there wasn't a choice. Not that I mind, I've done well out of it.., if I can just get rid of the roaches. In Gravesham, policy is to place families in one room shared lettings then you get moved up to a one bed flat. Obviously I jumped the queue a bit because I was able to produce various reports about how this would harm the family from medical professionals.

Was cleaning up outside, group of kids went past three times, some well under 10, one looked about 12.., wacky baccy smell wafted over each time they passed. Just had a serious talk with my 9 year old. But as estates go, this is definitely not the worst. Obviously I'm not going to be placed on the best lol. Just had someone try to sell me some Jamie Oliver knives too lol.

I'm already noticing the electrics are far far more reliable than the private rental we were in. I can actually plug a kettle into any plug in the kitchen. The system hasn't tripped once since I moved here! No bulbs have exploded. Its quite different here. Just gotta find the stopKock so can put washers in every single tap (they all leak, not wanting to wait weeks for council to replace them).

iammumtoone

deannatrois wrote: »

I've been cleaning the walls as I go along but stopped because of this stupid asthma (haven't gotten as far as I'd like). Trying to make sure that there is nothing to attract the roaches so was making a concerted effort to scrub/steam more walls. The walls are in a bit of a state.., but had to stop, asthma just too bad. So irritating.

I would stop this or at least speak to the pest controller to get his advise if this is a good thing to do. As far as I know (but I am not expert) cockroaches are attracted to water, steaming the walls is going to put more moisture in to the place which you don want. Try to keep everything dry. Are the taps dripping? this again will be attracting them get this fixed asap, maybe the council will come out quicker if you explain this might be making the cockroaches worse.

[Deleted User]

oops please delete, double posting

bouicca21

Deanna, you don't have to make the place perfect overnight. Concentrate on the roaches.

Stop with the steaming for the time being, as iammumtoone says, this is likely attracting the roaches, it's certainly enabling them to survive. Fix the leaky taps, as that will also attract them. Try the DIY traps, and if they work make as many as you possibly can.

I think from googling that you are going to have something like a 6 month haul. Egg to adult takes nearly 4 months, and there are going to be eggs laid for a while yet because you have an adult reproducing population of the filthy creatures. You are not going to get rid of them straight away, but the population should slowly diminish.

[Deleted User]

Thank you very much .., oh dear, six months. Not going to be much fun. But will get better at the traps.

The taps are only leaking from the spout, when I don't turn them extra tightly to shut. Its not a major problem. Not a cause of dampness as I clean and dry all the time (including the sink area).

I've got to clean the walls, they are dirty with brown bits and stains on them (maybe cockroach carcasses, maybe eggs or worse, it could be blood for all I know). The only way to stop new roaches feeding on whatever these marks are is to clean them. Got a good steamer so not overly damp and again, I dry afterwards. We do have to live here! I don't throw water at the walls by the bucket load as I don't like wasting water lolol. Once its done, its done. I think I will gain rather than lose by cleaning in the long run. I will consult the exterminator when he returns though.

xylophone

In Gravesham,

You could always take them round to amuse and entertain the old folk....:eek:

http://www.gravesendreporter.co.uk/news/cockroaches_snakes_and_spiders_all_spotted_at_gravesend_residential_home_1_4370927

MEM62

Having lived in an apartment block in New York I can tell you that cockroaches are extremely difficult to get rid of.

The traps are not there to get rid of infestation, they only give an indication of the extent of the infestation (ie size and number etc) The only way to get rid of them if to fumigate the property which would require everyone living there to move out for a few days.

prosaver

deannatrois wrote: »

Thank you very much .., oh dear, six months. Not going to be much fun. But will get better at the traps.

The taps are only leaking from the spout, when I don't turn them extra tightly to shut. Its not a major problem. Not a cause of dampness as I clean and dry all the time (including the sink area).

I've got to clean the walls, they are dirty with brown bits and stains on them (maybe cockroach carcasses, maybe eggs or worse, it could be blood for all I know). The only way to stop new roaches feeding on whatever these marks are is to clean them. Got a good steamer so not overly damp and again, I dry afterwards. We do have to live here! I don't throw water at the walls by the bucket load as I don't like wasting water lolol. Once its done, its done. I think I will gain rather than lose by cleaning in the long run. I will consult the exterminator when he returns though.

hows the traps getting on,
do they work?:)

[Deleted User]

lol, nope not one of them. Put cling film up the sides, tried various things in them, didn't catch a single roach.

I am still seeing roaches but the numbers are down. Now its 1 or 2 a day rather than 5-7. But still don't feel able to unpack in the kitchen. They are in the lounge as well. I do clean both areas so not even a crumb to feed on and its dry 99% of the time but asthma has gotten in the way (been fairly unwell, finally got antibiotics, taken all this time to get appt to be seen). Had a bad hypo last night (IV glucose given), felt unwell the evening before so didn't clean up like I normally do. So wonder how many roaches I've bred overnight lol. What a way to live.

Just approached the council and said I don't know if they are very slowly dying out or slowly making a come back but I am a bit tired of not being able to unpack kitchen stuff a month after moving in.

Concentrating on putting house to rights now.., complete bedding washing and kitchen clean up. Poor kids were trying to get me to eat anything and everything but I was too far gone. Awful. Ironic thing is, its probably a sign the antibiotics are working, finally woke up without a coughing fit this morning. I know the hypo was an unacceptable position to put the kids in, so bit down as you can imagine. So proud of them.