Why cockroaches appear in an apartment
Cockroaches go where three things exist: food, water, and shelter. In Chișinău apartment blocks they migrate between flats through ventilation, risers, and cracks. Their appearance is almost never the fault of a "dirty apartment" — it is a matter of neighbours and available moisture.
Find the source and the nest
Before treating, find where they come from. Inspect warm, damp places: under the sink, behind the fridge, near the stove, in cracks behind kitchen units, under the bath, near pipes. Clusters of black dots and a characteristic smell point to a nest.
What DIY actually works
Among self-help methods, gel baits are effective: the cockroach eats the gel, returns to the nest, and contaminates others. Apply the gel in dots along travel routes. This works for light infestations.
What is useless
- Ultrasonic repellers. No proven effect against cockroaches.
- "Folk" remedies — boric acid, bay leaves, ammonia. At best a mild deterrent; they do not destroy the nest.
- A one-off bleach wash. Removes scent trails but not the population.
When professional treatment is needed
If cockroaches are visible in daytime, present in several rooms, or return after gel — call a service. Professionals use a combination: gel plus a barrier spray with a microencapsulated product along baseboards, and for heavy infestation — cold fog, which reaches cracks and hard-to-access spots.
Why re-treatment matters
Substances act on adults and nymphs but not always on eggs in oothecae. After 10-14 days a new generation hatches, so a serious service schedules a second visit.
Prevention after treatment
- Fix leaks and condensation — deprive cockroaches of water.
- Do not leave food or crumbs overnight; take out rubbish daily.
- Seal cracks behind baseboards and around pipes; put mesh on ventilation.
- In an apartment block, coordinate treatment with neighbours on the same riser.