You've moved in, unpacked, and decorated your place just the way you like it. You've even bought some nice new furniture to make your place truly homey and welcoming. You're as happy as a clam with everything, and then you find a couple of dead roaches underneath the kitchen sink, something you didn't notice when you were touring the place. When you find a couple of dead roaches, there are typically way, way more.
Your lease language says your landlord uses pest control services, but you're not exactly convinced they're effective given the recent evidence. So, what can you do to take things into your own hands without doing something harmful to you and your family (and your pet, if applicable). Here are five great pest control products you can get on Amazon right now.
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Ortho Home Defense Max Indoor Insect Barrier
Ortho's Home Defense Max is one of the most comprehensive roach, ant, fleas, ticks, and spider control products on the market, and it's safe, long-lasting, and doesn't leave stains or emit fumes. Application is easy with the battery-powered wand, and Ortho Home Defense Max dries 30% faster than comparable products, which also means it's safe with kids and pets in your apartment. The product creates a barrier, kills pests that are already present, and prevents infestation.
Bohlner's Fiesta Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
If you don't like messing with pest control substances in your home, whether it's powders, liquids, or aerosols, then consider an ultrasonic device that repels pests at frequencies humans can't hear. This Ultrasonic Pest Repeller has electromagnetic chips and ultrasonic emitters that mess with the pests' nervous and auditory systems to make them want to leave. It works on mice, rats, mosquitoes, etc. It's also inaudible to cats and dogs, so you need not worry about them if you use this. This pair covers 1,800 square feet, which is more than enough space for your apartment. Just plug it in, and your pest issues should be resolved within a matter of weeks. Too bad they don't have them for your mother-in-law.
Catchmaster 72MAX Pest Trap
If you want something simple and highly effective, look no further than the Catchmaster 72MAX. It's essentially a cardboard sheet that unfolds to reveal a peanut butter-scented sticky trap that grabs mice, roaches, ants, or whatever else is "bugging" you. There are no dangerous substances of any kind, and it only uses glue to trap the pests. You can unfold it or use it in its folded mode. It lasts a month or so, but it's quick, powerful, and harmless to everyone in your household (unless you have a pet mouse, of course). A full 16 of these come in a single pack.
Safer Brand 51703 OMRI Listed Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth might sound dangerous, but it's totally safe to use and very affordable. The substance is particularly effective on crawling insects including roaches, ants, fleas, silverfish, earwigs, and even bedbugs. The powder causes insects to actually dehydrate and die within 48 hours because of the silica compound contained within. They cannot build immunity to it, either. Apply it in cracks and crevices easily and along baseboards in your apartment. You can even use it in your potted plants without harming them. A 4-lb. bag is less than 10 bucks.
H.H. 4000V Indoor Bug Zapper
If you've ever used an outdoor bug zapper, you know how effective (and fun) they can be. Well, they make them for indoor spaces, too. It uses high-intensity blue light to attract the bugs and then kills them using an internal electric grid. The zapper is useful against flies, mosquitoes, moths, wasps, and those nasty little fruit flies that hover around everything. There are no chemicals, and the ABS plastic housing keeps kids little fingers out. The hidden tray can be removed to dispose of the little chiggers. The price for peace? Less than 20 bucks.
