Cockroach Dust: How to Use It

Over the years of fighting cockroaches, a variety of products have emerged to exterminate these unwanted neighbors. Dust is one such product, time-tested and still popular. Dusts have been used since the last century, and many homeowners still rely on this method today due to its effectiveness and ease of use.

What are cockroach dusts?

Toxic substances are processed for ease of use in pest control. Insecticides come in many forms:

• dusts;
• liquid insecticides (wettable powders; emulsifying concentrates; suspension concentrates; solutions; gels, etc.);
• solid forms (granules; granulated powders; tablets; bars; pencils);
• aerosols;
• poisoned baits;
• pastes;
• varnishes;
• fumigators (insecticidal coils; tablets; plates; electric fumigators).

Dusts are one of the traditional forms of insecticide application. These powders contain a finely ground toxic substance (boric acid, pyrethrum, etc.) and a loose, neutral filler (such as talc or kaolin).

The principle of action of dust-powders is simple: small particles stick to the body of cockroaches, which ensures prolonged contact between the pest and the insecticide. The advantages of this form include:

• the ability to maintain effective properties at high and low temperatures;
• the loose form allows you to easily distribute the product in hard-to-reach places;
• The toxic components of the dust are considered low-toxic for humans and animals (hazard class 4);
• Dusts affect colonies of insects that are resistant to other drugs.

However, there are some inconveniences in use:

• In a humid indoor climate, the powder may roll up, forming lumps.
• It is impossible to use the product in dust form on vertical surfaces (the powder is easily blown away by air).
• Markability (leaves marks).
• Effective only on adult insect pests.

The insecticide, in the form of a fine powder, firmly “clings” to the surface of the cockroach’s body and poisons it

Composition of dusts

The principle of action, effectiveness and safety rules for using dusts for cockroach control are largely determined by the properties of the active component.

Insecticides that may be included in powders—table

Dust components - photo gallery

Review of popular products

Modern cockroach dusts vary in composition and packaging size. Large packages are designed for disinfecting large areas, such as industrial buildings, while smaller ones are suitable for individual use in apartments and houses.

Phenaxin

A preparation based on sumicidin (0.35%) and boric acid (0.25%). The residual effect can last up to two months.

Fenaxin is an inexpensive remedy for exterminating cockroaches in an apartment.

Since this is a universal product, there are a number of features when using it to combat cockroaches:

• The powder should be used in places where insects live and accumulate, along the expected entry points into the apartment.
• The product is used to treat all openings: cracks in walls, door frames, thresholds, cracks along baseboards, facings, ventilation vents, damaged areas at the inlet and outlet of water, heating and sewer pipes, and under sinks.
• The preparation is applied in a thin layer to the back surface of the furniture.
• Treatment is carried out simultaneously in all rooms where cockroaches are found.
• If there is a large number of insects, adjacent rooms are also treated to prevent cockroaches from settling there.
• The dust consumption rate is 5 g/m2 of the treated surface.
• Repeated treatments are carried out when cockroaches appear.

Note: A 125g package costs about 50 rubles. One package is enough to treat an apartment with a mild cockroach infestation.

Clean house

The composition includes two active components:

• cypermethrin (0.2%)
• tetramethrin (0.02%)

Clean House Dust is an insecticidal powder with two active ingredients.

The drug is a white powder.

Directions for use:

• The product is applied selectively to furnishings, in places where cockroaches live and along their routes to water and food.
• Treat thresholds, cracks along baseboards and adjacent areas of walls and floors, along water supply and sewer pipes (especially where they enter and exit), cracks in walls, behind door frames, around sinks, under bathtubs, etc., behind furniture (sideboards, tables, shelves, racks), etc.
• The consumption rate is 5 g/m2 of the treated surface.

Note: The drug is classified as low-toxic – hazard class 4 for humans and warm-blooded animals.

Users have positive reviews of the effectiveness of the "Clean House" dust. Many are concerned about safety and do not recommend using the product if there are children or pets in the house. Disadvantages include a strong odor and short-term effectiveness.

Price: 30 rubles per pakitik (50 g)

As far as I know, cockroaches have always been very difficult to get rid of. I saw this firsthand when I lived in a dorm for three years. It was terrifying—they were everywhere: in my food, in my clothes, crawling all over me while I was sleeping—basically, everywhere they could get their hands on them. We tried all sorts of methods to get rid of them: we poisoned them with diclofos, various chalks, etc., but nothing worked. I happened to see some cockroach dust in the store; I'd heard a lot of good things about it, so I decided to give it a try. We smeared it on the cracks where the cockroaches lived, all the places they could get in. About a week later, they were gone, and I thought we were done, but a week later they started showing up again, even though I smeared the dust everywhere, they somehow managed to crawl around it. I tried this about five times, and the effect was always the same: they were gone for a week, then they came back, only smarter. Well, I can say that I didn’t regret buying it, since at least sometimes I got a break from cockroaches with the help of dust and it’s quite inexpensive.

Fas-Double

Insecticide powder. Active ingredients:

• zeta-cypermethrin (0.02%)
• es-fenvalerate (sumicidin) (0.01%)

Additionally, the composition’s formula includes synegrist—piperonyl butoxide—which reduces the percentage of the main insecticides by 10 times (without loss of effectiveness).

A synergist is a substance that has no (or only a minor) toxic effect but can enhance the effectiveness of medications. A synergist works by suppressing the insect's resistance to various types of poisons.

Fas-Dubl dust contains toxic substances in reduced concentrations.

The method of application is similar to dusts of other brands:

• Dust is used in places of detection, accumulation, possible habitation or on entry routes into premises.
• They treat openings and cracks in walls, door frames, thresholds, cracks along baseboards, facing coverings, ventilation vents, places of destruction on water and pipe outlets.
• Apply a thin layer of the product to the back surface of the furniture.
• Consumption rate is 3 g/m².

Customers have given the product positive reviews, calling it one of the best of its kind. However, some claim the effects are short-lived.

Price: 150 rubles per packet (125 g)

When we arrived at our dacha, we discovered that our house, especially around the sewer line, was being horribly attacked by large black cockroaches. It was a complete infestation! So I went to the market and bought Fas-Dubl. I followed the instructions, filling the cracks and cracks, and also sprinkled some powder on small pieces of paper to make cleaning easier. I placed them under the sink, bathtub, and toilet. The instructions say to thoroughly clean and wash everything after 3-6 hours. So I did this at night, and in the morning I decided to clean it up. When I went into the toilet, I was shocked by the number of dead and half-dead cockroaches lying on their backs, twitching their legs. Fas-Dubl is simply a wonderful powder that effectively fights insects, and I hope they're gone for good! To maintain the results, you need to do preventative maintenance every two to three months. So I'll definitely give the cockroaches another treat! Especially since I still have more than half a pack of this product left, as the entire pack is enough to treat rooms up to 60 square meters.

The effect of using Fas-Dubl dust – video

Safety rules

• Carry out treatment with windows or vents open.
• There should be no children or pets in the apartment during treatment.
• If there is an aquarium in the apartment, it should be covered.
• Hide food and dishes in a cupboard or cover them with plastic wrap.
• After disinfection, ventilate the room for about half an hour.
• It is not recommended to sprinkle powder inside cabinets.
• 3-6 hours after treatment, it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning (with a soap-soda solution) on those surfaces where dust may accidentally come into contact with food or dishes.
• In other places, the powder can be left for 6 weeks (until the end of the active period of the drug).
• When handling dust, wear protective clothing, a scarf, and a cotton-gauze bandage. Wear gloves.

Cockroach dust is an effective and inexpensive way to get rid of cockroaches. Using the powder is very simple; the main thing is to follow safety precautions. The active ingredients in the powder are low-toxic, making this method of pest control relatively safe. The ingredients of different brands are similar, and the price is also roughly the same.