Sometimes, the fight against cockroaches in an apartment can reach a dead end. All the best products from the best manufacturers have been tried, old-fashioned remedies have been tried, but those pesky neighbors continue to make life miserable for the owners. In such cases, it's worth contacting specialists and having all rooms in the apartment professionally disinfected.
Content
Why is professional cockroach disinfection necessary?
Professional apartment disinfection is, first and foremost, a matter of protecting your health. Cockroaches can carry various infections and diseases. This is unsurprising, as these insects live in the dirtiest places, such as sewers and garbage dumps. Therefore, they can easily pick up microorganisms and helminth eggs and carry them into a person's home. Living with cockroaches can harm human health in the following ways:
- Infection with intestinal infections and viruses. Many researchers have noted that cockroaches can cause polio infection;
- Parasite infestation. Cockroaches are known to carry approximately 12 species of helminths;
- Allergic diseases. Firstly, this can be caused by the secretions produced by cockroaches. Secondly, allergens can include larval skins, egg-laying cocoons, insect corpses, and excrement. Thirdly, dried cockroach skins provide a favorable environment for the development of dust mites, which, in turn, cause rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and even bronchial asthma.
Cockroaches are carriers of dangerous microorganisms and helminth eggs
Safety is also an important issue. Cockroaches are very resilient insects, and controlling them is not easy. Pests have already developed resistance to many mass-market products. When choosing products, it's difficult to rely on your own knowledge regarding effectiveness and potential harm to human health, especially if there are small children living in the apartment. Professionals are better suited to this task because:
- will analyze your specific situation of "neighborhood" with cockroaches;
- will select the safest method for treating your apartment, taking into account the type of insects and the affected areas;
- have the best specialized equipment;
- use certified products that are safe for people, pets and houseplants;
- have extensive experience in fighting cockroaches, including in medical and children's institutions;
- Employees are interested in the effectiveness of the work performed, as the standard contract with the service includes a warranty period. In the event of an unsuccessful treatment, a repeat treatment is provided free of charge.
Only an experienced specialist takes into account all the nuances of a cockroach control situation: the type of insect, their habitat, and the most suitable poison.
And finally, the issue of saving (both money and time): as the saying goes, a miser pays twice. Professional pest control services are quite affordable for any family. In an effort to save money, you might spend much more on store-bought cockroach control products: traps, sprays, and gels. Cockroaches often breed again and again after home extermination. Furthermore, the surviving individuals develop immunity to the poisons, and the battle can become endless. Professional treatment helps completely eliminate these pests.
A little about the concepts. Disinfection and disinsection are almost synonymous. The term "disinsection" as a branch of disinfection that describes the means and methods for combating arthropods—carriers of infectious diseases and pests in human life—was first introduced by Academician N. F. Gamaleya in 1909. It comes from the French word "des"—destruction, removal—and the Latin word "insectum"—insect.
How to disinfect apartments from cockroaches
After visiting your apartment and analyzing the situation, our team of cockroach control specialists will select the best pest control option.
Table: types of disinfestation
| Species (group) | Examples | Note |
| Mechanical (reduction in the number of cockroaches by various mechanical actions) |
| These are additional measures. They cannot completely prevent the spread of insects or provide complete protection to people from disease-carrying insects. |
| Physical (extermination of insects by physical means) |
| Exposure to high temperatures is an effective method. German cockroaches die at a temperature of 60°C for 0.5–1 hour. Freezing is less common. The room is left open for several days. The temperature must drop to -7 to -10°C. The effectiveness of this method is questionable. Some insects can survive in these conditions by hiding in the smallest crevices (meaning they won't be removed mechanically). Moreover, at low temperatures, cockroaches' metabolism can slow down and they enter suspended animation. This means that as soon as conditions warm up again, the insects will become active again. |
| Chemicals (exposure to chemicals) | Insecticide treatment in different forms:
| The use of pesticides to control cockroaches usually has the greatest effect. |
Cockroaches' body temperature depends on their environment. Arthropods are known to lack a developed thermoregulatory system. If the temperature is outside the insect's "comfort zone"—either above or below the optimal range for life—their metabolic processes fail, leading to irreversible, lethal consequences. High temperatures, for example, cause protein coagulation, resulting in the death of the pest.
Popular types of professional apartment pest control
A specialist on-site will determine the method of cockroach extermination. Sanitary services most often use three main methods:
- cold fog;
- hot fog;
- fine-droplet spraying.
Cold fog
Cold fogging uses a generator filled with an active chemical—an insecticide (low hazard class 4 or 5). The principle of the method is as follows:
- The solution is prepared and the working capacity of the generator is filled with it.
- Insecticides are forced under high pressure and sprayed into droplets. The droplets are so small that they easily penetrate hard-to-reach areas.
- The insecticide mist remains in the air for about an hour and slowly settles on surfaces. As a result, all surfaces are coated with a thin layer of the substance, instantly inactivating the cockroaches.
No other means can achieve such high-quality processing. So, when using powders and gels, you have to wait for the insect to come into contact with the poison. But "fog" leaves no surfaces "untouched."
When using the cold fog method, the liquid is sprayed in the form of very fine droplets, evenly covering all surfaces in the apartment and penetrating into all cracks and corners.
Hot fog
Hot fog is perhaps the most effective way to get rid of cockroaches. This method is suitable if insects have bred in large numbers in an apartment. Treatment is carried out by generating hot steam. The solution contains insecticidal agents. This "poisoned cloud" also acts in two ways: through heat and the breakdown of chemical particles. This kills adult insects and destroys larvae and egg clutches.
Disinfection with hot fog allows you to destroy not only adult insects, but also larvae and egg clutches
Fine spraying
Fine-droplet spraying is the application of liquid chemicals using mechanical atomization. The following equipment is used:
- Spray module;
- control panel;
- rotor;
- electric pump;
- filter.
Can UV light kill cockroaches?
Ultraviolet radiation is used in disinfection: it kills pathogenic microorganisms by damaging their DNA. Unfortunately, however, ultraviolet light alone is not enough to get rid of insect pests. The most that can be achieved by using this method to combat cockroaches is:
- blinding insects;
- disorientation;
- temporary limitation of the reproductive function.
Even with prolonged exposure, cockroaches may only experience superficial damage, such as to their shells.
To control cockroaches with ultraviolet light, near-perfect conditions are required: an empty apartment without cracks or other hiding places, as cockroaches will quickly flee to the next room at the first sign of danger. Therefore, ultraviolet light is unlikely to be effective in eliminating the pests.
Ultraviolet radiation will not help in the fight against cockroaches.
What to do before and after the disinfection specialist arrives
After you've contacted a pest control service, take some preparatory steps before the specialist arrives. Here's a rough plan of action:
- do dry and wet cleaning in the apartment;
- eliminate leaks and sources of moisture;
- Move furniture away from the walls to allow access to baseboards and remove any accumulated dust;
- hermetically pack food and personal hygiene products;
- disinfect public areas;
- disconnect the indoor aquarium from the oxygen supply and cover it;
- Put dishes in cabinets. If cockroach treatment is needed in other rooms, remove all clothing, shoes, and children's toys;
- cover household appliances with plastic film;
- remove children and pets from the premises.
Treatment typically takes between 30 minutes and two hours. The time depends on the pest control methods and the area of the premises requiring treatment.
After completing the work, the employee will explain the next steps and provide instructions. In most cases, it is recommended:
- do not open windows or vents in the apartment for one to five hours after treatment;
- After this time, carry out wet cleaning;
- Wash items with soap that come into constant contact.
Video: How to prepare your apartment for disinfection
Reviews
We once ordered pest control. It cost about 3,000 rubles to get rid of cockroaches and bedbugs. It was about three years ago, and we had no more guests. The only inconvenience was that we had to leave the apartment for three days. The poison is sprayed throughout the apartment with a spray can, and everything dies. Three days later, they came, opened the windows, aired out the room, and everything was fine.
We ordered it, they poured some kind of crap all over us, we were practically swimming in it, but the cockroaches didn't disappear, we called again, this time for free, and they sprayed us with something deadly, the cockroaches disappeared... and in general they told us that we don't have cockroaches, we come up with the idea that 1-2 a day is not cockroaches... but 4 months have passed and there are none at all.
They arrived at 9 PM and we left the apartment overnight, aired it out in the morning, and did a wet cleaning. They removed all dishes, food, toys, children's clothes, and underwear in bags. Disinfection was done in two stages, each a week apart, with different poisons, since cockroaches have a strong "immunity." We only paid for the first time. The result was superb (after the first disinfection, I saw two or three crawling ones, but after the second, I haven't seen a single one yet). I'm very happy. If I see even one within three months, they'll do the disinfection for free.
Cockroach extermination in an apartment must be carried out immediately, as these "neighbors" can pose a health risk. It's best to immediately contact specialized services or companies that provide disinfection and disinfestation services. Specialists will determine the optimal method for eliminating cockroaches in your home or apartment.
