10 Best Roach Killers for Apartments 2020
Roaches can be difficult pests to get rid of, and most of us would prefer to avoid calling a professional exterminator since that can be expensive.
If you know that your roach problem hasn’t developed into a full blown infestation, then most likely you can take care of it yourself with the help of any of the products we recommend in this guide.
Wondering what the best roach killer for apartments and other indoor commercial areas is? Read on, and our experts will share their tips to help you choose the right product for your needs.
Top 10 Roach Killers for Apartments Table
| Picture | Name | Active Ingredient | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Advion Syngenta Cockroach Gel Bait 1 Box | Indoxacarb | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 2. Suspend Sc Insecticide -(1 Pint) Flea Tick Roaches Ant Professional Pest Control Product | Deltamethrin | $$$$ | 4.4 |
 | 3. The Commodity Trader Boric Acid Granules, 1 LB Bag | Boric Acid | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 4. Rockwell Invict Gold Cockroach German Roach Control Gel Bait 4 tubes w/ plunger | Imidacloprid | $$$ | 4.4 |
 | 5. Hot Shot Ultra Liquid Roach Bait (HG-95789) (6 ct) | Dinotefuran | $ | 4.3 |
 | 6. Bayer Maxforce FC Magnum Roach Killer Bait Gel | Fipronil | $ | 4.2 |
 | 7. Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap | None | $ | 4.1 |
 | 8. Harris Boric Acid Roach Powder With Lure, 16 oz. | Boric Acid | $ | 4.0 |
 | 9. Combat Source Kill Max Roach Killing Gel, 60 Grams | Fipronil | $ | 4.0 |
 | 10. Eco Defense Organic Home Pest Control Spray, 16oz | None | $$$ | 3.9 |
Types of Effective Roach Killers for Apartment Dwellers
The key to success when battling cockroaches is knowing what species you are dealing with. Once you have determined this (which you can do with the help of an exterminator or insect specialist), you will know which product to use.
Trying random products that target all cockroaches, in general, is a bit risky since you might end up wasting time and money on a product that won’t do much to the specific species you have in your apartment. While you’re busy trying the wrong products, the cockroaches, in the meantime, multiply.
Here are a few great products to consider that will help ensure that you win the battle.
- Boric Acid. This powder is an effective roach-killing weapon. When it comes in contact with their bodies externally, it will damage their exoskeleton. If it is ingested, it will dehydrate them. Many consider it to be the best roach killer for apartments, homes and other areas where roaches dwell.
The key to using it correctly is to apply sparingly. Otherwise, the cockroaches will avoid it. They don’t want to run through large mounds of white stuff!
Sprinkling it into hard-to-reach places is easy especially if you use a powder duster like this one from Harris.
Harris Diatomaceous Earth Powder Duster
It doesn’t matter if the powder is marketed as a roach killer or simply labeled as “boric acid” on the bag; it is all has the same effect on roaches regardless of the way it is packaged.
- Bait Stations. If you’re afraid of sprinkling white powder around the apartment due to pets, children, or the fact that you don’t own it, then you might consider trying some bait stations.
While they aren’t as effective as boric acid, they are much cleaner and easier to handle. You’ll need to purchase the station first (which usually comes with a few bait packages), and new bait can be purchased as needed. You might want to try different brands to see which is most effective for the roaches in your apartment.
Advion’s Gel Bait is one of the most popular choices out there since it can kill some of the most problematic species such as the American cockroach, the German cockroach, and many more.
Preventing Roaches Is Just as Important as Killing Them
After putting so much effort into the exterminating process, it would be a shame for it to all go to waste just a few days later when the roaches return!
Be proactive about your roach problem by taking the necessary steps to prevent them in the first place.
Be sure to,
- Clean up Crumbs and Water Spills Immediately. Roaches visit your home in search of food, so make sure they won’t find anything that will have them coming back for more!
- Deep Clean. Make sure that you deep clean your apartment by accessing the areas that you usually skip over; under the stove, under the refrigerator, in the cupboards and anywhere else that you haven’t tended to in a while.
- Find and Seal off Cracks. Blocking their access points is also important, so do a thorough check to make sure that all cracks and crannies are sealed to prevent them from entering.
If you own the apartment, you can handle tasks like this yourself or call a professional to do it for you. If you are a tenant, then contact your landlord and have them do a thorough check to make sure all cracks are sealed.
- Don’t Leave Pet Food Out. Cleaning up your food crumbs is just as important as cleaning up those of the other guests in your home; your pets, for example!
Avoid leaving pet food out overnight, as roaches will surely try to stop by for a feast.
Top 3 Best Roach Killer for Apartments Reviews
While these are some of the best roach killers for apartments and other indoor areas, we realize that not everyone wants to use chemical pesticides.
If you’re interested in using a “greener” solution, then be sure to check out numbers 7 and 10 on our list.
1. Advion Syngenta Cockroach Gel Bait
Advion has one of the most successful products when it comes to killing roaches indoors. This product can kill numerous species of cockroaches, including Brown-Banded, Australian, Asian, American, German, Smoky Broth, and Brown. Rather than wasting time trying to figure out what species you have, you can just start off with a product like this that targets a wide range of them and probably succeed on the first try.
The main ingredient – Indoxacarb – works by blocking nerve sodium channels in an insect’s body, and it can even be active after a roach has digested it.
This package contains four tubes of gel bait but no bait stations, so be sure you purchase them separately.
You will be saying goodbye those hideous roaches in no time if you use this product!
2. Suspend Sc Professional Pest Control Product
Landlords who have a cockroach problem throughout the building should jump straight to a product like this.
The 1-pint bottle of insecticide is – as they mention – is what the pest control companies use, and it works well on 50 different types of pests. Cockroaches don’t stand a chance against this one! The concentrated formula can make up to 64 gallons of solution, and it is safe to use on a variety of surfaces both indoors and outdoors. Use it on mattresses, carpet, upholstery and even food service areas.
If you’re only dealing with one apartment and a few cockroaches, this product would be overkill. We recommend it more for landlords who need to clear up a minor infestation in an apartment complex and who would find it useful throughout the year to target other pests, as well.
Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid contact with this product at all costs because while it is labeled as safe around humans, it can still travel through the bloodstream and into breastmilk if touched.
3. The Commodity Trader Boric Acid Granules
We already discussed the effects of boric acid on cockroaches earlier, so if you try using this powder, expect it to kill them around 72 hours after they make contact with it.
The nice thing about this particular product is that it is pure, so if you want to use it for other applications (medical, etc.), it is safe.
Harris’ Boric Acid (number 8), is only safe for use with cockroaches only because they have added a lure to it. It is 99% Boric Acid and 1% “Other Ingredients,” so you should not use it for medical purposes.
Having a bag of The Commodity Trader’s Boric Acid around the house is always handy and, – as always – do keep it out of reach of children and pets.
