On Monday, May 20, 2019 at 9:30:47 AM UTC-5, Mike_Duffy wrote:
On Mon, 20 May 2019 03:28:04 -0700 (PDT), A K wrote:

I currently use Diatomaceous Earth and roach bait.
I keep areas fairly clean of food particles.

Both are excellent precautions. Try:

1) Get a caulking gun. Go around your apartment, and fill in everywhere
there is a concave edge.

2) Find where the pipes come in & go out under your sink (bathroom &
kitchen). Fill in around these. Do the same for the radiator. If electric,
fill in around the wires. (Use caulk rated for high temperature - usually
silicone - read the label) Silicone is also the best for possibly wet
areas. Don't forget the big power cable for the kitchen stove. Usually each
apartment will also have access ports into cable raceways. The cracks
around the edge are not big enough to pass adults, but nymphs can easily
pass.

3) For ALL electrical outlets & switch plates, install 'draft-stop' kits.
This is basically a ~3 mm sheet of gummy styrofoam pre-cut for the 2
outlets or switch lever.

4) If you have a slow dripping leak in your kitchen faucett, fix it.
Cockroaches need water too. If a nymph comes in hiding in the corrugation
of a pizza box, don't make it easy for it to find water. (BTW, this is a
major entry method for roaches.)

5) Verify screen fit. They can come in from your balcony as well. Verify an
airtight seal for your A/C if you have one.

6) They might come in via your main door from your hallway if the whole
building is heavily infested. Install weatherstripping.

7) Install an insect screen inside your bathroom vent.

You might get an occaisional visitor dropping in from a light fixture if
your upstairs neighbour is heavily infested. Your landlord might get huffy
if you fill in spaces in the light fixture with caulk, so use fiberglass or
duct tape over any open spaces.

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Thanks a lot.

Andy