December 13, 2005
We had kind of a vermin problem at the house we just moved out of. And by "kind of," I actually mean "huge." When we left, there were a handful of mouse traps and about a dozen roach traps left on counters and under sinks and below the fridge and in the basement and really just about everywhere you looked. I figure it's only fair to give the next tenants some warning of what they're up against, assuming the landlords don't remove the traps before renting again.
I know this is really gross, and the only way I am even capable of writing about it is because we no longer live there. I was more or less constantly grossed out by our kitchen, and by the time we moved out I refused to even go in there at night, because I'd either 1) turn the light on and see roaches scurrying away from the countertops, or 2) not turn the light on and know they were there...lurking...in the dark. It was a non-viable proposition, as they say in the biz.
I would like to point out that in my personal opinion, none of the damnable vermin infestation was because we are unclean people. The second I saw the first roach, I attacked the kitchen like I was Sherman marching to the sea. The countertops were bleached, the floors were scrubbed and bleached, all possible edible items were either bagged and boxed securely or thrown away, and traps were set out. I continued this cleaning regimen on a daily/weekly basis as long as we lived there.
And did it help? No, no it did not. Well, that's not exactly true; it did help a little, but it didn't completely rid us of the infestation. I think the main problem was that we had several mouse holes chewed through our drywall going to the outside, and once the holes were there, the roaches just followed the mice right in. I know I should have stuffed the holes with steel wool and borax, but we were moving in a few weeks anyway and I just couldn't deal with it. I hate bugs so very, very much.
Anyway, we've followed a strict vermin prevention protocol since moving in to the new place. Cardboard boxes, which someone told me are common roach egg locations, remain in the freezing cold garage until we want to unpack a specific box. The box is brought inside, unpacked, and then immediately returned to the garage. If we see the first sign of a bug or mouse, the offending item is exiled to the garage, never to return. So far I have only had to do this to a single couch cushion. My sister was over here visiting a week after we moved in, and spotted a roach lurking on the cushion. The cushion was tossed into the garage post haste, and that is where it will stay, until eventually it goes into the garbage. We inspected the rest of the couch, inside and out, and didn't see any further signs of roach infestation (GOD GROSS EW GROSS EW EW EW... okay, sorry. Did I mention how much I hate bugs?), so the couch is still allowed in the house on a probationary basis.
We haven't seen any other signs of vermin in the new place, so we may be in the clear. Although the reason I mention this today is that earlier, while we were unpacking boxes in the garage, we found a tiny dead frozen mouse lying pitifully on top of one of the boxes. I can only assume he was a hitchhiker and crawled out after we moved, only to be felled by the frigid Ohio weather.
Here's hoping for a vermin-free holidays for us and you and yours.
Posted at December 13, 2005 6:20 PM
Posted by: DW at December 14, 2005 12:15 PM
Hi,
I came up on this page after googling "is there life after roach infestation" lol
I was living in a place that was right next to the super that rented me the unit. As soon as I discovered that I had a roach problem I went to the super and they just exclaimed "oh gosh you have that terrible roach problem too? We have them in our unit. Isn't that just awful?"
Thanks jerk.
At that point they advised me that they had monthly exterminator visits and all I need to do is put myself on the list... At this point I knew I was in trouble. That was it...I was in a point of no return roach-wise.
I moved out of there as soon as I could and into my mother's apartment. Not having a place to store boxes made it much harder to unpack risk free and inadvertently brought them to her place. I had moved again by the time she made the discovery and managed to kill them all dead and hasn't seen one since. Crazy...
I however managed to bring a few to my new place as well. Last night discovered 2 adults and 1 tiny baby despite my best efforts of removing boxes and plastic bags that they might enjoy. The friendly pest killing man has assured me that there's a good possibility that they will not make another appearance after their roach killing fun fest tomorrow. I just have to make sure I live up to my end by removing any trace after they spray. apparently according to the good pest removal people it does not sound like I have an infestation yet... My building is actually completely pest free so it's definitely just me. Hopefully I've acted quickly enough...
I hope I never have to live with them ever again.
Sorry for venting all over your post. I just feel for you. It's one of the most annoying experiences ever. It completely effects ones mood and how one would live. I was definitely way more on edge because I never had a chance to really relax and enjoy my home.
Posted by: Lita at June 26, 2007 6:42 PM
Right with you on the topic of roaches. (I think the roach-on-a-cushion was probably a hitchhiker too.) My worst roach anecdote: One night, while living in student housing in N. Carolina, I went down to the kitchen armed with a can of spray, turned on the light, spotted a roach on the counter, sprayed the sumgum, and damned if he didn't leap off of there onto my nightgown. Since that didn't kill me, nothing ever will.