NYC renter’s cockroach prevention hack goes viral on TikTok: ‘I never knew this is how they get in’
New York City residents are familiar with cockroaches — according to M&M Pest Control, as many as one in six New York households have roaches.
Cockroaches are common in cities because they’re incredibly hardy (they can live for a month without food and one week without their heads!), can survive many common pest treatments like insecticides and have flexible exoskeletons that allow them to squeeze through tiny crevices.
And because cockroaches are so common, one New York City TikToker (@hellloo111) shared her approach to keeping the pests at bay when she gets away for the weekend: Covering any drains in her apartment with cups.
While many in the comment section immediately understood what she was doing — “So real,” commented @journalingdan — others were confused by the hack.
But @hellloo111 and other commenters explained that covering the drains helps stop cockroaches from climbing up and out to explore an unattended apartment.
According to Bug Buster HQ, drains are the perfect environment for roaches. Not only are they dark and wet (conditions that bugs love), but they also connect one apartment to another — making it the perfect freeway.
“I NEVER KNEW THIS IS HOW THEY GET IN,” wrote an incredulous @itskatellis.
Another hack? Make sure the drains are coated with something slippery to make it even harder for them to climb up.
“So before covering, put dish soap down the drain then cover it and they won’t be able to climb up,” @hellloo111 explained further down in the comment section.
“Slip and slide but fr ty,” noted @michaelaa288.
Other cockroach hacks
Cockroaches are an everyday part of city living in some areas, much like $4,400 monthly rent, student housing that is less than safe and even security deposit scams.
And savvy city dwellers have devised clever ways of dealing with cockroaches and other critters who insist on sharing their spaces.
For instance, one hack involves tossing a wet paper towel at a cockroach. The concept, @mememes61 explained, “immobilizes” the cockroach, giving you enough time to deal with it without it flying at your face or running away.
“But im also scared of soggy things,” confessed @mumajess.
“One must always choose the lesser of two evils,” @mememes61 replied. “It’s either the roach flying at you or you put up with soggy things.”
Another hack suggested putting out a cup of cooking oil that will trap the cockroaches because they will climb in but won’t be able to climb back out.
“Oil in a bowl (preferably disposable) in an apartment I used to live in I did this overnight and the next morning it was FILLED with them all dead,” said @xx0shiroxx on another TikTok video.
And if you have a severe cockroach problem and want to take more extreme measures, Emily (@emilysmelley), who states she used to work as an exterminator, recommends products and methods for cockroach and other critter elimination on her TikTok account.
For example, she first recommended placing one Gentrol Point Source product per every 75 square feet of space — Emily dubbed this “birth control for cockroaches” because it doesn’t kill them but interrupts their life cycle.
And if you still need more tactics, “caulking gaps in baseboards and holes in walls/piping will also be helpful,” Emily added.
But while there may be tips and tricks for getting rid of roaches, not even a professional exterminator can help with all the pests you may encounter in city living.
“Can you tell me how to get rid of the upstairs neighbor that brought them here?” inquired @creatorj1.
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