Hey everyone!
I’m hoping to get some clarity because I’m feeling pretty discouraged right now. About a week ago, I applied boric acid in my kitchen and bathroom to deal with a roach problem. I followed instructions as best as I could and focused on cracks, under appliances, and dark corners.
The thing is, I’m still seeing fairly large roaches—mostly at night—and it’s making me wonder if the treatment isn’t working or if I did something wrong. I expected to see fewer by now, not big ones still walking around.
Is it normal to still see adult roaches a week after using boric acid? Should I reapply, switch methods, or combine this with something else? Any real-world experiences would really help right now.
A week is usually too soon to judge boric acid. It works slowly, and adults can take longer to die, especially if they’re not crossing treated areas often.
I went through the same thing. I thought it failed, but around week two I suddenly started seeing fewer and fewer roaches.
How heavy was your application? Too much boric acid can actually make roaches avoid those areas entirely.
@DIYDude56 I might’ve used more than necessary, honestly. I figured more would work faster.
That’s a really common mistake. A very thin layer works better. You can also pair boric acid with gel bait so they carry it back to the nest.
Also keep in mind that seeing big roaches doesn’t always mean it’s getting worse. Sometimes treatment flushes them out of hiding.
If you’re in an apartment, they might be coming from neighboring units. I didn’t see real improvement until the building addressed the issue.
@DesperateHomeowner Are you still using sprays at the same time? Sprays can interfere with boric acid and bait by repelling roaches.
@SafetyFirstSteve Yeah, I’ve sprayed a couple times when I panicked. Sounds like that might’ve been counterproductive.
My advice: clean up excess boric acid, reapply lightly in key spots, stop spraying, and give it another 1–2 weeks. Boric acid is slow but effective when used correctly.