From Jennifer Lai,
Your Guide to Apartment Living / Rental.
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Even with baits and traps and pesticides, roaches can still reappear—especially if you live in an apartment. Less vigilant neighbors may be attracting roaches, which spill over into your own apartment.

Follow these roach control tips to discourage roaches. If there is nothing inviting in your kitchen or bathroom, then they might migrate to some other apartment:

1. Roaches love food! Reduce the amount of food for them to nibble on, especially before bedtime. Roaches explore at night.

• Take out the trash every night or use a sealed trash can.
  
  
• Clean dirty dishes by the time you go to bed or soak them in soapy water.
  
  
• Wipe crumbs and spilt food off kitchen counters.
  
  
• Remove pet food. Or put the dish in a larger dish filled with soapy water, in which the roach will drown.

2. Roaches love paper and mess! Reduce the amount of clutter for them to nibble on.

• Do not leave books, newspapers, or cardboard lying around the kitchen or bathroom.
  
  
• Clean up the mess, such as piles of clothing.
  
  
• If you have just moved, store boxes far from the kitchen.