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Gel will have to be reapplied regularly (especially if it’s working well—i.e., being eaten). On the other hand, bait stations are fine to leave in place for months, as long as there’s still bait left inside. How long does it take for roach killer gel to work? When using roach killer gel, place small, pea-sized drops of the gel. That lets the roaches eat the bait without feeling threatened or confused by lots of strange goo. If you’re facing a large infestation, place drops about 3 inches apart in several locations. For smaller colonies, drops can be 2 to 3 feet apart. 5 to 10 drops spread throughout a home should be enough to kill small to moderate roach infestations.
You could start seeing dead roaches within a matter of hours, and should start to see significant results within a week. After a month, over 90% of roaches could be dead. At that point, you’ll see very few emerging from hiding. Still, you should continue to apply tiny drops of gel bait until you stop seeing roach activity. How do I know if the roach bait is working?
It’s best to drop only very small amounts, spread out across the target area. This avoids spooking the roaches or causing them to move to avoid the bait altogether. Don’t cancel out the bait with repellents. Inspect gel after one month and reapply if no longer visible. Refresh with a new application after three months. Clean up gel with a damp paper towel and discard towel after use. Do not apply gel to areas recently sprayed with insecticide, and do not spray insecticide over gel as it may cause the bait to become repellent. Do not apply gel to surfaces where food is handled or prepared. Do not contaminate food or utensils with gel.
Finally, it’s important to keep roaches away with good prevention techniques: cleaning, organizing and sealing. Roaches enter homes for food, water and a hiding place. By sweeping, vacuuming and cleaning dishes, you remove their food sources. Make sure you’re sealing up pantry items, too. Remove cap, touch tip to surface and depress plunger. For first application, apply gel in four dime-sized spots or several 1½ to 6-inch strips per square yard. Recap tube after use. For this report, Dan worked closely with Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about products across the home improvement space.Roach gel does more than kill the occasional roach scurrying across the floor; it attracts roaches to find and eat its poisonous ingredients, inviting them to their last meals.
