Dear Cecil,
I just want to let you know that I really got a great laugh over your post regarding killing the roaches. I am going to try (for more than 2 weeks) the methods you suggested (boric acid, etc.) and get back to you. Thanks for the laugh
Leaken42
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, leaken42, we’re glad you found us.
When you start a thread, it’s helpful to provide a link to the column under discussion. Helps keep us on the same page and saves searching time. No biggie, you’ll know for next time. And I assume you’re referencing the almost 30-year old column from 1983: Wht’s the best way to kill cockroaches?
My experience with boric acic in a heavily roach infested apartment about 15 years ago:
We tried to keep our apartment as clean as possible, but if your neighbors aren’t so clean you are going to get roaches no matter what you do.
That said, heavy doses of powder underneath most of the furniture seemed to get rid of most but not all of them. It also helps if you use plastic storage tubs instead of cardboard boxes and keep boxed or bagged food (chips, ceareal, cookies, etc) in tupperware or other tight-lidded containers. But you will still see a roach or two wander in from time to time, since you’re also not dusting a 500 foot area around your house.
Never used any other methods so I can’t comment on them. The boric acid might not be something you want to use if you have kids or pets. It’s not toxic and it mostly stays under the furniture but it’s not something you want to have them inhaling.