Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Expat & Property Owners Q and A Forum => Topic started by: julesbob0303 on August 31, 2011, 22:24:40 PM
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Has anyone else had a problem with cockroaches in their apartment[?]
When we arrived at the end of May, we were mortified to find about 15-20 cockroaches in our apartment. Most of them were dead, but there were some that were still alive, and they were VERY FAST when we tried to spray them with Raid (luckily, our neighbours had some Raid that they had brought over from the UK with them :) ).
After we had killed and disposed of them all, we didn't see another one for the remainder of the holiday. :) (I hate spiders, so you can only imagine what I was like on seeing these enormous crawlies, that not only run extremely fast, but fly as well - Yuck! :o )
When we arrived early hours on 2nd August, we unlocked the apartment to find about 300 cockroaches!!! :( :o:( :o:(
They were disgusting! Again, most of them were dead, but they were everywhere. Our apartment is a duplex and there were dozens in every room. Two cans of Raid and two hours later, we (read that as "hubby"!) had managed to get rid of them all and again never saw another one for the whole four week holiday.
We have been told that they are probably coming up the toilet when it dries out from the heat. We switch the water off each time we come home. Or maybe the overflow bit of the shower (I'm not very technical as you can see! :) )
Before coming home on Monday, we put Raid all around both toilets, and clingfilmed the rim of each loo! We have gaffa taped all the plugs and anywhere else where they may be able to get in. The bathroom doors are firmly shut and again taped along the bottom. A bit extreme I know, but I really can't face squillions of the blighters next time we holiday (in October). At least they should be contained in these areas, though I'm dreading if they get in again, as we'll need to find out exactly where they're coming in.
Has anyone else had any problems with them, and what can be done? If there is still a problem in October, we will need to get a management company in so that the apartment is checked regularly over the winter.
Interestingly, when I searched "cockroaches" above, there were some comments about a year or so ago, and it appears that cockroaches may have been coming up from the septic tank beneath the apartment. We are in a block of 8, and the only one with this problem. :o[:(!]:(
We have a septic tank which hasn't yet been emptied (our apartment is almost 4 years old).
Any advice will be greatly received! :)
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Sorry to hear this Julie must have been awful for you. I arrived once and had about six indoors my cousin recokons they are attracted to water and this particular time we had left a pan soaking in water some had died but some were on their backs still alive.Another time I had left the sunbed cushions in the lounge they were a little wet as we had a lunch time pick up and had been swimming and laid on the cushions before getting ready for the airport, when I had gone back a few months later I was about to take a cushion outside and noticed a dead cockroach fell out of the cushion, on closer inspection to the cushion I noticed these tiny tiny cockroaches on the cushion so was not sure whether the large dead one has laid eggs in the cushion and they had hatched, dont know how long they take to hatch and then grow to full size! Since then we dont leave anything wet indoors at all.Good luck in that you dont get the same problem again.
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Get a bag of mothballs and leave a few in the plug holes and around the drain gratings in the bathrooms. We were told to do this years ago by the Company who did our house maintenance. There are always mothballs for sale in the local supermarkets and they seem to be used extensively to stop creepy crawlies coming into the house via plug holes and drains. We always have the mothball routine before we leave the house to come back to the U.K.
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i hate,hate,hate them i have had hubbie fill every hole in the villa and i have bought teastrainer plugs for every plug hole, plugged the overflows on the back of the sinks,i cover all the vents etc
and when we leave i spray the house from top to bottom with cockie spray.
i probably use 2 cans and when the neighbours come to check the house they find it hard to breathe,
we still find one or two but they are dead
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There are some tablets that are given out by the local beledye? (council) that seem to kill everything off in septic tanks. We all got issued with them this year, i will try to find out what they are. They are just chucked down the toilet and flushed into the cess pit.
There are other things to deter and kill cockroaches too like the flat trap things that poison them.
Also the tea strainer things for the sink outlets and dont forget the floor drains in all the bathrooms - most stick an upturned small saucer on those, also make sure the drains actually have U-bends and are kept full of water or bleach. If using a management company you should task them to make sure things like the above are carried out.
PS dont stand on them or you will spread the eggs all over the place too.
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You poor things, this would be my worst nightmare, hope with all the above advice it doesnt happen again
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Boracic acid works and does not harm humans. I read this on fethiyetimes online and they usually are accurate with their advice
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We had a slight cockroach problem last year but we had our tank emptied and no further problems. Our tank was also 4 years old. I t5hink that after the first time of emptying the tank needs doing every 2 years after that. Well thats what we were told by the belediye.
We used to go to Tenerife but the cockroaches amongst other things are the reason we would never go again. Eugh Hate hate them.
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Thanks for all your comments. Will definitely try ALL of the above! I also hate them with a passion.
I have always associated cockroaches with dirty smelly places (they always show them on the TV when filming dirty hotels etc). Our apartment is always kept clean (except when our 16 year old is with us - and the mess is usually contained in her bedroom! :o )
Hopefully we wont have any more - though I wont be happy until our next visit confirms this! :)
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You will get cockraoches anywhere warm and moist. There are all sorts of sprays, Make sure there is no food left out and bleach down all the drain holes in the bathroom etc......... I've only ever had one in my apartment and I was terrified - they are really strong - I ended up hitting it over the head with a mop until it was stunned and then tossing it over the balcony - you are very brave if I had been faced with 300 I would have booked into a hotel and put the apartment on the market :-)
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If you have a septic tank it's not wise to use too much bleach as it kills the bacteria in the tank and then it will not work properly. So only moderate amounts of bleach. We have had a septic tank in our place in Scotland now for over 25 years and are careful how much strong chemicals we put down into the drains.
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quote:
Originally posted by kizkucuk
You will get cockraoches anywhere warm and moist. There are all sorts of sprays, Make sure there is no food left out and bleach down all the drain holes in the bathroom etc......... I've only ever had one in my apartment and I was terrified - they are really strong - I ended up hitting it over the head with a mop until it was stunned and then tossing it over the balcony - you are very brave if I had been faced with 300 I would have booked into a hotel and put the apartment on the market :-)
That's exactly how I felt!!! :o I love our little place in the sun, but arriving with our two teenagers, plus a friend's 19 year old (who has never been to the area before!) and finding our house covered in dying or dead cockroaches was horrendous. I tried to put on a brave face, as did hubby, who's also not too keen on them! (He was fine, till he saw one half way up the curtain, so sprayed Raid at it, and it flew at his face! :o:([^] He looked as mortified as I felt! )
We really have to get this problem sorted - I can't face this every time we come over. I'm more concerned that we appear to be the only ones on the complex with the problem. We never leave food in the apartment when we come home (apart from the usual coffee, teabags, etc). We used to have lots of tiny dead flies around the sliding french doors but none this time as the cockroaches had obviously eaten them all - an even more disgusting thought! [|)]
(I've spent all morning looking for remedies on the internet - will take a suitcase of killer stuff with us on our next visit! :D )
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Don't bring any sprays in your suitcase. They may expload in the baggage hold.
You can get almost everything here
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Jackstee, no they won't!! :D Any aerosol products in containers larger tha 100 mg. MUST go in the hold luggage, (unless it is bought in Duty Free area, after going thru the security check), all other aerosols, liquids, gels etc. can be carried in hand luggage, in a 20cm by 20cm see-through, sealed plastic bag, which Must be produced for seperate screening. this is from BAMA web-site.
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Don't try the old nuclear bomb either, they survive those!
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Also have you got mozzie doors Julie? Just that one night we were having a few drinks and also using the pool, we were in and out and I do admit kept leaving the mozzie door open, I got up at 5am to go to the bathroom and there was a big cock roache in our corridor, I could not kill it and could not wake hubby up so put a glass over it to stop it wandering anywhere!It must have sneaked in whilst the door was open, also another night we were sat on the balcony it was quite dark but we suddenly noticed some scuttling movements on inspection there were about five or six had joined us on the balcony, I only ever saw one outside during the day it always seemed to be when it was dark :)
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We thought about getting a cat flap but never a mosquito door! The keys must be tiny :D
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No mozzie doors or cat flaps on our apartment, unfortunately! :D:D:D
The cockroaches are only an issue when we aren't there (I obviously need to live in my apartment permanently to keep them at bay :) 8) :) )
Have only seen the odd one or two (in four years) around the pool area. We think they are coming up the toilets when the water is switched off, and the loos have dried up from the heat. I keep picturing loads of them stuck - hopefully all dead! - down the toilet, unable to get out because of the cling film!!!! Eurrrgh, what a thought :o :o :o
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Gord, I do agree with what you say about packageing into your suitcase but I disagree that its a good Idea. A lot of the holds are not pressurised. And a lot of the spray cans are made in countries with very little quality control.
There is even restrictions on the little cylinders of gas used for life jackets. And they are very strong compared with spray cans.
I just don't think its worth the chance.
Keith, it's true but only partly. I spent 7 years on a nuclear boat. At the end of a refit we normally had a few, but then you just bomb them and shut the hatches.
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That's the answer then - if they are only coming in when you are not there - you need to move here permanently - it makes sense and cheaper than bringing 20kgs of bug spray with you when you come out :-)
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i got a bug man come out and he sprayed the whole apartment because i hate creepy crawlies and i havent seen anything since,it cost me 50 lira i will try and find the number
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quote:
Originally posted by julesbob0303
Thanks for all your comments. Will definitely try ALL of the above! I also hate them with a passion.
I have always associated cockroaches with dirty smelly places (they always show them on the TV when filming dirty hotels etc). Our apartment is always kept clean (except when our 16 year old is with us - and the mess is usually contained in her bedroom! :o )
Hopefully we wont have any more - though I wont be happy until our next visit confirms this! :)
I absolutely agree! they make me shudder eugh! They are definitely not due to dirty apartments or even food. We used to go to the Canary
Isles a lot and they were always there in the spotlessly clean empty apartment when we arrived. (always worse to deal with when you arrive tired during the night!) We used to use a spray called Baygon there. The funny thing is when we moved in they seemed to leave. We haven't seen any in Turkey . . .yet!
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Oh touch wood I never have to experience that. I would have to sell up and go, I just couldn't stay in my apartment if I saw that.
Good luck on getting rid.
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quote:
Originally posted by kizkucuk
That's the answer then - if they are only coming in when you are not there - you need to move here permanently - it makes sense and cheaper than bringing 20kgs of bug spray with you when you come out :-)
Yep, totally agree - would be much easier and it's SOOOOOO tempting! :D
Fethiyeflo - would really appreciate the number, thanks very much. :)
Thanks to everyone for your replies and suggestions. I shudder every time I think of them, and wont feel happy till our next visit when I can check if we've managed to eliminate the problem. :o
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Boric acid is what you need, & that can be bought locally. My friends bought a boat a couple of years back that was crawling, as the previous owners had left opened packets of food in the cupboards. After a couple of doses of boric acid, all around the entire boat, they've never seen another cockroach on board
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After a particularly nasty cockroach invasion ( well, I don't suppose there could be a nice one :D) a few years ago I had my house sprayed. I now have it sprayed every year, usually in late April. Critter problems have disappeared.
As a result of this success, half a dozen house owners on my complex, and a fair number of non resident friends have their properties sprayed at this time.
The result is cockroach free premises.
The only exceptions occur when the houses / apartments have been occupied for holidays etc and then closed up until later in the season,then used again. Sometimes there is a minor but nevertheless irritating ingress of the dreaded cockroaches. It seems the little blighters know peoples holiday plans! Indeed the houses which are permanently occupied remain clear of infestation all the year round..
Oh, and by the way, the gentleman who does the spraying ( head barman and occasional belly dancer at a well known Calis Bar / Restaurant ) only charges 25 TL, which for my place of ten rooms plus loft spaces, stairs and landings is I reckon a real bargain.
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julesbob sorryi gave the card to my neighbour when i get it back i will pm you
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Thanks fethiyeflo :)
Farmer, please could you message me with the number, name etc of the person who does the spraying. Maybe I could contact him, or go to speak to him when we return end of October. Thanks. :)
My main concern about this topic is that no-one else seems to be having the huge problem we have with cockroaches! I thought lots of other people would come forward and say "oh yeah, we have the same problem, and we do so-and-so!" :o :o :o
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Have PM'd you. If not received soon I will post ( with his permission ) his name on this forum.
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Hi Farmer, yes, I've had your message. Thanks very much. Will speak to him in October if we still have the problem (fingers crossed we don't! :o )
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Problem with cockroaches is they only come out at night and when it's dark. So you don't know if they're there until they turn up legs up
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Taken from another forum and the user who asked for help regarding cockroaches and bugs said it was brilliant.
Find a Bayer supplier or check with Yapi Market and get "K-Othrine SC 50" - less than 10tl and also buy a spray bottle to use exclusively with this - again around 10tl.
Dries on surfaces that you spray and stays effective for 3 months.
Also very good (not for them, but for you) for cockroaches and the like.
Behind furniture, under beds, in cupboards etc..
It does not stain, (so I was told) so painted surfaces are not marked and it dries into the paint.
Anywhere they might come into the house - door stops, drains.
Outside you can spray it on patio areas - again, where it is not going to wash away, but if you leave it a few days without washing most of them will have fed on it and be gone anyway
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Oh thank you Sus, that sounds great. Will write that down and add it to my "How to kill cockroaches" list! The little blighters are going to have it full barrel if they're there in October! :D
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I'm reading this thead whilst eating my dinner - its putting me off my fish & chips!!
Horrible little blighters tho. We had a problem this year in our appartment, but it was whist it was being rented out to a Turkish chap (who struggled to pay me my whole rent anyway) - so didn't have to meet them in person thankfully. It does make you feel like your house isn't clean though, which is horrible. Going out on Friday and hubby's been out there a week already so I shouldn't be greeted at the door by anything worse than an efessed man!! :-)
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Sorry for spoiling your tea Linny! :(
I bleached and disinfected every work top/polished surface; brushed down sofas; stripped beds etc. They are disgusting creatures that probably carry a lot of germs. It was hubby's job to mop all the floors. ;)
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Hubby's taken some Toss Blocks which are biological urinal blocks, out with him that he 'got' from work. He's put them in the bathroom drains out there, 'cause ours always smell even whilst the bathrooms are back in use. We're hoping that they will keep any 'roaches at bay. Will let you know if they work. Just looked them up on tinternet, and they are ecological so hopefully means they're safe for cess pits and they're about £17 for 50 blocks. Don't know how long each one lasts either, but again will keep you posted in case its an alternative. It'll be nice not to have stinky bathroom drains though if nothing else.
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we use to use the fella farmer uses,he did a good job but it had been raining and he left the place all muddy so don't bother with him now
so if you use him make sure he takes his boots off :(
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I'd much rather clean some muddy footprints than an infestation of cockroaches.