1.2.3.A.B.C.

Bay leaves don't work. I just watched a roach walk right up to a bay leaf and just go about its business. He didn't seem put off whatsoever. Thank you to everyone who has responded thus far. Come on, guys! Doesn't ANYONE have any more advice? I mean, cockroaches are apparently prolific as heck and have been around forever, and only a few people responded? Surely more of you have had to deal with these disgusting vermin, yes? If so, what did you do? Does anyone know of a way to keep boric acid from becoming airborn? I know it is poisonous to roaches but I worry the stuff will get into the air and hurt my bird. How can I use the powdery stuff without it becoming airborn? Please respond if you have any helpful information at all. I have read lots of ways to kill them on the Web but the trouble is, those ways will also kill a bird. Please respond if you have any advice at all, even if you think it is trivial.

This is embarrassing but I joined this forum because I need help dealing with cockroaches. I just recently moved to a new place and the landlord refuses to rid my kitchen of cockroaches. (He says I brought them with me - which I did not!) Legal matters aside, I really just want a way to get rid of the roaches as quickly and safely as possible, without making a huge battle with my newish landlord, who frankly seems a bit off kilter and I don't want to battle it out with him just yet, if I can deal with this on my own. I am afraid to use any of the products from The Home Depot for fear of the stuff becoming airborn. I did call one of the 800 numbers on one of the products and was told to just remove the bird for 12 hours till the product has a chance to dry. But the fear is that with the breeze the dried product will become airborn and my bird will inhale it. And I called Terminex and some of the other companies but they are terribly expensive and I just cannot afford it, since I'm on my own and have other expenses. What do you guys think? Do you think the products from The Home Depot are safe to use, so long as my bird is out of the home for 12 hours? Alternately, does anyone have any known remedies that are safe? I have read on the Web about many home remedies but none seem to really be all that efficacious. So far the only thing I've tried is pulverizing bay leaves and sprinkling them around - but what a mess! And I'm still seeing roaches, so apparently they are not that deterred by bay leaf scent! Please help. I am embarrassed by this problem and freaking out, since the dang things are getting bigger and there are more of them with each passing day and they are spreading out from just right around the kitchen sink to now over by the fridge and stove, too. Thanks, everyone. I'll post some more information about myself as I get time and as I get this horrible problem solved.