Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation.

Beyond that:

Good sanitation is the most important factor for controlling cockroaches. Baits are one of the best products for homeowner use. Baits come in a variety of active ingredients. Place baits under sink, undersides of drawers, along baseboards, near water heaters, and under or near appliances and other places where roaches will most likely infest.

Over-the-counter sprays, foggers or "bombs" are not recommended as they scatter the roaches throughout the structure and into adjacent units in multifamily dwellings. If baits do not provide the desired control, it is best to consult with a knowledgeable pest control company.

Also contact your county's Extension Service office and ask them. Locate your office with this USDA map: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

Here is a link that might be useful: USDA map to locate Extension Service offices

Once you have cockroaches they can be very difficult to eliminate. Be sure there is no food and moisture source available to them. As Jean stated sanitation is part of control as would be properly using baits and poisons and even sticky traps. Many people find that calling in a pest control company is necessary, but some of the poison they may spread around can cause as many health problems as the cockroaches.

Here is a link that might be useful: cockroach control

When I first moved to Blacksburg, VA, my husband and I moved into a brand new apartment. The whole complex was very new, and not built for student housing.

We soon realized that we had german cockroaches like crazy! Guess where they were? Inside the brand new stove, eating away at the insulation on the wires. I could see them inside the clock on the front of the stove!

I think that all of Blacksburg was infested! The beautiful old buildings and classrooms on the Va. Tech campus, so wonderful with their polished marble, granite, and gleaming wood were infested. They ate book bindings, insulation, and all kinds of things.

The owners of the apartment complex were able to get the roaches under control, but I also began to use a boric acid powder in nooks and crannies.

When I lived in New England, only people that lived in unclean houses/apartments got roaches. But, here in Florida, that doesn't hold true down here. This is a buggy place. I have a rental house that became infested with roaches last winter. After cleaning and fixing up that house I found that I must have brought home a hitchhiker. I've used baits and boric acid tablets without complete success. The "cockroach control" link was helpful. The missing part of the roach control may be the insect growth regulator.

If anyone has had success with any specific products I would appreciate the info. Thank you for your input.

No, no, no.....the spam is promoting a dangerous chemical!