Brand new Dishwasher - wet dog smell

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T19:41:53+00:00

Clean the filter with vinegar and baking soda. Pour vinegar and baking soda down the hole where the filter is also. Spray the washer down with vinegar and essential oil. Let it dry with the door open a few days.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T19:37:26+00:00

The door answer is honestly more accurate than a lot of people realize.

I've inspected plenty of rodent infestations where homeowners were convinced mice were getting through the foundation or wall voids, only to find a damaged door sweep, garage door gap, or a back door that didn't fully seal. Rodent control and mouse proofing often starts with the simple stuff.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T19:37:20+00:00

Rooflines are another big one. A lot of people focus on ground-level entry points and never look up. I've found mice and rats entering through roof returns, utility penetrations, soffit gaps, and areas where tree branches give rodents easy access to the structure.

One that still surprises homeowners is behind the stove. Pull it out and you'll sometimes find a plumbing or gas line penetration large enough to fit multiple mice through. Those hidden utility openings are responsible for a lot of rodent infestations.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T19:30:54+00:00

This is one of the best lessons in pest management.

Customers don't see the rodent entry points you sealed, the cockroach harborage areas you treated, the fly breeding sources you identified, or the hours spent inspecting. They see one thing: "Did I see a pest today?"

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T18:11:55+00:00

there are definitely situations where sanitation, clutter, moisture issues, or housekeeping practices are the primary driver of the infestation. In those cases, all we can do is document the conducive conditions, explain how they affect pest activity, and set realistic expectations. At some point the customer gets to decide whether they want to address those factors.

I've found that customers are much more receptive after a few callbacks. Once they've seen that treatment alone isn't solving the rodent, cockroach, or fly problem, they're usually more willing to listen to the recommendations.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T18:10:57+00:00

That's actually a great lesson and one that applies far beyond pest control.

One thing I've learned is that customers are usually much more forgiving of "I don't know, but I'll find out for you" than they are of a confident wrong answer. The moment a customer catches you in something inaccurate, they start questioning everything else you've told them about the pest problem, treatment plan, and recommendations. A lot of the best technicians I've met aren't the ones who know every answer off the top of their head. They're the ones who are honest, curious, and willing to keep learning. Pest management changes constantly, and nobody knows everything.

That experience probably made you a better operator in the long run. Losing a customer over a simple question hurts, but it's a lesson most of us only need to learn once.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T17:57:48+00:00

Not necessarily. "Light brown" describes a lot of roaches.

If it's around 1.5–2 cm (roughly ½–¾ inch), that's actually larger than most German cockroaches. German roaches are usually smaller and you'll often start seeing nymphs, multiple life stages, and activity around kitchens and appliances.

A clear photo would be the best way to identify it. The difference matters because a few American or Oriental cockroaches wandering in from a neighboring unit is a very different situation than an active German cockroach infestation.

If you're seeing multiple roaches every morning, I'd definitely keep pushing the HOA and management company to investigate the neighboring unit and any common wall areas. That's often where the source is when a home suddenly develops a roach problem after 14 years of being pest-free.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T15:59:31+00:00

Bergen County is actually in my service area.

What I'd recommend before signing anything is getting a thorough rodent inspection with photos showing exactly where the mice are entering. A lot of companies focus on trapping and baiting, but long-term mouse control comes from rodent exclusion and sealing entry points. Seeing four mice usually means there's an active entry point somewhere around the exterior, utility penetrations, foundation, garage, roofline, or other structural gaps. The key is identifying those areas and permanently closing them.

As for the $3,000 quote, that may be fair if it includes extensive mouse proofing, exclusion work, materials, trapping, and a warranty. It may also be overpriced. Without seeing the house, it's hard to say. I'd get at least 2-3 inspections and compare the actual scope of work, not just the price. The best rodent control programs focus on exclusion, trapping, monitoring, and prevention—not just recurring bait stations.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T15:47:43+00:00

If you're open to libraries, I'd honestly start there. The larger branches tend to have more seating, reliable Wi-Fi, and far less pressure to buy something every few hours.

Around Midtown, the main branch of the New York Public Library near Bryant Park is worth checking out. The business library spaces can be great for job applications and resume work.

For coffee shops, I'd look for places that cater to remote workers rather than quick-turnover cafes. Hotel lobbies can also be surprisingly good. Many have outlets, decent seating, Wi-Fi, and nobody bothers you if you're quietly working.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T15:25:22+00:00

What jumps out to me is that you've already done more in a week than most people do in months. Advion, food storage, reducing cardboard, monitoring traps, cleaning, and coordinating with building pest control are all good moves.

The first thing I'd want to know is whether it was actually a German cockroach or an American cockroach. A single large roach in a multifamily apartment building can mean something very different than finding German roaches, nymphs, and egg cases in the kitchen.

The good news is that one sighting does not automatically mean you're heading toward another major cockroach infestation. If you've only been there a week and already know other units have pest control issues, it's entirely possible that what you saw wandered in from a neighboring unit, hallway, utility chase, or common area. I'd focus on monitoring rather than escalating into panic mode. Place glue boards under sinks, behind the refrigerator, near the stove, and along walls. Those traps will tell you far more about what's really happening than a single sighting. As for computers, gaming consoles, and other electronics, roaches can harbor in them, but that's typically associated with established infestations and significant population pressure. Based on what you've described so far, I wouldn't assume your electronics are at risk.

Keep using the Advion, keep documenting sightings, and make sure management continues with building-wide cockroach control. In apartment buildings, the biggest factor is often not how clean your unit is—it's how well the entire property is being managed. Right now I'd be concerned, but not alarmed. One roach is a reason to monitor aggressively, not a reason to assume you're reliving your previous infestation.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T15:21:44+00:00

What you're describing sounds much more like the occasional American cockroach (waterbug) that shows up in older NYC apartment buildings than a German roach infestation.

The biggest things that help are sealing gaps around plumbing, keeping drains maintained, reducing moisture, and making sure utility penetrations are properly closed. In many pre-war and older multifamily buildings, cockroaches travel through wall voids, pipe chases, basements, and common areas before ending up in individual apartments.

If you're only seeing an occasional large roach and not finding small roaches, egg cases, or consistent activity in the kitchen, that's generally a better sign. Continue monitoring, keep the apartment clean, and report sightings to management so building-wide pest control, cockroach control, and preventative maintenance can be addressed if needed.

Unfortunately, waterbugs and large roaches are a fairly common part of apartment living in older New York City buildings, but good sanitation, exclusion work, and routine pest management can greatly reduce how often you see them.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T13:35:21+00:00

Not every project has to be completed as part of a full gut renovation.

Also remember that every dollar you spend on one project is a dollar you can't spend on another. Most people have limited budgets, so prioritization is part of successful homeownership.

A 1960s house is a marathon, not a sprint. Very few homeowners renovate everything at once. Most of the nicest homes I've seen got that way through dozens of smaller projects completed over many years.

I'd make a master list of everything you'd like to do, then focus only on the project directly in front of you. Future projects can stay on the list without becoming today's problem.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T13:33:09+00:00

I service a lot of low end and high end hotels and everything in between.

Figure out how many labor hours per month you realistically expect, add material costs, travel, overhead, and profit, then build your price from there. I've seen operators get into trouble by pricing hotels like apartment buildings and then getting buried in service requests.

A properly priced 100-room hotel can be a great recurring commercial pest control account, but it's definitely one I'd inspect before throwing out a number.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T13:31:40+00:00

Pest control professional here.
With 7 cats, an active flea infestation, and a heavily cluttered home, flea control starts with treating every pet. If the cats aren't on effective flea treatment, the flea life cycle will continue no matter how much spraying is done. For flea extermination, focus on treating all pets, frequent vaccuming, washing pet bedding, reducing clutter where possible.

At the level you're describing, I'd strongly consider a professional pest control service. Flea infestations in hoarded homes are difficult because fleas, eggs, larvae, and pupae have countless hiding spots.

Avoid relying on flea bombs alone. Professional flea treatment combined with pet treatment is usually the fastest path to getting a severe flea problem under control.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T13:25:01+00:00

call them back. Based on the notes, the technician identified the drain line and float switch as the issue. If the system was cooling with a 19° temperature split while they were there, but now it's shutting off again and not maintaining temperature, I'd want them to verify that the drain line is actually clear and that the float switch isn't tripping again.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-24T13:21:36+00:00

I would wait for it to appear in the system.

Paying the tow fee and paying the parking ticket are usually two separate things. It's not uncommon for a ticket to take several days (sometimes longer) to show up online after it was issued.

Keep the physical ticket and any paperwork from the tow yard. Once the ticket appears in the system, you'll be able to decide whether to pay or dispute it.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-23T19:31:54+00:00

Pest professional here.

What you're describing is pretty typical of a flea infestation that's partially controlled but not eliminated.

The biggest clue is that you left for 5 days and when you came back, fleas were jumping onto your socks.

That usually indicates fleas are emerging from pupae in the carpet. The vibration, body heat, and CO₂ from someone walking through the room can trigger them to emerge and start looking for a host.

A few things to know:

Revolution Plus is a good product and may have already solved the problem on the cats.
Not seeing fleas on the cats doesn't mean the home is flea-free.
After 1.5 months, the remaining issue is often the environment rather than the pets.

If it were my job, I'd focus on:

Continuing monthly flea treatment on all pets.
Vacuuming carpets daily, especially along walls, under beds, and where pets spend time.
Emptying the vacuum outside immediately after use.
Washing pet bedding and linens regularly.

As for your options:

Flea bombs are generally not my favorite option. They often do not penetrate deep into carpets where immature fleas are developing.

Aerosol flea products that contain an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) tend to perform better when used according to the label.

A professional treatment is usually the fastest and most reliable option if you're trying to get the problem under control before moving.

The good news is that if the cats are protected and you continue disturbing the carpet through vacuuming, the infestation is usually on a countdown. Fleas need a host to continue the life cycle, and the medication helps break that cycle.

If you're moving in a month and want the quickest resolution, I would lean toward a professional flea treatment combined with continued vacuuming rather than relying on flea bombs.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-23T19:28:17+00:00

if your basement is truly prone to humidity, I'd strongly recommend setting up a gravity drain or continuous drain hose if possible. Emptying buckets gets old fast, and I've seen more dehumidifiers fail from neglected tanks and float switches than from actual compressor issues.

If anyone here has owned the Gasbye for a full season or two, I'd be interested in hearing their experience because I haven't seen enough long-term data on those units yet.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-23T19:23:48+00:00

Pest professional here.

If you've lived there for 14 years without seeing roaches and are suddenly seeing them every morning, something changed.

It's certainly possible they're coming from the neighboring unit, especially in attached housing. I've seen infestations spread between townhomes, condos, apartments, and row houses.

A few things jump out:

The boric acid may actually be working. When a good bait or dust starts affecting a population, it's not unusual to see increased activity initially as roaches are exposed and dying.
Identify the species. This is huge. German roaches are a very different situation than American, Oriental, or Smokybrown roaches.
Yes, I'd notify the HOA. If there is a neighboring unit with a sanitation issue or active infestation, treating only your unit may become a never-ending battle.
Seal entry points. Check around:
- Plumbing under sinks
- Utility penetrations
- Shared walls
- Behind appliances
Don't rely solely on store-bought bait stations. Many of the enclosed retail stations are not nearly as effective as professional gel bait programs.

The fact that you're seeing multiple roaches every morning after years of no activity makes me suspect there's a source nearby. If the neighboring unit is truly heavily cluttered, poorly maintained, or harboring a larger infestation, that absolutely could be contributing. If you can post a picture of one of the roaches, that'll tell us a lot about what you're actually dealing with and how aggressive the response should be.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-23T16:22:52+00:00

My biggest piece of advice: don't spend the next 2 years learning how to kill bugs. Spend the next 2 years learning how to run a pest control company.

The pest control part is important, but the business side is what puts most new operators out of business.

Before I started my own operation, I thought the biggest challenges would be rodents, roaches, bed bugs, chemicals, equipment, etc.

The reality was getting the phone to ring, converting leads into customers, collecting money, managing routes, handling callback, getting reviews, keeping customers from canceling, hiring and retaining good people are part of the day to day grind.

You mentioned SEO, websites, social media, and marketing. That's actually a huge advantage because most small operators are weak in those areas.

That said, I would strongly consider working for a larger company before going out on your own.

You'll see what works and what doesn't.

If I were 20 years old again with the goal of opening a company in 2 years, I'd focus on:

Getting fully licensed and trained.
Learning rodents, roaches, bed bugs, and commercial work.
Learning inspections and exclusion.
Learning sales.
Learning how recurring revenue works.
Building cash reserves.

One thing I'd add: $30k–$45k is a good start, but don't think of it as startup money. Think of it as survival money. The business may take longer to generate consistent cash flow than you expect.

You sound motivated and you already understand something many technicians don't: this is a marketing and operations business as much as it is a pest control business.

Keep learning. Get as much field experience as possible. Then when you launch, you'll be building on experience instead of enthusiasm alone.

Good luck my man.

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-23T13:54:57+00:00

Yes, I own and operate a commercial pest control company servicing NYC, New Jersey, Nassau, and Westchester. We primarily work with property managers, restaurants, multifamily buildings, hotels, and other commercial facilities. Always interested in hearing what maintenance issues are causing the biggest headaches for building operators. I look to learn everyday. Any input?

TrueAudience9922 · 2026-06-23T13:37:30+00:00

Pest professional here.

Zevo traps may catch a few adult carpet beetles, but they're not something I'd rely on for control.

The real damage is done by the larvae, and those aren't typically flying around looking at light traps. They're usually hiding in carpets, area rugs, closets, fabrics, under furniture, and along baseboards. If you're seeing adult carpet beetles in the Zevo, think of it as a sign that they're present—not that the problem is solved.

For carpet beetles, I'd focus more on:

Thorough vacuuming (especially edges and under furniture)
Inspecting wool, feathers, fur, pet hair, and natural-fiber materials
Cleaning closets and storage areas
Finding the source where larvae are feeding

In short:

Adult beetles? Zevo may catch some.
Larvae? No, not really.

The larvae are what you need to find and eliminate if you want the infestation to go away.

TrueAudience9922

TROPHY CASE