There are a great variety of means to combat insects; one cannot fail to mention the Mashenka chalk, which has been used since the 80s. Agrovit chalk is very cheap, but at the same time it has good effectiveness in the fight against cockroaches in apartments and other premises. What is its effectiveness and is it safe for people and animals during use? Let's take a closer look at all the pros and cons of this inexpensive insecticide.
Does Mashenka's chalk help against cockroaches?
Customer Reviews
Instructions
Characteristics and composition of cockroach crayons
The product is based on two components that complement each other. They have names: zeta-cypermethrin and deltamethrin. The substances have a toxic effect on animals and humans, so it is assigned a fourth toxicity level. Chalk and gypsum make up 95% of the product, which helps bind and maintain the integrity of the chalk. The pencil, which has a crayon-like appearance, is easy to use.
Advantages:
no pungent odor;
low toxic;
applies well to the surface and remains on it for a long time;
easy to remove, leaves no traces;
the components of the product do not accumulate in plants and fruits.
The principle of the influence of Mashenka chalk on insects
The components of the chalk are insecticides that exhibit their effects only upon contact, so the insect must touch it. When cockroaches need food or water, they cross the chalk line and smear themselves with the mixture.
It is imperative to draw continuous lines 1-2 cm thick without gaps so that insects cannot avoid contact. Finding such loopholes, insects do not come into contact with the product and do not affect it.
Substances that have a toxic effect penetrate inside the cockroach and destroy nerve impulses going to the muscles, which leads to paralysis and death. The composition stuck to the legs of the insects is carried into the nest, where the cockroach manages to run in and infect the rest of its fellows before it dies.
Massive damage to insects occurs within 5-6 days. You can notice that their number has decreased when their remains are on the floor. In many cases, insects can be removed within 2-4 weeks, re-treating every week.
Precautions when using chalk in an apartment
- Be sure to read the instructions for using the pencil, which are located on the packaging.
- When applying, be sure to ensure that the product does not get on the mucous membranes or in the respiratory tract.
- It is better to carry out processing of the room while wearing gloves.
- Make sure that the pencil does not fall into the hands of a child or the teeth of a pet.
Safety
Chalk "Mashenka" contains insecticidal substances in a very small concentration, so it is practically safe for humans and animals. However, if chalk enters the body through the respiratory tract, symptoms of mild poisoning may occur - lethargy, increased salivation, tremor. However, even with mild poisoning, you should consult a doctor, since without treatment, symptoms can persist for up to a week.
Severe poisoning from chalk is practically excluded, however, there are cases when chalk was eaten by small children and pets due to storage in a place accessible to them. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor - with timely medical care, poisoning can be eliminated without serious consequences for health.
The active ingredients of the chalk can cause severe irritation, even causing weeping ulcers on the skin. Therefore, if the substance comes into contact with your skin, you should thoroughly wash the area with soap and water.
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How to use Mashenka chalk to kill cockroaches?
Using Mashenka chalk against cockroaches is not at all difficult, the main thing is to treat all the places that cockroaches visit, this is written in detail in the instructions. One chalk is enough to cover 25-30 square meters of space. The effectiveness of the product remains for seven days after application; after this period of time, re-treat in accordance with the instructions.
How to treat a room:
- draw pencil lines on the baseboards and back surfaces of the furniture; this must be done in the kitchen and around its perimeter;
- draw a circle around the garbage can with chalk and place it exclusively in this place; cockroaches like to climb in the garbage at night;
- draw a continuous line around the sink, even from below, because cockroaches often drink water from it;
- outline ventilation openings around the perimeter, because individual instances can come into the apartment from neighbors or from the basement;
- draw lines along the entire length of the furniture legs so that when climbing up, the cockroaches must cross the drawn stripes.
It is better to draw bold lines (10-15mm), this will achieve greater efficiency. Do not skimp on the product when applying, because the price of chalk is so low that anyone can buy it, and it is sold almost everywhere. However, if there are children and animals in the house, then it is better not to risk sketching all the furniture, but to limit yourself to processing hard-to-reach places.
The number of cockroaches that die depends on the length of time the product remains on the treated surfaces.
For greater effect, together with a pencil, you can use special aerosols that destroy most insects, and a chalk will help destroy survivors or newcomers.
An important property of chalk: it prevents the reproduction of new cockroaches if they enter the home from neighbors. Just outline all possible sources of penetration.
The effectiveness of chalk in the fight against bedbugs
The pencil helps in killing bedbugs if they have appeared in the apartment relatively recently and have not had time to lay eggs.
Before using it, prepare the room:
- wet cleaning is done;
- furniture is moved away from the walls to find possible habitats of bedbugs near the baseboard;
- all items from the closets are washed due to the possible presence of bedbug eggs in them;
- if things cannot be washed, then they are treated with steam or taken out into the cold;
- all carpets are dry cleaned;
- upholstered furniture (sofas, armchairs) are dismantled down to the wooden frame.
You can use bedbug repellent:
- Like a pencil. Draw them on surfaces: cabinets, backs of sofas and beds, back surfaces of paintings and photographs, sockets, door jambs, window sills and windows.
- Like powder. Mashenka chalk crumbles well and can be used to fill cracks behind baseboards and folds of upholstered furniture. The only drawback: if you pour it on the floor, drafts can cause the powder to rise into the air.
- Like a solution. The chalk is dissolved in water until it becomes creamy and all the cracks are filled with a brush and the surfaces are treated.
After treatment, be sure to ventilate the room and do a thorough cleaning after 2 weeks.
Instructions for use
You can get rid of bedbugs, cockroaches and ants once and for all if you use the insecticide correctly.
NOTE! To quickly get rid of fleas, there are only three effective options:
The apartment is prepared for processing in two stages:
- All people and animals are removed from the premises. Aquariums are tightly closed with a lid. Food and dishes are packed and hidden in cabinets. Clothes and bedding are washed in hot water. Mattresses and carpets are exposed to the sun or frost.
- Furniture is moved away from the walls and the room is wet cleaned. To block escape routes, door frames, ventilation grilles and windows are washed with a strong bleach solution. As soon as the moisture has dried, you can begin treating the room.
One pencil will be enough to cover a surface area of 30 square meters. m.
Room treatment
Before using Mashenka chalk, it is recommended to wear protective equipment. Hands must be protected with rubber gloves.
There are three ways to use an insecticidal pencil:
- Simple lines. Various lines 1–2 cm thick are drawn on the surface with chalk. In places where insects accumulate, the lines are made even thicker. All joints and cracks are processed. Particular attention is paid to the interior spaces of the furniture.
- Grated chalk. Using Mashenka pencil powder is a fairly effective way to kill bedbugs, cockroaches, and ants. The chalk must be crushed so that the powder resembles flour or soda. It is poured into electronics, books and other things that cannot be sprayed with aerosols. After the pests are destroyed, the powder is removed using a vacuum cleaner.
- Solution. The prepared powder can be dissolved in water and applied using a spray bottle. It is used to treat all habitats of bedbugs and cockroaches. The solution can be poured behind radiators, baseboards and into various crevices. It is not recommended to spray wallpaper with it. Washable wallpaper will then take a long time to wash, but paper wallpaper may come off.
The effectiveness of the treatment also depends on the correct location for application of the drug. Therefore, the apartment should first be carefully inspected to identify the places where cockroaches, bedbugs, and ants are most concentrated.
Be sure to outline with chalk those places where insects can gain access to food and water:
- kitchen sink;
- trash cans;
- stove;
- dinner table;
- fridge;
- cabinets in the kitchen.
There are three main ways to use Mashenka:
- Directly like chalk, which is used to draw lines on the surface being treated.
- As a powder, which is obtained by crushing chalk.
- In the form of a solution for wet processing.
These methods are no different in effectiveness.
Thick stripes are applied to the surfaces to be treated - from 2 to 4 cm in width. Traces of chalk leave:
- along the perimeter of the room along the baseboards;
- on the back surfaces and bottom of furniture;
- on the back of the paintings;
- in places where wallpaper has peeled off the walls.
Possible cracks and crevices in the floor are treated with a concentrated slurry, which is obtained by dissolving fine powder in water. You can expect final results from the treatment within a few weeks. After 4-6 weeks, the pencil marks are washed off with a soap and soda solution. It is important to store the drug correctly, since its substances lose activity when exposed to sunlight.
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Analogue of Mashenka - Chinese pencil for cockroaches
The Chinese cockroach pencil is one of the simplest and most accessible means used to combat insects in the USSR. It was he who formed the basis for the production of domestic pencils. It was more effective than Soviet chalk due to a higher concentration of chemicals. Now Chinese crayons are also sold, but their effectiveness is similar to our “Mashenka”. Where to buy such a pencil against cockroaches? You can purchase it in online stores, in specialized stores or on the market.
A Chinese pencil affects cockroaches in exactly the same way as a Russian one. When an insect comes into contact with the product, it experiences itching and other unpleasant sensations, which subsequently lead to death.
The method of application is identical: it is used to treat the necessary surfaces around the perimeter and draw continuous lines so that insects are sure to come into contact with the product.
The validity period of the Chinese pencil is limited to 7 days, like Mashenka, so after this period the surfaces need to be re-treated.
What similar products can be used to replace such a drug against cockroaches?
Only two days have passed since treating my apartment with Mashenka chalk, and there are already much fewer cockroaches. I hope that after a while they will disappear completely. I really liked this insecticide. It is easy to use and very cheap. Pencil - for those who are bothered by bedbugs, fleas, ants, cockroaches, moths. It is used to treat walls, baseboards, sinks, furniture, tiles, mattresses, and paintings. Chalk has one drawback - after processing, the lines drawn by it are visible on the surfaces.
Katerina, Kazakhstan
During the renovation of the apartment, cockroaches appeared in our house along with the purchased building materials. I am very afraid of these insects, so I immediately ran to the nearest supermarket to buy poison. There was nothing suitable on the store shelves. Apparently, cockroaches appeared not only in our apartment.
In a private store I was offered to try to get rid of pests using Mashenka chalk. Its price is very low, so I doubted it, but bought it. At home, I put on rubber gloves and, armed with a pencil, outlined all the building materials with thick lines. After a while, the cockroaches disappeared, and I washed off the traces of the chalk with a damp cloth. I recommend this product to everyone if insects have just appeared in your home. If they have already multiplied, then a stronger drug will be needed.
Antonina, Ukraine
In a rented apartment, we encountered cockroaches that were poisoned with everything! We tried various aerosols, gels, traps. But nothing helped. We decided to resort to old, well-known and cheap means – Dichlorvos and Mashenka’s pencil. We were pleased with the result. We no longer think about insects.
Lyubov, Ukraine
The drug Mashenka can be easily replaced with products with a similar effect. These drugs include the following insecticides:
- Globall;
- Tornado
- Clean House;
- Titanic;
- Pencils made in China.
Let's talk about last resorts in more detail. There is an assumption that such insecticides are more toxic than other crayons. In addition, some consumers who have used Chinese pencils claim that they are much more effective.
Experts say that for the best effect, Mashenka chalk (as well as similar products) should be used together with other drugs. This group includes insecticides in the form of concentrates (for example, Delta, Xulat, etc.), which must be diluted in water. Then they are applied to areas of the apartment or house using a spray bottle.
Cockroach preparations in the form of gels are no less effective. This category includes Fas, Dohlox, etc. As for the insecticides used by pest control services, most often they are very potent and toxic. As a rule, representatives of such organizations use means for the direct destruction of cockroaches along with preventive ones.
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Chalk Mashenka from ants
Mashenka's pencil is best used as an additional tool in the fight against ants, together with ant gels (Raptor, Great Warrior, etc.). An effective method would be to draw solid lines in places where they constantly move into the anthill.
If you find such trails, be sure to draw along them with a pencil. You can grind the chalk and sprinkle the resulting powder near baseboards and other places. The entire process must be carried out with gloves and safety precautions.
The manufacturer reports that the substance retains its properties for a week, and it is better to re-treat surfaces after 7-10 days.
Mode of application
There are three ways to use Mashenka chalk against bed bugs.
Unlike other insecticides, the use of chalk does not require careful preparation of the room. Before working with chalk, you should wear protective gloves. The first method of using a pencil involves simply “drawing” on all surfaces that bedbugs come into contact with - that is, all the places where their nests may be. First of all, these are cracks in the floor, walls and ceiling, baseboards, furniture (especially bedroom or upholstered furniture), as well as space under carpets and ventilation. Be sure to rub the bedposts with chalk - if the bedbug nest is not inside, then they will no longer be able to bite you.
However, the first method may not be effective in cases where it is necessary to treat the interior surface of furniture, small crevices, etc. Therefore, for disinsection in these places, you can use the second method. Put on a respirator mask and goggles, then grind some crayons into a fine dust. This dust should be scattered in hard-to-reach places.
A respirator and goggles are needed to protect the eyes and respiratory tract from accidental ingress of dust. You can also dissolve a few pencils in a bucket of water, and then do a wet cleaning with the resulting solution - this is the third method. It is best to combine three methods in order to maximally capture all the necessary surfaces.
Customer reviews about chalk "Mashenka"
Below are reviews from those who have already used Mashenka chalk against cockroaches. Is everyone happy with the result? Let's see…
We have a bad entrance - cockroaches are scattering from several apartments all over the entrance. We tried a lot of different poisons, but none helped to get rid of these creatures 100%, after a while they appeared again, and you don’t want to breathe chemicals with a small child. Out of desperation, we collected 5 crayons and used them to cover the entire apartment, all the furniture, baseboards, shelves and cabinets. Two “Mashenka silver” crayons were enough. Now we only find dead cockroaches; we no longer have live ones. It turned out to be simple - upon entering the room, the insect becomes infected from the crayon line and runs away. It does not have time to reproduce and dies, and infects others. So as a preventive measure, chalk is a very good remedy.
Previously, I remember they used to smear this chalk in cabinets to prevent insects from appearing. Now there are so many modern means, but such cheap and effective ones have not yet been invented. For just 25 rubles you can paint your entire house and protect it from cockroaches. That's exactly what I did. At the same time I sprayed it with dichlorvos. There have been no cockroaches for over a year now, I draw new stripes every month. The old ones can be easily wiped off, the main thing is to wear gloves.
Chalk “Mashenka” for cockroaches: does it help or not?
Cockroaches: lifestyle and danger
Cockroaches are just as nasty “neighbors” as bedbugs.
They multiply quickly, surprise with their vitality and developed intelligence: insects bypass baits with poison and remember what poisoned their ancestors. We associate barbels with landfills and sewers, so it is extremely unpleasant to see them at home. But the real danger from cockroaches is modest. They are definitely harmful for allergy sufferers and sometimes damage expensive electrical equipment if they create a nest inside.
Chalk "Mashenka" against cockroaches
Having discovered red or black parasites in the apartment, many rush headlong to the nearest store to buy a “Mashenka” chalk pencil. It is cheap, a piece of chalk weighing 20-30 g is enough to process 20-30 m². Includes:
- actually, chalk,
- gypsum,
- active ingredients: zetacypermethrin (0.1%) and deltamethrin (0.05%).
Here's how to use this remedy and what rules should be followed:
- The chalk should be held with gloves. An alternative option is for the tip of the crayon to stick out from the package, and you squeeze the package with your fingers without touching the poisonous “candy.”
- The room should be well ventilated.
- Apply “grids” (with stripes 2-4 cm wide) with chalk in places where insects gather and on their favorite routes. Heating pipes, the backs of cabinets and cabinets, the bottom of the sink, baseboards - reach wherever cockroaches have been seen and where they are able to hide.
- Carry out the treatment throughout the entire apartment at once, otherwise the longhorned beetles will simply change one room to another.
- After applying Mashenka, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands and face.
- The effect of the chalk lasts for about a week. If you notice black and red “guests” again, roll up your sleeves again.
- There are other ways to use Mashenka, in addition to the one described: you can dissolve the drug and treat the surfaces, or crush it and sprinkle crumbs on the places where parasites are clustered.
How does Mashenka chalk work?
“Mashenka” is a contact action agent (we are talking about both zetacypermethrin and deltamethrin).
- When the parasite passes along the strip, particles of poison remain on its paws.
- Then the poison penetrates the chitinous cover and reaches the nervous system.
- After some time, the cockroach is overtaken by paralysis and death.
Advantages of chalk "Mashenka"
- Helps not only against cockroaches, but also against fleas, bedbugs, flies, moths, and ants.
- Cheap and easy to find on sale.
- No smell.
- The applied chalk remains active for a week.
Disadvantages of chalk "Mashenka"
- You will not see the effect immediately. The cockroaches will begin to die within one to two days.
- Low-quality crayons crumble profusely.
- Precautions must be taken. Do not allow the drug to get on your skin, respiratory tract, mucous membranes, or digestive system. Supervise small children and pets.
- You can't cover the whole apartment with chalk. Insects will quickly understand where they can get around the obstacle.
Cockroaches and chocolate
Before we move on to conclusions, let's raise an interesting topic (as a release before the final push) - should we be afraid of the fact that particles of the chitinous covering of cockroaches are caught in chocolate?
Yes, it is a scientific fact that the remains of cockroaches are present in chocolate. The cost of the tiles does not matter. For example, in the USA, the following standard for contamination of sweets is in force - a maximum of 60 cockroach fragments per 100 g of chocolate.
How do parasites get into sweets? Let's take a look at chocolate production technology. It is made from cocoa beans. They are grown in equatorial countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and more. The conditions for collection and processing on plantations are not the best. When the beans are dried in the sun, barbels frolic in them with might and main. Then the beans are ground together with cockroaches, their eggs, and shed chitinous coverings.
However, there is no need to worry. Body parts of cockroaches in chocolate, as a rule, are visible only through a microscope. The exotic ingredient does not affect the taste, and neither does it affect health, excluding allergy sufferers. Allergy sufferers often confuse a reaction to chocolate with a reaction to chitin.
conclusions
Let's return to the Mashenka chalk and its controversial effectiveness. If he is able to get rid of cockroaches, it will be over a very long time and only with a small population. Take a more powerful product or call a team of exterminators.
We at PROFSES rely on hot and cold fog methods. The fog penetrates hard-to-reach places, leaving no chance for parasites.
We work with both individuals and companies - small businesses, medium and large enterprises. We process households, administrative and industrial facilities. We travel around Moscow and the region.
Conclusion: is it possible to remove cockroaches using chalk?
Having considered the general aspects of using a pencil, we can give an overview of the positive and negative aspects of its use.
Mashenka's chalk is unlikely to help get rid of cockroaches in the apartment once and for all. As time passes, the effect of the drug disappears and new cockroaches can freely settle in your home. If you know your neighbors have persistent cockroaches, renew the chalk strips every week. It’s better to remove insects from the entire entrance at the same time, using more powerful preparations or with the help of the sanitary and epidemiological station.
Pros:
Ease of use
Low price
No smell
Low toxicity
The chalk is convenient to use due to its release form. They can be used to apply continuous lines or process surfaces in hard-to-reach places. Compared to other means (aerosols, powders), using a pencil does not require additional preparation of the room and the use of special skills and knowledge.
The low cost (about 20 rubles ) and the effectiveness of the product, according to customer reviews, have led it to wide popularity among analogues. Chalk Mashenka allows you to destroy various insects, which confirms the length of its presence on the insecticide market.
The absence of odor makes it possible to treat the apartment with the residents present in it.
Advantages and disadvantages of the drug
The deltamethrin contained in chalk is odorless, and cypermethrin is contained in too small a concentration to be noticeable to the human sense of smell. This distinguishes this product from many other insecticides, after application of which the smell lasts for at least several weeks.
Handling with a pencil does not require evacuation from the premises, and it is almost impossible to get poisoned by it - especially if safety precautions and storage conditions are observed.
One pencil costs 5-10 rubles, and it is enough to cover a room of 30 square meters. Such a low price makes Mashenka one of the most popular means for removing bedbugs.
Many insecticides are very difficult to use and are therefore used mainly by professionals. But even a child can use a pencil - it is so easy to use.
- Low efficiency in large populations
Chalk will only be effective on small insect populations. Trying to remove bedbugs with chalk from a heavily infested room is a long and extremely thankless task.
The effectiveness of the pencil against cockroaches and bedbugs is confirmed by its long-term presence on the insecticide market and numerous positive reviews. The advantages of the drug include:
- ease of use;
- low toxicity;
- no odor;
- low cost.
The price of an insecticide ranges from 10–30 rubles. Thanks to this, all segments of the population can use the pencil for its intended purpose.
The disadvantages of the product include:
- Low effectiveness in case of severe infection. If there are a large number of cockroaches and bedbugs in the room, chalk is unlikely to help. In this case, it is recommended to use a stronger agent.
- Short validity period. The chalk begins to be active within a week and has a residual effect for about a month. However, sunlight and heat have a destructive effect on it. Therefore, the chalk lines must be updated every week.
- Dangerous to use in a home with small children. The pencil's secure grip allows the poison to accumulate on the child's hands, from where it enters the baby's mouth. Therefore, surfaces that cannot be reached by children and animals should be treated.
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Despite its shortcomings, the insecticidal chalk Mashenka against cockroaches and bedbugs does not lose its popularity. All the disadvantages cover its many advantages and effectiveness.