Pencil "Mashenka" against cockroaches: helps or not, how it affects humans

Insecticidal chalk is one of the most common means of combating cockroaches in the domestic space. This popularity is due to five reasons.

1. Affordable price. Fighting insects will not hit the family budget. A package weighing 20 g costs about 15 rubles (data as of January 2022).
2. Ease of use. All you have to do is open the package and start painting.
3. Safety. The chalk is odorless, does not generate dust and does not emit harmful fumes into the air.
4. Aesthetics. The product is applied in inconspicuous places. Traces of chalk can be easily wiped off surfaces with a damp cloth.
5. Popularity. Crayons and pencils have been successfully used in the fight against household pests since Soviet times.

Chalk (pencil) Mashenka against cockroaches and bedbugs

Getting rid of cockroaches quickly and inexpensively is the burning dream of everyone who has encountered these household pests in their premises. The appearance of cockroaches causes hostility, and life next to them is filled with the risk of contracting many dangerous infections.

There are a lot of remedies for baleen insects; most victims, in pursuit of cheapness, choose the most budget-friendly of all - a pencil for cockroaches or a chalk for cockroaches called “Mashenka”. Let's take a closer look at how effective and how to use the Mashenka pencil against cockroaches.

When to use a chalk pencil

Today, an insecticidal pencil against cockroaches is used not only by residents of private households or apartments, but also by employees of hospitals, clinics, as well as owners and employees of warehouses. It comes with detailed instructions for using the drug.

According to the recommendations specified in the instructions, this insecticidal agent can be applied to office furniture, as well as to corridor baseboards and dorm walls. However, there are also places where you cannot use a cockroach pencil.

For example, such chalk cannot be used in a kindergarten, because small children can easily climb into those places that are usually treated with insecticide.

Accordingly, a child can lick the insecticidal chalk from his fingers with his tongue and become poisoned by it.

In such a situation, adults do not immediately guess the reasons for the sudden poisoning of their child in kindergarten. This leads to serious damage to the baby's health.

In addition to licking his fingers, a child can instantly become poisoned by an insecticidal pencil from cockroaches by chewing on the crayon!

Also, this drug should not be used in poultry or livestock farms.

After all, a chicken that accidentally pecks a poisoned cockroach first poisons itself, and then passes the insecticidal poison along the food chain to humans.

In addition, with extreme caution it is necessary to use chalk against cockroaches in a private household or apartment in which a pet lives - a cat or a dog.

Such a drug can only be used in places with which these animals will not come into contact.

Remedy for cockroaches Mashenka

Chalk against cockroaches is a drug that has been around for quite some time. Surely, many remember that their parents used it when they tried to remove cockroaches from the apartment.

• Quite easy to use;
• Does not require preliminary preparation of the premises;
• It's cheap;
• Approved for residential use.

The active insecticide of the drug is chlorpyrifos. This is a contact substance, that is, the insect must first get dirty in it, and then taste it while cleaning its paws. After such a tasting, the pest is simply doomed to death.

Cockroach chalk comes in the form of a pencil or chalk, which is where it got its name - cockroach chalk. The weight of one pencil is 20 grams, it is enough to treat a room of 20 square meters from pests.

Despite the fact that this drug is considered one of the safest products, in a home where there are pets or small children, it is recommended to apply it where they cannot get dirty with chalk or taste it.

Recommendations for using the drug: how should it be applied?

This pencil from the Prussians is very easy to use. The main goal of the owners of the premises is to thoroughly coat all secluded places in the apartment or house. You can find out where exactly this insecticide needs to be applied by looking at the packaging. The instructions for use briefly describe all these places. You must proceed according to the following scheme:

1. Draw lines on the back of the cabinets and on the baseboards. It is advisable to do this in all hard-to-reach places.
2. Draw a circle around the trash can. Until all the cockroaches are destroyed, the bucket will have to be placed only in this circle.
3. Draw lines around sockets and switches. In addition, to make the fight against cockroaches even more effective, you can draw stripes behind radiators and water supply pipes.
4. Draw lines on the window slopes. We should not forget about the entrance doors.
5. Remove all dishes from around the sink and draw a Mashenka line around its perimeter. This is done to prevent cockroaches from gaining access to water. As you know, in the absence of fluid, Prussians become dehydrated, which threatens them with death. After such a line is erased, it must be drawn again.
6. Outline all ventilation passages. To prevent insects from running away from neighbors, you can make double lines.
7. Draw small circles around the legs of the table and chairs. Moreover, such furniture cannot be rearranged from place to place during the fight against “uninvited guests.”

As for the thickness of the lines, it is best to make them very bold. Since the consumption will be greater, it is better to stock up on several insecticidal chalks at once. In addition, you need to remember the rule: the longer this remedy remains in all areas, the faster it will destroy the Prussians.

Review

“When cockroaches appeared in our country house, there was not a single remedy in the local store except Mashenka chalk. I remember this pencil from childhood; my parents more than once used it to poison parasites who were running away from their neighbors. We bought several crayons at once and covered every corner of the house, from the baseboards to the back of the cabinets. Despite the fact that I did not believe in the success of the event, all the cockroaches died! Of course, after that we saw a couple more Prussians, but when we smeared everything with chalk again, the insects disappeared.”

Innokenty, Lipetsk

It must be borne in mind that the most effective way to get rid of cockroaches will be if Mashenka is used together with products that have a similar effect.

This must be done if the case is very advanced. If there is a large concentration of cockroaches in the rooms, aerosols or special gels can be used as an additional means.

Insecticides with a microencapsulated formula are very effective drugs. They are concentrated liquids that must be diluted with water according to the instructions. Then they are poured into a spray bottle and the room is sprayed with it.

If the room is almost 100% infested with cockroaches, then sprays can be used along with chalk. By coating the room with additional gel, you can be absolutely sure that cockroaches will no longer appear in the apartment.

Review

“When we renovated our apartment, we immediately decided to poison everything from cockroaches. They used Raptor and the insects died. To prevent them from appearing again, we simply smeared them everywhere with Mashenka’s pencil. This product is sold at a ridiculous price in every store, and anyone can buy it. Of course, cockroaches appeared at our place several more times (apparently they ran through the ventilation from the neighbors), but after a few days they were not visible. I think Mashenka helped.”

Lydia, Novosibirsk

Terms of use

The instructions for the drug indicate three methods of use. If you choose a Mashenka pencil for cockroaches, you must choose the most suitable treatment method for yourself and strictly follow it.

• Method No. 1: draw lines with chalk in places where there are a lot of insects.
• Method No. 2: grind the chalk into powder and sprinkle it in places where insects accumulate.
• Method No. 3: prepare an aqueous solution, pour it into a spray bottle and treat surfaces and hard-to-reach areas.

The second treatment method is considered the most effective, since crushed chalk sticks to the paws more easily, forcing insects to try the poison while cleaning.

No matter how safe the drug is, the manufacturer strongly recommends using thick rubber gloves to protect your hands.

What is recommended to treat with chalk against cockroaches:

• Window sills and ventilation hatches;
• Doorways and thresholds;
• Skirting boards and waste storage areas;
• Water pipes and floor next to sink and toilet.

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:

1. wet cleaning is done;
2. furniture is moved away from the walls to find possible habitats of bedbugs near the baseboard;
3. all items from the closets are washed due to the possible presence of bedbug eggs in them;
4. if things cannot be washed, then they are treated with steam or taken out into the cold;
5. all carpets are dry cleaned;
6. 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.

Storage conditions and safety

Mashenka chalk belongs to hazard class IV, it is low-toxic and generally safe for people. Externally, open chalk looks like ordinary school chalk, which is used to write on a blackboard and asphalt. Therefore, it is very important to think about storing the drug; choose places where children cannot find it.

You must not only hide the chalk from prying eyes, but also ensure that it is properly stored, otherwise the insecticide will very quickly lose its ability to fight cockroaches.

Conditions under which the product remains effective:

• Room temperature;
• Protection from high humidity;
• Protection from direct sunlight.

As mentioned above, you can only work with chalk while wearing gloves, and it is advisable to store it only in its original factory packaging. There should be no utensils or food products near the poison.

Advantages and disadvantages of a pencil

Chalk "Mashenka" has a lot of important advantages:

• High efficiency;
• Easy application;
• Low toxicity - you will not have to leave your apartment during the treatment period, as the product is safe for animals and people;
• Multifunctionality - acts not only on cockroaches, but also on bedbugs, ants, fleas, woodlice and other insects;
• No smell;
• Availability. Where to buy Mashenka chalk? It is sold in any hardware or specialty store;
• Low cost.

Important! Despite its safety, it is better not to use chalk in a home with small children.

As for the disadvantages, there will not be many of them:

• Limited exposure time - you need to regularly update the drawn lines;
• The need for special storage conditions - low air humidity, dark place, room temperature;
• Local exposure - the cockroach becomes infected only through direct contact with the line.

Advice! If the parasite infestation is severe, chalk alone will not be enough. It must be combined with ultrasonic repellers, gels, aerosols or traps.

The effectiveness of chalk against cockroaches

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this cockroach repellent, it is best to read the reviews of those who have used it at home. As a rule, the drug helps very well, if there are few insects in the room, 2-3 treatments carried out in accordance with the instructions are enough.

In case of severe infection, it is better to abandon chalk in favor of more concentrated and long-lasting preparations. Mashenka chalk is also good for preventing infection. For example, you know that your neighbors have poisoned cockroaches, carry out barrier treatment and this will protect you from defector cockroaches.

Another disadvantage is the very limited duration of action of the insecticide. That is, the drug does not have sufficient power to cope with large infestations, nor does it have a prolonged effect that allows it to fight new generations of insects.

If the cockroaches have not disappeared, try repeating the treatment and refreshing the lines, or call the Dez Eco-Clean specialists who will perform professional treatment using modern technologies and get rid of cockroaches once and for all.

Source: dezecoclean.ru/informaciya/preparaty/melki/

Protecting your apartment with chalk

Taking into account the above, Mashenka chalk is a fairly effective means of preventing cockroaches from entering a room from the outside. It is quite obvious that for this, in chalk it is necessary to carefully outline around the perimeter all possible places where insects can enter the room - window slopes (if the windows are often kept open), entrance door slopes, ventilation openings. And sometimes also sockets and water supply pipes - although it is often easier to seal the cracks there with alabaster or polyurethane foam.

It is also useful to read: What is the most effective remedy for cockroaches?

And one more thing: Don’t write off Mashenka’s cockroach chalk - it really works, we tested it during the experiment...

When used in this way, insecticidal chalk performs a so-called barrier protective function : in order for a cockroach to be able to enter the protected room from the outside, it will have to overcome a kind of barrier in the form of a chalk line. And this is deadly for insects, and most individuals will soon die after crossing such a line.

By the way, even if you managed to get rid of the cockroaches completely and they seem to have been gone for a long time, it is useful to draw stripes on the back walls of the furniture as a preventive measure. There will be no harm from this, and an additional protection factor will not hurt.

Review

“As soon as we completed the renovation, we immediately poisoned the cockroaches in the apartment so that we could move into it without roommates. We used Karbofos and, of course, had to endure the terrible smell. And then they simply anointed the floors and bedside tables in the back under the walls with Mashenka. It’s inexpensive, it’s easy to buy, but now even if some cockroaches come from neighbors, they don’t live in our apartment for more than a few days.”

Anna, Kharkov

Chalk Mashenka - a reliable remedy for cockroaches and bedbugs

The presence of insects such as cockroaches or bedbugs in the house is a serious problem that anyone can face. It is worth noting that cleanliness in the home does not guarantee the absence of these unpleasant roommates, since they often move into a house or apartment from untidy neighbors.

In addition, cockroaches and bedbugs can “travel” and come with you from business trips, hiding in suitcases and bags.

Being around such insects is unpleasant and unsafe for health, so even if you find one cockroach or bedbug at home, you need to immediately address this problem.

Characteristics of this product

A simple and inexpensive drug of domestic production helps where modern developments of leading companies are powerless. It permanently eliminates many types of annoying insects. Among them:

• cockroaches;
• bedbugs;
• flies;
• ants;
• double tails and others.

The product is affordable and easy to use, and in dissolved form can be used to control garden pests.

What is chalk Mashenka

Chalk Mashenka is a means to fight cockroaches, bedbugs, ants, fleas, moths and even flies. It is an analogue of the Chinese pencil against harmful insects in the house, has a low cost and effectively fights household pests.

Mashenka chalk is based on a Chinese insect repellent pencil with a similar composition.

The composition of the chalk includes:

• deltamethrin (0.05%) is a synthetic insecticide that blocks neuromuscular transmission and leads to paralysis and then death of the insect;
• zeta-cypermethrin (0.10%) is a pesticide that causes synoptic disturbances in the body of pests (nerve impulses malfunction, resulting in paralysis and then death in insects);
• chalk acts as a filler.

Externally, Mashenka resembles an ordinary drawing chalk

Once in the insect’s body, the active substances stop muscle function and block the nervous system, resulting in the death of the parasite.

It should be noted that to obtain this result, the cockroach or bedbug does not have to eat the poison; it is enough to simply run along the chalk line.

This is explained by the fact that the substances contained in this drug penetrate the enemy’s body not only through the mouth, but also through the chitinous membrane. In addition, insects smeared with chalk carry deadly poison from individual to individual.

The modern market offers the buyer a huge selection of all kinds of means to combat unwanted neighbors in the house: sprays, gels, traps, etc. Despite the fact that the effectiveness of such products is often higher than that of Mashenka chalk, the analogue of the Chinese pencil does not lose its popularity. This can be explained by the following factors:

• effectiveness of use against pests at home;
• low cost of the product;
• ease of use.

It is worth noting that Mashenka chalk, unlike many other insecticides, does not kill insects quickly. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get rid of cockroaches or bedbugs in your home. In cases where pests are present in very large numbers, the use of chalk must be combined with the use of other, more effective drugs.

In particularly advanced cases, it is worth using chalk in combination with other insect repellents in the house.

How does chalk work?

How does Mashenka chalk work on cockroaches? Scouring your apartment in search of water and food, the parasite overcomes the chalk line and gets dirty in the composition. Particles of poison that fall on the chitinous membranes cause severe itching, and once they penetrate the intestines, the insecticide produces a double effect - it immobilizes the muscles and paralyzes the nervous system. The cementing ingredient also works - it covers the esophagus with a hard shell and blocks the airways. But all this does not happen at once - before they die, the insects manage to introduce poison into the nest and infect the entire colony.

A cockroach infected with insecticides contained in Mashenka chalk carries the infection into the nest of its relatives and they also die

The fact that the chalk has had an effect is evidenced by the behavior of the cockroaches - due to muscle contraction, they seem to writhe in their death throes. Massive damage occurs approximately on the 5-6th day of persecution. It is then that you will notice that there are much fewer parasites walking around the apartment, and their remains are increasingly appearing on the floor. By closing all the ways to enter the apartment, you will be able to remove unpleasant insects in a month. During these 4 weeks, 4 treatments will need to be carried out.

Important! When outlining the necessary places, make sure that the line is continuous. This is the only way to eliminate all possible loopholes!

How to use

The main method of using Mashenka chalk is to draw lines in places where cockroaches and bedbugs appear most often:

• baseboards;
• pipes (water and heating);
• ventilation holes;
• under sinks and around trash cans;
• tile joints;
• cracks in the floor and walls;
• back surfaces of carpets, furniture, paintings, mirrors, etc.

Bedbugs and cockroaches can hide anywhere

The chalk lines must be continuous and wide, at least 1.5 cm. Compliance with this condition gives the maximum effect, since when crossing the line the insect manages to capture an amount of the drug sufficient for rapid death.

When drawing with chalk, draw continuous, wide lines.

One Mashenka chalk is enough to cover an area of ​​about 30 square meters.

In addition, chalk can be used in other ways:

1. In powder form. In this case, the chalk is crushed to a powdery state and carefully poured into hard-to-reach places that cannot be treated with a pencil: crevices, corners of sofas, cracks in the walls.
2. In the form of a thick solution. Crushed chalk is mixed with water to form a paste-like mass and applied with a brush to areas where pests are located.
3. In the form of a spray. The crushed pencil is mixed with water (1 stick of Mashenka per 1–1.5 liters of liquid), poured into a spray bottle and sprayed in the required places. This method is convenient for treating large areas, for example, carpets or furniture on the back sides when killing bedbugs.

To quickly treat large areas, you can use a solution of chalk and water, which needs to be poured into a spray bottle.

The intensity of the impact of chalk on insects lasts for about a month. However, already 7–10 days after applying the drug to the surface, the effect begins to weaken. After 2-3 weeks, the remaining product must be washed off with a soda-soap solution and, if necessary, treat the room again with a pencil.

Chalk Mashenka should be stored in a dry, dark place at a temperature of no more than 40 degrees. In an open package, the drug begins to lose its properties already at temperatures above 25 degrees.

Peculiarities of processing with chalk

• Before treatment, inspect the apartment and identify areas where cockroaches accumulate. Give these areas special attention by applying more product than other areas.
• The continuous line drawn on the surface should be wide, about 2-4 millimeters.
• Even if cockroaches live only in the kitchen, apply the product in other rooms. Otherwise, insects will find refuge in rooms, bathrooms or corridors.
• While fighting insects, limit access to water. After drinking water, poisoned cockroaches literally come to life.
• The effect of Mashenka chalk is noticeable 4 days after its use against cockroaches.
• Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the drug loses some of its toxic properties.
• Before processing, wash and dry surfaces.

Security measures

The effectiveness of Mashenka chalk is determined by the presence of harmful chemicals in its composition that can harm the health of humans and pets. Therefore, when working with this drug, you should adhere to certain rules:

1. It is prohibited to carry out pencil treatment in rooms where small children and animals live.
2. When working with chalk, you should use rubber gloves and a face mask. It is also advisable to protect your eyes with glasses. When working with chalk without gloves, you should hold it without completely removing it from its original packaging.

When starting to work with chalk, do not forget about safety measures

After handling insecticide, wash your hands and face thoroughly.

Mashenka: why hasn’t it lost its popularity for decades?

The most popular among crayons is “Mashenka”, developed by Soviet technologists. The effectiveness of the chalk is evidenced by its history. Created back in the 80s, inexpensive, easy to use, it still helps fight the “red invaders”, proving its effectiveness to more than one generation of consumers. And in the future, “Mashenka” is unlikely to lose its relevance; it will be in demand as long as cockroaches exist.

How to use Mashenka chalk against cockroaches: instructions

Like all products of a similar purpose, Mashenka chalk is used to combat harmful insects by applying it in lines along the floor, walls, around ventilation outlets, cracks, crevices, and especially intensively along baseboards. The lines must be continuous, dense and wide enough to prevent the possibility of jumping or stepping over them, so that the poison particles are guaranteed to fall on the legs or bellies of the cockroaches.

Precautions when using chalk in an apartment

Chalk "Mashenka" is considered low-toxic, but can still pose a threat to children and animals, so it should be used in places inaccessible to them.

All work with this pencil should be done with gloves and a mask to protect your hands and face.

Where to buy this product

The Mashenka pencil is available for free sale in the hardware departments of many stores. It is inexpensive - from 12 to 20 rubles per package, depending on the manufacturer.

First aid

If safety precautions were violated and external or internal contact with the drug occurred, you should immediately contact a medical institution for qualified help. Before examination and consultation with a doctor:

If chalk particles come into contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes. You urgently need to rinse them with running water or a soda solution (1 teaspoon of soda per 200 ml of water).

If chalk particles get into your eyes, immediately rinse them with clean water or soda solution.

Running tap water will help you remove Mashenka's pencil from your skin.

Gastric lavage with manganese solution is one of the available measures to cleanse the body during intoxication

Intoxication when working with insecticide is a serious reason to consult a doctor

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.

Reviews of chalk Mashenka

We were renovating the kitchen and temporarily left the hood “naked” - after 2 days we found 3 bedbugs! My husband is so squeamish about all living creatures - he sat on the Internet until 3 am, searching for methods of fighting. So, bedbugs appear in new apartments and after renovation, and even in new furniture. I read that bedbugs are afraid of wormwood. Well, we rushed to the pharmacy, bought 8(!) packs in bags - the pharmacist looked at us sooooo much, 3 bottles of wormwood essential oil and Mashenka chalk. So, all evening we painted on the bottom of the furniture, scattered bags everywhere and smeared them where the baby wouldn’t lick them. All - NOBODY (TTT).

Irinka-picture

https://mama51.ru/forum/index.php?topic=14707.120

There were also black cockroaches. I bought a Mashenka pencil at Ozerka - there was nothing. I haven’t seen Redhead alive for ten years.

dr.Ded

https://dnepr-forum.com/topic2091.html

when cockroaches came running to us, the neighbors were poisoning them, we bought a chalk “Mashenka”, so these monsters began to crawl out and run everywhere, out of fear, I ran from the house to my parents, spent the night there, and came back in the morning... and not a single cockroach, not even corpse, I don’t know where they went, but there were no more

Pike

https://vladmama.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1446&t=18891&start=60

I harassed them with regular Mashenka chalk. True, I had to maintain perfect cleanliness and coat the vents with this chalk (they came from the neighbors). I haven't seen you for 2 months.

Lucy

https://dez-otzyv.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6

I want to say that we had bedbugs, and we fought with them for 2 months. They sprayed us with everything - it was terrible, the beds were dismantled down to the last screw, everything was impregnated with aerosols and all sorts of chemicals, and they, like a jack-in-the-box, came out and bit us and the child. They already wanted to throw out all the sofas and burn them, but they did it. I even bought a Karcher steam cleaner to evaporate everything, it’s all useless. Mashenka’s chalk helped, you won’t even believe it. We bought 8 pieces and painted all the beds, wherever we could, inside the perimeter, as they say, with all our hearts. So far we have no complaints about bedbugs. And most importantly, it is not harmful to people. Just try to buy fresh chalk and not counterfeit. We bought online; there was no other choice. Good luck everyone .

Svetlana

https://forum.dobro-est.com/threads/kak-izbavitsja-ot-postelnyx-klopov.15/

Mashenka. Did you study descriptive geometry? No? You buy Mashenka chalk and draw on the walls. Removes both bedbugs and cockroaches with a bang!

Holden

https://xn--j1aefiie.xn--p1ai/topic/34828-%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8/

Chalk Mashenka is an effective means for exterminating harmful insects in your home. The cheapness and effectiveness of this drug make it in demand for many years.

Source: zoolog.guru/drugaya-poleznaya-informacia/melok-mashenka-ot-tarakanov.html

How long does a cockroach pencil last?

Many people do not know how this chalk works and how long it remains effective. A Chinese pencil against specific types of cockroaches is effective for 7-10 days.

After this time, the tenant carries out 1 more sanitation.

The fact is that in 7-10 days such a poison quickly loses its useful specific properties.

At the same time, such chalk often falls off walls or from various inclined surfaces, which also reduces its effectiveness.

Manufacturers of chalk pencil recommend that residents, after 7-14 days, first carry out wet cleaning, and then apply fresh, rather than outdated, insecticidal chalk to the baseboard or other surfaces.

Appearance and composition of chalk

The remedy for cockroaches Mashenka looks like an oblong gray-white block, weighing 20 g. The chalk is sold in an impenetrable blue polyethylene wrapper with information on product consumption and method of use printed on it. This is a Russian-made drug, developed on the basis of the well-known Chinese insecticidal pencil. It consists of the following components:

Only two components exhibit insecticidal properties - zeta-cypermethrin and deltamethrin. These substances belong to the pyrethroid group of contact poisons. They are toxic to warm-blooded animals and humans, so the chalk is assigned a 4th degree of danger.

Chalk and gypsum act as a binding component and create the form of the drug and occupy about 95% of its composition. With their help, the toxic substance is securely attached to the surface and does not lose its activity for a long time.

Interesting fact! Chalk Mashenka was originally developed to preserve military supplies by order of the Ministry of Defense in the early 80s. Later, having proven its effectiveness, it went on sale for civilian use.

Proper use of the product

The insecticidal pen against cockroaches is very easy to use. However, certain instructions are attached to such a drug, which the tenant must strictly follow.

Thus, the household improves the quality of sanitation of their home and its safety for the people living in the house, as well as for pet dogs, cats or other pets.

Before using cockroach chalk, the tenant performs the following steps:

• carries out a thorough wet cleaning of the room or apartment;
• removes leftover food from the room or kitchen table, as well as from the floor;
• washes the floor and table with soapy warm water;
• removes cups, plates or clothes from cabinets and moves them away from walls;
• wipes the baseboard and around it with a wet rag.

After completing the above 1st stage, the apartment owner begins insecticidal treatment of his home against cockroaches.

In such a situation, he works with gloves for cleaning the house and performs the following actions:

• tears open the packaging of a chalk pencil and sticks out the chalk tip;
• draws thick, solid lines in chalk along the seams in all room closets, on baseboards, furniture doors, as well as around kitchen and other drainage holes, wall holes and cracks;
• prevents the formation of gaps in the chalk line, which only reduce the result of sanitation. After all, cockroaches easily avoid small chalk marks and do not get dirty with this product.

The tenant also treats the following surfaces with a pencil against cockroaches: sofa bases, backs and joints.

After completing the sanitation, the household member removes the remnants of such an insecticidal product with a vacuum cleaner, which is turned on at full power. Sometimes the owner of the apartment adds a fragrant bait inside the figure made of a solid chalk strip.

After completing the sanitization of his home, the person puts the packaging from the insecticidal pencil in a cellophane bag, ties it tightly, and then throws it in the trash.

If there is still some chalk left, it is also placed in a sealed cellophane bag and stored out of the reach of teenagers and small children.

Also, after cleaning his home, the tenant takes off and throws away his gloves for cleaning the house, and washes his hands thoroughly under warm water and soap.

If necessary, after 2-4 weeks, the tenant carries out 1 more sanitary treatment.

Operating principle

Cockroach chalk Mashenka exerts its insecticidal effect through direct contact with insects. Its toxic components penetrate the outer shell of arthropods and destroy impulses coming from the nerve nodes to the muscles, thereby causing their paralysis and death.

Compared to aerosol preparations, which begin to act already at the moment of spraying, a pencil against cockroaches manifests itself only after some time. The insect must touch the product for the poison to enter it.

And this is only possible after crossing the chalk line drawn with an insecticidal pencil. Accordingly, the more cockroaches run through it, the higher the effect will be. Insects also bring the drug into their nests on their legs, thus infecting their fellows.

The effect of the drug, as a rule, becomes noticeable after 4-5 days. At this time, the number of insects decreases sharply, and their twisted corpses begin to appear on the floor. In most cases, the entire colony can be destroyed in 2-4 weeks. During this period, several treatments are carried out with an interval of 7 days.

Advice! To achieve maximum impact on insects, it is recommended to apply chalk strips at least 1-2 cm thick. In this case, the cockroach will get so dirty when crossing the fatal line that the poison will begin to act after a few minutes.

What substances are included in this insecticidal product?

Since the appearance of such an insecticide, its composition has been increasingly improved. Outdated components were replaced with new, more modern ones. This made the product not only very effective, but also quite effective. Today this chalk contains the following substances:

1. Deltamethrin. In Mashenka it is slightly less than 5%. This is an insectifying component of synthetic origin. It affects the digestive system of the insect, and is also able to penetrate its body through the chitinous shell. It very quickly paralyzes the parasite and causes its death.
2. Zetacypermethrin. This component is contained in insecticidal chalk in an amount of 0.10%. Like the previous element, it also has a synthetic base, but is created using a different chemical formula.
3. Chalk. Used as a filling agent. It is used as the basis of all insecticidal sticks against cockroaches.

Why does Mashenka contain two different products? The use of these components is necessary to prevent parasites from developing resistance to the drug after repeated use.

On a note

The main components of Mashenka (zetacypermethrin and deltamethrin) are found in some sprays used to kill insects. In addition, similar substances are also found in insecticides used by professional pest control organizations.

The remedy works as follows: the Prussian runs along the line drawn with Mashenka’s help and stains its antennae, belly and paws.

If there is at least a small amount of moisture, the drug begins to take effect. The components of the chalk penetrate directly into the hemolymph of the insect through its chitinous shell.

If a parasite tries to clean its antennae and paws from an insecticidal pencil, then part of the product penetrates its gastrointestinal system. After some time, the cockroach begins to circle in place, its movements become chaotic. After this he becomes paralyzed and dies. In order for all parasites to be destroyed properly, it is necessary to use the drug correctly.

On a note

Nowadays you can find the “Silver Mashenka” pencil on store shelves. This is the same product that was sold before. In addition, this mild insecticide works in the same way as a similar product.

Mode of application

Mashenka against cockroaches can be used as follows:

• applied to the surface in the form of a chalk line;
• spray into places where insects accumulate after preliminary grinding;
• used as a solution.

The first option is most convenient, since in this case you won’t have to remove the apartment’s residents during the treatment, and you won’t need any special protective measures either. It is only necessary to ensure the continuity of the drawn line so that the insects are sure to cross it. It is best to apply a strip along the entire perimeter of the apartment, circling the baseboards and doorways with chalk. It would also be good to outline all the strategically important places for insects where they can gain access to food and water:

• trash cans;
• kitchen sink;
• cabinets with food supplies;
• fridge;
• dinner table;
• stove.

Its effectiveness will depend on the correct location for applying the drug. Therefore, before processing, it makes sense to inspect the apartment to detect nests of cockroaches and places of their greatest concentration.

If it is not possible to apply the product in a continuous line, for example, on an uneven surface, then it makes sense to crush it and scatter it in powder form. In this case, take the necessary protective measures. Rubber gloves are put on your hands, and your mouth and nose are covered with a gauze bandage so as not to accidentally inhale particles of the drug.

This method is less preferable, since the risk of poisoning increases, and the adhesion strength to the treated surface is significantly reduced. However, as an additional treatment measure under baseboards and in hard-to-reach places, it is completely justified.

Mashenka chalk against cockroaches can be used in the form of a solution. To do this, the product, previously crushed to a powdery state, is diluted in 5-6 liters of warm water. The resulting solution is used to wipe the floor and all surfaces in the apartment. The advantage of this method is that the area of ​​the treated surface increases, however, the concentration of the toxic substance decreases, and the effectiveness of the drug decreases accordingly.

One package of the product is enough for approximately 30 m of the treated area if you plan to use it in the form of a chalk line. You will need two or even three times more powder. A solution prepared from one piece of chalk can be used to treat a medium-sized two-room apartment.

The effect of the pencil decreases after a week, so the treatment is repeated 7 days after the first, after first removing the remnants of the drug that has lost its activity with a damp cloth. Repeat the entire procedure as necessary until the insects are completely eliminated.

Interesting fact! It is unlikely that insecticidal chalk can be used as school chalk, since it has a softer structure and crumbles easily.

Rules for using Mashenka: how to remove cockroaches

It is not difficult to use Mashenka. The main task is to apply chalk to the places most frequently visited by cockroaches (these places are briefly described in the instructions for using the pencil, right on the packaging).

So what you need to do:

1. Draw chalk lines on the baseboards and back surfaces of the furniture, preferably along the entire perimeter of the back wall (it is especially important to do this in the kitchen);
2. Draw a pencil around the perimeter of the trash can and then place it only inside this circle;
3. Make a continuous line around the perimeter of the sink, possibly from the bottom. As practice shows, in the average apartment it is from the sink that cockroaches mainly drink water;
4. Outline the openings of all ventilation ducts around the perimeter (since individual cockroaches may well come to you from your neighbors);
5. Draw a chalk outline around the perimeter of the table legs (so that when cockroaches climb onto the table, they will certainly run along the chalk strip).

The stripes themselves need to be drawn thicker - 10-15 mm. Considering that this chalk against cockroaches is inexpensive and you can buy it everywhere, it is better not to save money here.

The longer Mashenka stays on the treated surfaces, the more cockroaches she will destroy. Therefore, you should not wash it off.

Review

“But at the dacha we didn’t become perverted and just covered everything with Mashenka’s pencil. You can buy it from us everywhere, one chalk costs 25 rubles. We bought four of them, thoroughly painted all the cabinets in the back, painted on the baseboards, under the rugs. And what do you think? It helped! There are almost no cockroaches left at all. Maybe sometimes we’ll meet you somewhere, but it’s no longer like before, when they were constantly running in crowds.”

Ksenia, Tomsk

Meanwhile, it is worth keeping in mind that the most effective way to use Mashenka’s pencil against cockroaches today is to use it in parallel with additional means (especially in advanced cases). If there are a lot of cockroaches in the room, then it is highly advisable to combine chalk with the use of insecticidal gels, as well as aerosol preparations. Modern microencapsulated insecticidal preparations, sold in the form of concentrates for dilution and subsequent spraying from a regular household spray bottle, also have a good effect.

With this approach, the majority of cockroaches die precisely when the room is treated with an aerosol (or spray), and the chalk and gel already finish off the survivors and, which is very important, do not allow new pests to breed if they sometimes enter the apartment from neighbors.

Pros for chalk

Chalk Mashenka gets rid of cockroaches quite effectively, which is confirmed by its long-term presence on the market of insecticidal preparations. It also has other advantages:

• ease of use;
• low cost;
• no odor;
• low toxicity.

Ease of use is due to the form of release of the drug. It is convenient to draw lines with chalk, quickly and with minimal waste of effort, applying the product in the required places. Compared to powdered and aerosol preparations, which require additional special equipment, preliminary preparation of the room, and long preparation times, the pencil is easy to use and does not require special knowledge and skills.

Low price is another factor in the popularity of this product. It ranges from 10-30 rubles, which makes chalk accessible to all segments of the population. It is unlikely that there is another insecticidal drug that has such a low cost and such an effective effect on insects.

The chalk has no smell, which makes it possible to treat the apartment in the presence of residents and pets. Thanks to this, its toxicity is reduced to almost zero, since there are no particles of toxic substances in the air.

What to do if a child ate a crayon?

At the slightest suspicion that even a small amount of chalk components have entered the child’s body, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. When calling an ambulance, listen to the recommendations and follow them until the doctor arrives. Be sure to show the packaging so that doctors understand what exactly caused the poisoning. The child will receive emergency assistance and his life will be safe.

The use of special insecticidal pencils has its advantages and disadvantages. If a problem with cockroaches arises, you first need to analyze the situation and choose the right method to combat them. If the insect population is not too large, instead of sprays that are particularly toxic, it is wiser to use cockroach chalk.

How it works, indications

Highly active synthetic pyrethroids deltamethrin and zeta-cypermethrin are the main toxic components that make up Mashenka’s pencil and are characterized by intestinal contact effects. How they act on cockroaches depends on the method of their penetration into the body.

The toxic substance, falling on the pest, destroys it from the outside, corroding the chitinous covers. This chalk preparation has an equally effective effect when it penetrates through the spiracles or the digestive system.

Poisons that enter the body of an insect have an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the nervous system. Toxins trigger the process of blocking the transmission of impulses along nerve fibers through the membrane of one cell to another. Gradually, the cockroach loses the ability not only to move, move in space and eat, but also to breathe. He dies as a result of complete paralysis.

The first cockroach corpses are observed on days 4-5. Starting from this time, the population declines sharply, and after 30-60 days the colony can be completely destroyed.

Chalk Mashenka is indicated for use both in advanced cases, when the infestation of a room by insects is very high, and when there are only isolated pests, as well as for the purpose of prevention against their penetration.

Compound

The insecticidal product Mashenka is a small (20*120*30 mm) elongated whitish-grayish block weighing 20 g, packaged in a branded blue cellophane wrapper. Its composition may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but in most cases the pencil includes:

• The base filler that binds all the components and also gives the insecticide a certain solid consistency and the desired shape is a mixture of gypsum and chalk.
• The main active toxic substances that cause the death of pests are zeta-cypermethrin (0.1%) and deltamethrin (0.05%), which are classified as second-generation pyrethroids.

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