How to get rid of cockroaches?

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Complete Guide

Cockroaches are among the most resilient pests on earth — they can survive a month without food, two weeks without water, and have developed resistance to many common pesticides. But they're far from invincible. With the right approach targeting their food, water, and shelter, you can eliminate cockroaches from your home. Here's how.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Cockroach

Species	Size	Where Found	Key Facts
German cockroach	1/2–5/8 inch, light brown	Kitchens, bathrooms, indoors	Most common indoor species; reproduces fastest
American cockroach	1.5–2 inches, reddish-brown	Basements, sewers, drains	Largest common species; can fly short distances
Oriental cockroach	1 inch, dark brown/black	Basements, crawl spaces, drains	Prefers cool, damp areas; "water bug"
Brown-banded cockroach	1/2 inch, tan with bands	Bedrooms, living rooms, high on walls	Doesn't need as much moisture as others

German cockroaches are the most problematic indoor species and require the most aggressive treatment. If you see small, light brown roaches in your kitchen, you likely have German roaches.

Step 2: Apply Gel Bait (Most Effective Treatment)

Gel bait is the #1 professional method for cockroach control. Roaches eat the bait, return to their hiding spots, and die. Other roaches feed on the dead roach and its feces, spreading the poison through the colony.

Best Cockroach Gel Baits

• Advion Cockroach Gel ($25–$35 for 4 tubes) — The industry standard. Contains indoxacarb. Apply pea-sized dots in cracks, under appliances, in cabinet hinges, and behind outlets.
• Vendetta Plus Cockroach Gel ($20–$30) — Contains an IGR (insect growth regulator) that prevents reproduction. Excellent for German roaches.
• Maxforce FC Magnum ($20–$30) — Fipronil-based; works well when roaches have developed resistance to other products.

Application tips: Place tiny dots (pea-sized) every 6–12 inches in cracks, crevices, cabinet corners, behind refrigerators and stoves, under sinks, and around plumbing penetrations. Don't use large globs — roaches prefer small amounts. Reapply every 2 weeks until activity stops.

Step 3: Use Boric Acid as a Supplement

Boric acid powder ($5–$10) is an effective long-term supplement to gel bait. Apply a thin, barely-visible layer in:

• Behind and under appliances (stove, refrigerator, dishwasher)
• Inside wall voids through electrical outlet covers
• Under sinks and in cabinet voids
• In the gap between cabinets and walls

Keep boric acid away from pets and children. It's low-toxicity but should still be applied in areas they can't access.

Step 4: Set Glue Traps for Monitoring

Sticky traps ($5–$10 for a 12-pack) help you identify where cockroaches are most active and measure the effectiveness of your treatment. Place them:

• Under sinks
• Behind the refrigerator
• In cabinet corners
• Along baseboards in the kitchen and bathroom

Step 5: Eliminate Food, Water, and Shelter

Cockroaches need three things to survive. Remove any one, and you make treatments far more effective.

Food

• Clean grease from stovetops, oven hoods, and behind the stove
• Sweep and mop kitchen floors nightly — even tiny crumbs sustain roaches
• Store food in sealed containers; don't leave fruit on counters
• Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight
• Take trash out daily; use cans with tight lids

Water

• Fix all leaky pipes and faucets — this is critical for German roach control
• Don't leave standing water in sinks, tubs, or pet bowls overnight
• Dry sinks and tubs before bed
• Fix condensation issues on pipes

Shelter

• Seal cracks around baseboards, cabinets, and pipes with silicone caulk
• Fix gaps around door and window frames
• Reduce clutter, especially cardboard boxes (roaches love corrugated cardboard)

What NOT to Do

• Don't use bug bombs (foggers) — They disperse roaches to new areas without killing the colony, contaminate surfaces, and are a fire hazard. Studies show they're largely ineffective against German roaches.
• Don't spray Raid in areas where you've placed bait — Spray repels roaches from the bait.
• Don't rely on ultrasonic repellers — No scientific evidence they work.

When to Call a Professional

Professional cockroach treatment costs $100–$400 for a one-time visit, with follow-ups at $50–$150. Call a pro if:

• You have German roaches — they reproduce so fast that professional-grade treatment is often necessary
• You live in an apartment where roaches may be coming from neighboring units
• DIY bait hasn't reduced activity after 3–4 weeks
• You have a large-scale infestation with visible roaches during the day (indicates a very large population)

Find a local pest control pro at ProFindr for professional cockroach elimination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does seeing one cockroach mean there are more?

Usually, yes. Cockroaches are nocturnal and hide in groups. Seeing one during the day often means the population is large enough that some are being pushed out of hiding spots. For every cockroach you see, there may be 10–50+ hiding.

How fast do cockroaches multiply?

A single German cockroach egg case (ootheca) contains 30–40 eggs and hatches in about 28 days. One female can produce 4–8 egg cases in her lifetime. This means a single female can theoretically produce hundreds of offspring in a year.

Can cockroaches survive without their head?

Yes — for up to a week. They breathe through spiracles in their body segments. But this interesting fact doesn't affect treatment strategies. Gel baits and boric acid kill them effectively regardless.

Are cockroaches dangerous to health?

Yes. Cockroach droppings, saliva, and shed skins are potent allergens that trigger asthma attacks, especially in children. They also spread bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella by walking over food preparation surfaces.

Do cockroaches go away in winter?

Indoor species (German roaches) remain active year-round because they live in heated buildings. Outdoor species (American, Oriental) may become less active in cold weather but don't truly go away. Winter is actually a good time to treat because populations are smaller.