Cockroaches are one of the most unwelcome household pests. They can contaminate surfaces and food, and may trigger allergies in some people.
The good news is that there are simple, effective steps you can take to reduce activity and bring an infestation under control. In this guide, we share 11 practical tips to help you tackle cockroaches quickly and safely.
Quick Plan (Next 24-48 Hours)
- Confirm hotspots: put 2–4 sticky traps under the sink, behind the fridge/cooker, and along skirting boards.
- Remove food and water: wipe grease and crumbs, store food in airtight containers, empty bins nightly, and fix drips.
- Deep clean hidden zones: clean behind appliances, under kickboards, and inside cupboard corners.
- Seal harbourage: close gaps around pipes, broken tiles, and wall/floor junctions.
- Use baits as the main kill method: place bait stations where cockroaches travel and hide; avoid blanket spraying.
- Use sprays/powders only as targeted support: if using a cockroach-labelled spray or powder, apply lightly to cracks, crevices and voids (where the label allows), and avoid spraying directly around bait placements.
1. Understand Cockroach Behaviour
It's important to have a basic understanding of cockroach behaviour if you want a chance to stop them. Knowing the typical places where cockroaches like to hide gives you the upper hand when you are trying to remove them. Cockroaches are nocturnal and like to hide in damp, dark places during the day, most commonly emerging at night to feed. Cockroaches thrive in warm, humid environments such as your kitchen, bathroom and basement.
2. Eliminate Food Sources
Cockroaches are attracted to food and water sources. This means that keeping your home tidy and clean at all times is critical. Remove any food debris right away, always use sealed containers, clean up spills immediately, and regularly dispose of any rubbish in sealed bins. Eliminating food sources makes your home less appealing to cockroaches.
3. Reduce Moisture
Reducing moisture makes your home less attractive to cockroaches. They love moist, damp spaces. Identify and fix any leaky pipes, dripping taps, or other sources of water. Ensure that kitchens and bathrooms are well-ventilated and dry. You may find it useful to regularly air your home and turn on any extractor fans to vent excess moisture outdoors.
4. Seal Entry Points
Cockroaches can enter your home through tiny cracks and gaps. This includes everything from cracks around your doors and windows to drain pipes coming from your bathroom. Always inspect your home thoroughly, especially around doors, windows, and walls. When you do identify a potential entry point, seal it carefully with caulk or weather stripping. This will help keep cockroaches out and prevent them from finding a new home in yours.
5. Set Up Bait Stations
Cockroach bait stations (and bait gels, where used) are often one of the most effective DIY control methods for ongoing infestations. Place bait where cockroaches travel and hide, such as under sinks, behind appliances, inside cupboards, and along edges.
Avoid placing bait in exposed, wet, or heavily cleaned areas, and avoid blanket spraying near bait placements, as this can reduce bait uptake. Check and refresh bait as directed on the product label.
6. Use Sticky Traps
Sticky cockroach traps are a simple yet effective tool for monitoring and reducing cockroach populations around your home or business. Simply place these traps in areas where cockroach activity is suspected, such as along skirting boards, behind appliances, or in cupboards. Sticky traps help monitor and catch individual cockroaches, especially along skirting boards and near harbourages; however, they do not target the source of an infestation.
Use traps mainly for monitoring: note where you catch the most roaches, then concentrate cleaning/proofing and bait placement there. If trap counts aren’t clearly falling after 2–3 weeks, expand checks to adjacent rooms (cockroaches often spread through wall voids and service gaps).
7. Use Insecticide Sprays and Powders as Targeted Support
Cockroach insecticide sprays can help with fast knockdown of visible roaches, while residual sprays and dusts (where labelled) can provide longer-lasting control in cracks, crevices, and voids. These treatments are best used as targeted support, not a substitute for baiting.
Focus applications on harbourages and travel routes (where the label allows), such as pipe entry points, skirting edges, and gaps behind appliances. Apply lightly and precisely, and always keep products away from children, pets, and food preparation areas.
Avoid blanket spraying, especially near bait placements, as this can reduce bait uptake and make control less effective. Always follow the product label exactly.
8. Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth can be used as a physical powder treatment in dry areas where cockroaches travel, such as along skirting edges, under appliances, and in cracks or crevices. Apply a thin layer only and avoid damp areas, where it is less effective. Keep it away from children, pets, and food areas, and use it as a supporting measure alongside baiting, cleaning, and proofing.
9. Clean Surfaces Thoroughly
Regularly clean surfaces, cupboard edges, and areas around appliances to remove grease, crumbs, cockroach droppings, and scent trails. This helps make the area less attractive to cockroaches and supports other control measures such as baiting and trapping.
10. Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Home
Stay vigilant by regularly inspecting your home for signs of any cockroach activity. You should check regularly for droppings, egg casings and physical sightings. Regular maintenance and cleaning will help you catch infestations early and prevent them from spreading.
Ultrasonic cockroach repellers can also be a helpful extra layer of security for some homes when used consistently alongside cleaning, proofing and baiting—place them in open areas and keep them switched on continuously.
11. Consider Professional Help if Necessary
If you are unable to get your cockroach infestation under control despite your best efforts, it may be time to call in the professionals. Pest control services can offer more powerful solutions as well as customised advice to ensure your infestation is handled quickly and effectively.
Final Word
Cockroach control usually works best with a combined approach: monitoring, cleaning, moisture reduction, proofing, and baiting first, with sprays or powders used as targeted support where appropriate. Acting quickly and consistently gives you the best chance of bringing activity under control and reducing re-infestation.
We go to great lengths to ensure that all our DIY cockroach control products are effective, fast & easy-to-use. You may also find our expert guide useful if you want to learn more about getting rid of cockroaches in your home or workplace.
