Cockroach Control: How To Get Rid of Roaches

This page is a general roach control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you can get control of any roach species. The roach category pages give additional information on the different species. Follow these guides and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of all roach species. 

Cockroaches are one of the most frequently encountered pests people deal with. Distinguished by their long antennae, oval bodies and fast movements, Cockroaches can easily manuever their way inside of structures and are most often found in kitchens and bathrooms. 

Cockroach infestations start two ways; they can be brought inside by hitching a ride on grocery items, takeout food, electronics, furniture, luggage, purses and backpacks, etc, or they can enter a structure from the exterior looking for hospitable conditions, especially during cold weather. 

Cockroaches are responsible for spreading dangerous diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, or dysentery, and their droppings and exoskeletons can trigger asthma and allergies. Infestations of kitchens can contaminate food, counters, and dishes and are a major problem.

If you are frustrated by cockroaches invading your property, our DIY guide covers all you need to know about cockroaches and how you can eradicate them using professional-grade products and expert techniques.

Identification

Before you can carry out a treatment program, you need to be sure that you are dealing with cockroaches. Misidentification can lead you to using the wrong treatment methods, costing you time and money. Below we have shared some distinguish traits so you know what cockroaches look like for easy identification.

• There are about 5,000 species of cockroaches that have been discovered in the world. Of that large number, only about 25 species are common pests that can invade human structures. While you can identify cockroaches by their long antennae and their six spiky legs they have varying sizes and characteristics. It is easier to identify roaches by their infestation location and coloring.
• Indoors, you are most likely dealing with German Cockroaches. They are small, light brown, will have two black stripes on their head, and you will see a lot of them at night. Occasional large roaches (1 inch long or more) such as the American Cockroach or Smokybrown Cockroach, can be found indoors but not in large numbers. 
• Outdoors, you can find all roach species except for German with the most common being American, Smokybrown, and Brown-banded Cockroach which can infest trees, sewers, sheds, or bushes and are light to dark brown in color. If you are dealing with shiny black-colored roaches in your flowerbeds, they are Oriental roaches. If they are in rotting wood or other fungi, then it is Asian roaches.

Use the image and description above to help you in identifying cockroaches on your property. If you cannot determine the exact species of roach you are dealing with, our experts can help you by phone or via live chat. No matter the species, this general guide will help you to treat both indoor and outdoor roach issues.

Inspection

Once you have identified that you are dealing with cockroaches, you can proceed with inspection. During this phase, you will be gauging the severity of the infestation as well as locating areas of roach activity and potential entry points. Remember that most cockroaches are nocturnal, so it is best to inspect at night.

Where to Inspect

Indoors you will want to look for roaches in the kitchen, pantry, bathroom, or attic. Make sure to look in cabinets, drawers, shelves, around plumbing fixtures and appliances, and near vents.

Outdoors, roaches can be found in trees, flowerbeds, tool sheds, yard debris, leaf litter, mulch, and around sewers or manholes. You will also want to inspect the exterior perimeter of your structure for points of entry such as holes and cracks around the foundation, doors, windows, eaves/soffits, and plumbing/electrical penetrations. 

What to Look For

Indoors you are looking for areas of high roach activity or signs of roaches that can include smears, egg casings, and droppings that look like black pepper and have a distinct odor. Outdoors, you are looking for roach activity or conducive conditions that could harbor roaches. If you locate active roaches, that is where you will want to concentrate your treatment.

Treatment

Once you confirm roach activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember that you must read all the labels in the products and follow the application instructions and stay safe by wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

Our experts recommend treating indoors with Apex Cockroach Gel Bait and Novacide Aerosol. Apex will address the adult cockroach population while the Novacide will kill both adults and contains an IGR (insect growth regulator) that will disrupt the reproductive cycle of the infestation so no further generations develop in the property.

Step 1 - Preliminary Clean Up and Exclusions

Sanitation is the important first step to getting rid of roaches. Roach killing products will be rendered ineffective or minimally effective if this is not done initially prior to treatment. Perform a thorough cleansing of your home, especially in your kitchen.

Make sure to wipe up and eliminate food particles, grease and water that roaches will like to feed on. Clean behind and under appliances and declutter your home as much as you can. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Make sure all dishes are washed, dried and put away and sinks are empty and totally dry.

You should also take the time out to seal off as many cracks and crevices as you can with caulk and a caulking gun. This will take away the ample amount of hiding places that Cockroaches use to stay out of sight.

Step 2 - Baiting with Apex Cockroach Gel Bait

Apex Cockroach Gel Bait is an attractive and lethal bait that cockroaches cannot resist eating. It contains food grade attractants and a slow-killing active ingredient called Imidacloprid. Roaches will eat the bait and bring it back to the nest to kill the population via bait transfer. Cockroaches that do not eat the bait directly will eat the feces of poisoned cockroaches or the dead bodies of fallen cockroaches who ate the bait and will become poisoned as well.

Apply pea-sized drops of the gel bait every 12 to 18 inches apart in the corners of cabinets, shelves, drawers, cracks and crevices and plumbing entry points (toilets, under sinks). In the kitchen, apply under and behind appliances that produce heat and moisture (microwave, coffee maker, etc.).

We recommend placing drops on a piece of wax paper, index cards or cardboard to be able to slide it underneath appliances and other hard to reach spots. Make sure to place bait where kids and pets will not get into it.

Step 3 - Apply Novacide Aerosol

Novacide Aerosol is a residual spray that can be applied to floor surfaces and baseboards. This will kill adult cockroaches with contact and also contains an insect growth regulator (IGR). An IGR interferes with the life cycle and reproductive abilities of roaches. This will disturb the egg-laying of adult roaches and will also prevent egg hatching and younger stages of roaches growing into adults.

After you have baited, apply Novacide to your home to attack cockroaches and hinder their reproductive cycle. You will want to spray all flooring surfaces with Novacide. To apply, hold the can upside down 36" inches off the floor and spray in a sweeping motion at the rate of 100 square feet in 10 seconds.

Focus your sprayings on baseboards, tile, flooring and carpeting. You can even apply the Novacide on furniture. Let the treated area ventilate and keep people and pets away from the treated area until the area dry and aired out.

Step 4 - Apply D-Fense Dust to Crevices and Voids

While Apex and Novacide together can kill a large segment of the cockroach infestation, there are cockroaches that may be hiding in voids and crevices that these pesticides cannot reach. This is where D-Fense Dust can be useful as it can penetrate the tightest of spaces where roaches hide to kill them.

D-Fense Dust is a pesticide dust that comes in powder form. It is a synthetic pyrethroid and affects the nervous system of cockroaches. By using a duster, the dust can be puffed into wall voids, behind electrical outlets and under appliances like the stove and refrigerator. It has a long-time residual, remaining effective long after application as long as the product doesn't get wet.

Use D-Fense with a pesticide duster for more precision in your application. Fill the duster with 0.5 lb or dust to cover 1,000 sq. ft and then apply it in crevices, behind appliances, behind electrical outlets by opening up the faceplates and other areas where roaches may be hiding.

Step 5 - Outdoor Treatment with Supreme IT Insecticide

In this step, you will protect the outside perimeter of your home and prevent roaches from entering the structure. There will constantly be roaches in your environment and if you do not take preventative measures they will enter at some point in the future.

We recommend spraying Supreme IT Insecticide. This is an insecticide concentrate that contains the active ingredient Bifenthrin and is an excellent killer and repellent product. It can remain effective for up to 90 days where applied.

Mix 1 oz. of Supreme IT per gallon of water in a pump sprayer and apply the solution along the foundation of your structure. This application rate will treat 1,000 square feet. You’ll want to spray three feet up the walls and three feet out from the foundation as well as around windows, doors, eaves, and plumbing/electrical penetrations.

Keep people and pets away from sprayed areas until 2 to 4 hours have passed.

Prevention

While using the products and techniques suggested will kill cockroaches, it is up to you to be diligent about implementing preventative measures so you do not have cockroach trouble in the future. Here are some preventative tasks to make routine in order to keep cockroaches from reestablishing.

• Start by keeping a regular cleaning schedule before bedtime by eliminating food & water sources, especially in your kitchen.
• Make sure there are no food particles, grease, or water readily available to roaches. Also, empty out pet food every night, and don’t leave in any dirty dishes in the sink. Move appliances and clean in places that you don’t clean on a regular basis.
• Seal any crack and crevice that may serve as points of entry for roaches to come into your home. Use caulk or sealant to seal all the openings both inside and outside your home. Areas can include cracks around the foundation, doors, windows, eaves/soffits, and plumbing/electrical penetrations.
• Finally, make sure you reapply a preventative insecticide on a regular basis. Spaying Novacide every 6 months indoors and applying Supreme IT every 90 days outdoors will prevent any further cockroach issues.

Key Takeaways

What are Cockroaches?

• Cockroaches are one of the most common pest control issues faced by homeowners and businesses.

How To Get Rid of Cockroaches

• Cockroach control involves a multi-pronged approach using Apex Cockroach Gel Bait, Novacide Aerosol, D-Fense Dust and Supreme IT Insecticide.

Preventing Cockroach Reinfestation

• Eliminate conducive conditions such as water, grease, crumbs, and entry points to prevent future cockroach infestations. Applying residual insecticides at regular intervals can also prevent re-infestation.