On This Page:

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

→ 1. Seal Common Entry Points

→ 2. Preventative Ways to Control Cockroaches

– Limit Food Access

– Limit Water Access

– Frequent Sanitation

→ 3. Cockroach Elimination Methods

– Growth Regulators

– Boric Acid

– Diatomaceous Earth

– Roach Bait

– Roach Kits

→ Professional Cockroach Control

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Just the sight of one of these nasty critters is enough to make anyone scream, and for good reason. Even though they don’t bite or sting, roaches are simply disgusting.

No one wants to have any kind of cockroach in their home. These are a few things you can do to help keep cockroaches at bay. Keep in mind that total cockroach elimination is most effective with help from Fox Pest Control.

1. Seal Common Entry Points

Ranging between 1/4 inch to 2 inches long, German cockroaches and American cockroaches use their tiny, unique body structures to flatten themselves and easily slip into the smallest cracks and crevices. All types of roaches are good at hitchhiking in boxes and bags, so it’s always a good idea to inspect all items before they come into the house.

Common cockroach entry points:

• Boxes, bags, purses, or any other item that comes inside
• Cracks in the foundation and sill plates
• The space around utility pipes, water pipes, and A/C pipes
• Holes or gaps in window screens and door screens
• Cracks or holes in window mounts and door thresholds
• Any other gap or opening of the house

What to do about cockroach entry points:

• Use a sealer like silicone caulk to close any cracks you find
• Talk to your landlord or a contractor to fix cracks in the foundation

NOTE: Not all cockroach entry points are possible to find. The key is to be patient and consistently look for possible entry points.

2. Preventative Ways to Control Cockroaches

The best way to keep roaches at bay is with prevention. Making your home less desirable to cockroaches is a good place to start. This can be accomplished by eliminating the things that attract cockroaches to your home in the first place.  

Limit Food Access

Cockroaches will use anything as a food source, from leftover celery to dandruff. Keeping food away from them won’t make cockroaches go away, but it will discourage them from making your home Hotel Roach.

Make your home less cockroach-ready:

• Seal your food in airtight containers, preferably made of glass or heavy plastic that a roach can’t chew through
• Clean up meals right away and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink for long
• Clean out any grime left in the garbage disposal with a drain cleaner because roaches can use it as a food source — gross!
• Empty indoor trash cans every day
• Put the outdoor trash bin away from the house — at least 20 feet or more

Limit Water Access

Follow these steps to make sure your home doesn’t provide any water to cockroaches.

• Check for leakages and water damage around all the pipes in utility cabinets, including the cabinet under the kitchen and bathroom sinks
• Make sure the bathtub seals well against the floor
• Make sure the bathroom drains allow water to flow through them easily
• Make sure the toilet valves don’t leak and are tight
• Clean up any water spills in the kitchen or even on carpet. Cockroaches are known to lap up standing water

Frequent Sanitation

Cockroaches prefer staying in enclosed hiding places. In fact, they would rather go hungry and thirsty before they come into the open. That means roaches feel unsafe if you deep clean their their hiding spots frequently and thoroughly. A comprehensive sanitation regimen will also help get rid of crumbs and other food sources.

Clean the following areas to frighten roaches:

• All kitchen appliances, including inside, under, and around the oven and stove, refrigerator, and toaster.
• Inside the cupboards — also, replace the shelf paper
• The space between the floor and the baseboards
• All the corners of the walls in every room, especially the kitchen
• Behind book shelves
• Inside desk drawers
• Along drawer runners

Since most types of roaches are typically nocturnal, consider purchasing an automatic vacuum system that can run at night. This will discourage cockroaches from foraging at night.

NOTE: Cleaning has less to do with getting rid of dirt and grime. Cleaning is about invading their hiding places so they become stressed and leave your home.

3. Cockroach Elimination Methods

When it comes to your home, the only good roach is a dead roach

There are plenty of over-the-counter (OTC) methods available to help you get rid of cockroach infestations. Keep in mind, these methods are not likely to get rid of an infestation by themselves, but they can help a little.

Fox Pest Control has the training, equipment, and experience necessary to eliminate cockroaches permanently.

Growth Regulators

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) stop cockroaches from becoming adults to control infestations. This keeps them from laying eggs and expanding into large numbers. IGRs are one of the most effective first steps against roaches, especially kinds that proliferate quickly, like German roaches.

Boric Acid

Boric acid is a nontoxic chemical used in most household cleaning products. However, boric acid is highly toxic to cockroaches and other insects. You can purchase boric acid in liquid or powdered form online or at your local hardware store. Be careful where you place it because children, pets, and the elderly could react poorly if they inhale it.

Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade diatomaceous earth cuts up roach “skin” and causes them to dehydrate and it’s safe and eco-friendly. You can buy it online or from your hardware store. Light layers of diatomaceous earth and boric acid are more than sufficient. Keep in mind that DE will only stop cockroaches from coming near certain places. It won’t keep get rid of them entirely.

WARNING: Do not inhale DE, because it can be extremely damaging to the lungs. Only light dusting of DE is required for pest control efforts.

Roach Bait

Gel bait and bait stations are some of the most effective ways to kill roaches. German roaches are social, which means they can warn each other of dangerous areas and help each other stay alive by watching and mimicking each other’s behavior. Roaches eat the bait and are slowly killed without them knowing the source of the problem. Eventually, all the roaches will eat the bait, and the infestation will be eliminated.

Roach Kits

There are roach kits you can buy online that contain many of these products.

Be careful when looking for these, though. Kits that don’t originate in the U.S. can be illegal and cause health or environmental problems. Always follow the instructions and directions on the product label. All products reviewed by the EPA have a registration number, which allows you to look up the EPA’s official studies on the product. A number might appear on a label like the EcoPCOJet-X registration number: “EPA No. 67425-19.”

Professional Cockroach Control

None of these methods can get rid of cockroaches for good. The most efficient and effective way to get rid of cockroaches permanently is to call the professionals for help. Although it is natural to want to treat pests on your own, cockroaches can present monumental problems for any homeowner. 

Fox Pest Control has your back. Our quarterly Home Protection Plan covers wasps, rodents, and crawling insects, including cockroaches, and can be adjusted based on your needs. If you see pests between scheduled services, you can call us at any time for a FREE TARGET TREATMENT as part of your Home Protection Plan.

Call today to learn more about Fox services. We offer free inspections and estimates for all your pest control needs. 

Our Pest Pros have the tools and experience that will provide you excellent services and prompt responses.

Relationships Come First with Fox Pest Control. When you call us, you’re joining a family that cares. 

Fox Pest Control. No Bugs is Simply Better.