Quick answerForget sprays and bug bombs. Apply pea-sized dots of fipronil gel bait (like Advion) in cabinet hinges, under appliances, and along pipe chases — roaches eat it, carry it back, and poison the colony. Combine with decluttering and fixing leaks. Expect 2–4 weeks for full clearance.
What you'll need
- Cockroach gel bait with fipronil (one syringe, ~$12–$18, treats a whole kitchen)
- Caulk for sealing cracks and crevices
- Degreaser or strong all-purpose cleaner
- Vacuum with crevice tool
- Airtight food containers
- Gloves
Step-by-step
- Figure out how bad it is. Seeing one or two at night near the dishwasher is a light problem. Roaches out in daylight, a musty oily smell, or little brown egg cases (oothecae) stuck under shelves means a heavy infestation — skip to the pro section.
- Deep-clean the kitchen first. Pull out the stove and fridge and vacuum behind them. Degrease the stovetop, the area around the bin, and under the sink. Bait competes with every crumb in your kitchen — the cleaner the space, the faster the bait wins.
- Fix moisture. Roaches need water more than food. Fix dripping taps, wrap sweating pipes, and don't leave water in the sink overnight. A dry kitchen is a hostile kitchen for roaches.
- Apply gel bait in pea-sized dots. Put small dots inside cabinet hinges, along the top corners of cabinets, behind the fridge motor cover, under the dishwasher lip, and where pipes enter walls. Dozens of tiny placements beat a few big blobs — roaches are more likely to stumble across them.
- Don't spray repellents near the bait. Same rule as with ants: repellent sprays make roaches avoid the baited areas. If you must spray, keep it far from every bait placement.
- Seal cracks and crevices. Caulk gaps around pipes, behind baseboards, and where the countertop meets the wall. You're not just blocking entry — you're removing the tight dark hiding spots roaches love.
- Reapply after 2 weeks. Check your bait dots. If they're gone, put out fresh ones. Most infestations need two rounds — the first kills foragers, the second gets the nymphs that hatched after.
- Monitor with sticky traps. A couple of cheap sticky traps under the fridge and sink tell you whether the population is dropping. Zero catches for a month means you're clear.
<div class="safety"> <strong>🛑 Stop and call a pro if:</strong> <ul> <li>You're seeing roaches during the day — that means overcrowding, and the population is far bigger than what you can see.</li> <li>You find egg cases or a strong musty odor, both signs of an established breeding population inside walls or appliances.</li> <li>You live in an apartment building — roaches travel between units, so treating one flat while neighbours do nothing rarely works; building-wide treatment needs a pro.</li> <li>Anyone in the home has asthma — cockroach droppings and shed skins are a known asthma trigger, and a heavy infestation is a health issue, not just a nuisance.</li> </ul> </div>
DIY vs pro cost
| Option | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY | $15–$30 |
| Pro visit | $150–$400 |
Printable checklist
- [ ] Assess severity (daylight sightings = call a pro)
- [ ] Deep-clean behind stove, fridge, and under sink
- [ ] Fix drips and eliminate standing water
- [ ] Apply gel bait dots in hinges, corners, pipe chases
- [ ] Keep repellent sprays away from bait
- [ ] Caulk cracks around pipes and baseboards
- [ ] Reapply bait after 2 weeks
- [ ] Monitor with sticky traps for a month
Related guides
- How to Get Rid of Ants in the House (That Actually Works)
- How to Get Rid of Mice (Traps, Sealing Entry Points)
- How to Remove a Wasp Nest Safely (Small Nests Only)
Frequently asked questions
Why do I only see them at night?
Cockroaches are nocturnal and avoid light — seeing them scatter when you flip the kitchen light on is classic behaviour. It also means the population is established enough to have regular foraging routes, so don't wait to act.
Are cockroaches actually dangerous or just gross?
Both. They walk through drains and bins then across food surfaces, spreading bacteria like salmonella. Their droppings and shed skins also trigger allergies and asthma, especially in children. It's worth taking seriously.
How long does gel bait take to work?
You'll see fewer roaches within a week, but full clearance takes 2–4 weeks because the bait has to cycle through the colony and the eggs that hatch afterwards. That's why the second application at week two matters.
I rent — is this my landlord's problem?
In most US states and the UK, landlords are responsible for pest control in rentals, especially in multi-unit buildings where infestations spread between flats. Document the problem in writing and ask — but gel bait is cheap enough to start yourself while you wait.
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