How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Complete 2026 Guide

Introduction: The Cockroach Problem in America

Cockroaches are one of the most despised and persistent household pests in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Housing Survey, approximately 14 million housing units reported seeing cockroaches in the past year — and that's just the households that admitted to it. The real number is almost certainly higher, as many people don't report pest sightings in surveys and others have cockroach populations without knowing it.

Cockroaches aren't just unsightly — they're a genuine health hazard. They carry and spread bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus. Their droppings, shed skins, and saliva contain allergens that trigger asthma and allergic reactions, particularly in children. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that cockroach allergens are present in 63% of U.S. homes and up to 98% of urban dwellings. For homes with asthmatic children, cockroach exposure is a leading trigger of asthma attacks.

The good news is that cockroaches can be eliminated with the right approach. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know — from identifying which type of cockroach you're dealing with to selecting the most effective treatment method, implementing prevention strategies that actually work, and knowing when it's time to call a professional.

Know Your Enemy: Types of Cockroaches

Not all cockroaches are the same, and identifying which species you're dealing with is the first step toward effective control. Different species have different behaviors, preferred habitats, and treatment requirements.

German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)

The German cockroach is the most common indoor cockroach species in the United States and the most challenging to eliminate. These light brown cockroaches are about 1/2 to 5/8 inch long with two dark parallel stripes running from the head to the base of the wings. Despite having wings, they rarely fly.

Key characteristics:

• Habitat: Almost exclusively indoors. Prefers warm, humid environments — kitchens and bathrooms are primary areas. Often found behind refrigerators, under sinks, inside dishwashers, around garbage disposals, and in cabinets.
• Reproduction: Extremely prolific. A single female can produce 4-8 egg cases (oothecae) in her lifetime, each containing 30-40 eggs. A single pair of German cockroaches can theoretically produce over 300,000 offspring in a year under ideal conditions.
• Behavior: Nocturnal. Seeing them during the day usually indicates a severe infestation where overcrowding forces individuals out of hiding.
• Why they're hard to kill: German cockroaches breed rapidly, develop resistance to pesticides quickly, and their egg cases are resistant to many chemical treatments. They also practice thigmotaxis — they prefer tight, enclosed spaces that are hard to treat.

American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

Often called "water bugs" or "palmetto bugs," American cockroaches are the largest common household cockroach, reaching 1.5 to 2 inches in length. They're reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-eight pattern on the back of the head. Both males and females have wings and can fly short distances, especially in warm weather.

Key characteristics:

• Habitat: Prefers warm, moist environments. Commonly found in basements, crawl spaces, sewer systems, drains, and around water heaters and boilers. More common in southern states but found nationwide in heated buildings.
• Reproduction: Slower than German cockroaches. Females produce about 150 offspring per year.
• Behavior: Often enters buildings through sewer connections, floor drains, and gaps around pipes. You may see them emerging from drains at night.
• Treatment approach: Because they often originate from sewer systems, treatment should address both interior harboring areas and the entry points from sewer/drain connections.

Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

Oriental cockroaches are sometimes called "black beetles" due to their dark, shiny appearance. They're about 1 inch long and are one of the more sluggish cockroach species. Males have short wings but cannot fly; females are almost entirely wingless.

Key characteristics:

• Habitat: Strongly associated with cool, damp environments. Found in basements, crawl spaces, around drains, in leaf litter near foundations, and under mulch.
• Behavior: More cold-tolerant than other species. May be found outdoors under debris and in garden areas during warmer months.
• Treatment approach: Moisture reduction is key. Fix leaks, improve ventilation in crawl spaces, and reduce ground moisture near the foundation.

Brown-Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

Brown-banded cockroaches are small (about 1/2 inch) with distinctive light brown bands across their wings. Unlike German cockroaches, which prefer kitchens and bathrooms, brown-banded cockroaches can be found throughout the home — in bedrooms, living rooms, and behind picture frames and clocks on walls.

Key characteristics:

• Habitat: Prefers warm, dry areas — often found higher up in rooms than other species, including in upper cabinets, behind wall decorations, and inside electronics and appliances.
• Behavior: Less dependent on moisture than other species, which is why they spread throughout the home rather than concentrating in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Treatment approach: Requires whole-home treatment rather than kitchen-only approaches. Bait placements should include bedrooms, living areas, and closets.

Smokybrown Cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)

Common in the southeastern U.S., smokybrown cockroaches are dark mahogany-brown, about 1.5 inches long, and strong fliers. They're attracted to lights and often enter homes through open doors and windows at night.

Key characteristics:

• Habitat: Primarily outdoor cockroaches that enter homes. Found in tree holes, mulch beds, gutters, and attics.
• Behavior: Strong fliers attracted to lights. Often enter through upper-story windows and attic vents.
• Treatment approach: Exterior treatment and exclusion are primary. Reduce outdoor lighting near doors, screen attic vents, and treat mulch beds and tree areas.

Signs You Have a Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches are masters of concealment — by the time you see one, there are almost certainly many more hiding nearby. Here are the definitive signs of a cockroach infestation:

Visual Sightings

Seeing a cockroach is the most obvious sign, but the timing and location matter. A single cockroach seen at night in the kitchen may indicate a small, manageable population. Multiple cockroaches seen during the day, or cockroaches found in unusual locations (bedrooms, living rooms), strongly suggest a severe infestation where the population has outgrown available hiding spaces.

Droppings

Cockroach droppings vary by species. German cockroach droppings look like black pepper or coffee grounds and are typically found in kitchen cabinets, drawer corners, under sinks, and near food sources. Larger species like American cockroaches produce cylindrical droppings with ridged edges. The volume of droppings correlates with the size of the population — heavy concentrations indicate a large, established infestation.

Egg Cases (Oothecae)

Finding egg cases is a definitive sign of a breeding population. German cockroach oothecae are tan, about 1/4 inch long, and are often found in protected areas — inside cabinets, behind drawers, in cabinet hinges, and inside appliances. Each case contains 30-40 eggs, so even a few oothecae represent a significant number of upcoming cockroaches.

Musty Odor

Large cockroach populations produce a distinctive musty, oily smell that can be quite strong in enclosed areas like cabinets, closets, and behind appliances. This smell comes from the pheromones cockroaches use to communicate and from accumulated droppings.

Shed Skins

Cockroaches molt several times as they grow from nymphs to adults, leaving behind translucent, light brown shed skins. Finding these skins — especially in kitchen and bathroom areas — confirms an active, growing cockroach population.

Smear Marks

In moist environments, cockroaches leave dark, irregular smear marks on surfaces they frequently travel. Look for these along wall-floor junctions, behind appliances, and near water sources.

DIY Cockroach Control Methods

For early-stage or mild cockroach issues, DIY methods can be effective — especially when combined with thorough sanitation and exclusion. Here are the most effective approaches:

Gel Bait

Gel bait is the single most effective DIY cockroach control product available. Professional-grade gel baits (available online and at hardware stores) contain attractants that cockroaches find irresistible, combined with slow-acting insecticides. The cockroach eats the bait, returns to its hiding spot, and dies. Other cockroaches then feed on the dead cockroach's body and droppings, spreading the toxicant through the population (a process called secondary kill or cascade effect).

How to apply gel bait effectively:

• Apply small dots (pea-sized) of gel bait in cockroach-active areas — under sinks, inside cabinet corners, behind appliances, near plumbing penetrations, and along edges where walls meet floors or cabinets.
• Place bait near but not on cockroach droppings — the droppings indicate active travel paths.
• Use many small placements rather than a few large globs. More placements mean more cockroaches encounter the bait.
• Do NOT spray insecticides near bait placements — sprays are repellent and will prevent cockroaches from eating the bait.
• Replace bait every 2-4 weeks or when it dries out.
• For German cockroach infestations, supplement gel bait with bait stations in areas where gel bait might be disturbed (around pets and children).

Boric Acid

Boric acid is a time-tested cockroach control product that works as both an ingested toxicant and a contact insecticide. When cockroaches walk through boric acid powder, it clings to their bodies and is ingested during grooming. It damages the cockroach's exoskeleton (causing dehydration) and digestive system.

How to use boric acid:

• Apply a very light dusting (barely visible) in cracks, crevices, and wall voids. Too much boric acid will repel cockroaches rather than attract them.
• Effective areas include behind electrical outlet covers (turn off power first), inside wall voids through small openings, under appliances, and in cabinet voids.
• Keep boric acid dry — it's ineffective when wet.
• Keep away from children and pets, although boric acid is relatively low in toxicity compared to other insecticides.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural, non-toxic powder made from fossilized diatoms. It kills cockroaches by damaging their waxy exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate. While slower-acting than chemical products, it's a good option for those who prefer non-toxic approaches.

Application tips:

• Apply a very thin layer in cracks, under appliances, and along baseboards. A bulb duster makes application easier.
• Reapply after cleaning or if the powder gets wet.
• Most effective in dry areas — avoid using in bathrooms or near water sources.
• Results take 1-2 weeks to become apparent.

Sticky Traps (Monitoring)

Sticky traps (glue boards) aren't a standalone treatment, but they're invaluable for monitoring. Place sticky traps in key areas — under sinks, behind toilets, near refrigerators, and in cabinet corners — to detect cockroach activity, identify the species, determine population levels, and track the effectiveness of your treatment over time.

IGR (Insect Growth Regulators)

IGRs are products that mimic cockroach hormones and prevent nymphs from developing into reproductive adults. They don't kill adult cockroaches directly but disrupt the reproductive cycle, gradually reducing the population over time. IGRs are most effective when combined with gel bait — the bait kills adults while the IGR prevents the next generation from maturing.

Professional Cockroach Treatment Options

When DIY methods aren't enough — or when you're dealing with a severe infestation — professional pest control provides the expertise, products, and systematic approach needed for complete elimination.

Comprehensive Inspection

A professional treatment begins with a thorough inspection to identify the cockroach species, determine the severity and scope of the infestation, locate harboring areas and entry points, and develop a customized treatment plan. This inspection alone is valuable — professionals can identify issues that homeowners miss and can distinguish between species that require different treatment approaches.

Professional Gel Bait and Dust Application

Professionals have access to commercial-grade gel baits and insecticidal dusts that are more potent and longer-lasting than consumer products. They also have the training to apply these products in the precise locations and quantities needed for maximum effectiveness. Professional gel bait application targets areas consumers often miss — inside wall voids, behind electrical panels, in appliance motors, and in plumbing chases.

Crack and Crevice Treatment

Professional pest control operators use specialized equipment to apply insecticide directly into the cracks, crevices, and voids where cockroaches harbor. This includes pin-stream applicators that inject product into tiny openings, dust applicators for wall voids and electrical boxes, and foam applicators that expand to fill voids and reach hidden populations.

Comprehensive Spray Treatment

While sprays alone are not the most effective cockroach treatment method, targeted professional spray applications serve important roles — creating barriers at entry points, treating outdoor perimeters to prevent re-infestation, and flushing cockroaches from hiding spots into contact with bait and other treatments.

Fumigation (Severe Cases)

In the most severe infestations, or when cockroaches have spread into inaccessible wall voids and structural spaces throughout a building, fumigation may be recommended. This is rare for residential settings and is more common in commercial food service environments or multi-unit buildings with chronic infestations.

Follow-Up Treatments

Professional cockroach control always involves follow-up visits — typically 2-4 weeks after the initial treatment. This is essential because egg cases present during the initial treatment will hatch afterward, and these new nymphs need to be eliminated. Most professional treatment plans include 2-3 follow-up visits to ensure complete elimination.

Prevention: Keeping Cockroaches Out for Good

Eliminating an existing cockroach infestation is only half the battle. Without preventive measures, re-infestation is likely. Here's how to make your home as inhospitable to cockroaches as possible:

Sanitation

Cockroaches need food, water, and shelter. Removing these resources is the foundation of cockroach prevention:

• Clean kitchens thoroughly. Wipe countertops and stovetops after every use. Sweep or vacuum floors daily. Clean under and behind appliances regularly — the gap between the stove and counter is a prime cockroach feeding ground.
• Manage food storage. Store all open food in sealed containers — glass, metal, or thick plastic with tight-fitting lids. This includes pet food, which should never be left out overnight.
• Handle garbage properly. Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids, take garbage out daily, and clean the trash can regularly. Rinse recyclables before placing them in bins.
• Eliminate water sources. Fix leaky faucets and pipes promptly. Don't let water stand in sinks or pet bowls overnight. Wipe down wet surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens before bed.
• Reduce clutter. Cockroaches love cluttered areas where they can hide undisturbed. Keep areas under sinks organized, don't store paper bags or cardboard boxes, and maintain clean, organized storage spaces.

Exclusion

Sealing entry points prevents cockroaches from entering your home from outside or from neighboring units:

• Seal gaps around pipes and utilities where they penetrate walls, floors, and ceilings. Use caulk, expanding foam, or copper mesh depending on the gap size.
• Install door sweeps on all exterior doors, including the door between an attached garage and living spaces.
• Seal cracks in walls, baseboards, and around cabinets with caulk. Pay special attention to kitchen and bathroom areas.
• Screen floor drains in basements and utility areas to prevent American cockroaches from entering through sewer connections.
• Seal gaps in shared walls in apartments, townhomes, and row houses — cockroaches migrate between units through plumbing chases, electrical conduits, and gaps in shared walls.
• Ensure window screens fit properly and repair any tears or gaps.

Moisture Control

Reducing moisture in your home makes it less attractive to cockroaches and many other pests:

• Fix plumbing leaks immediately — even small drips provide enough water for cockroach survival.
• Use dehumidifiers in damp basements and crawl spaces.
• Ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms — run exhaust fans during and after showers.
• Don't overwater indoor plants — soggy soil attracts cockroaches and other insects.
• Address condensation on pipes by insulating cold water lines.

Outdoor Prevention

For species that primarily live outdoors and invade (American, smokybrown, Oriental cockroaches), exterior management is crucial:

• Move mulch away from the foundation — maintain at least a 12-inch bare zone between mulch beds and the house.
• Clear leaf litter, ground cover, and debris from against the foundation.
• Trim vegetation so it doesn't touch the house — plants provide pest bridges.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and elevated off the ground.
• Eliminate standing water from flower pots, gutters, and other containers.
• Reduce outdoor lighting near doors and windows, or switch to yellow bulbs that are less attractive to flying cockroaches.

Cockroach Control Costs in 2026

The cost of cockroach control depends on the species, severity, property size, and treatment method. Here's what to expect:

• One-time treatment (minor infestation): $175–$300
• German cockroach treatment (initial + follow-ups): $300–$600
• Severe infestation (multiple treatments): $500–$1,200
• Ongoing prevention plan: $100–$175 per quarter
• Multi-unit building treatment: $200–$500 per unit

At Exterminator Near Me, our professional partners offer cockroach treatments with free inspections, with free inspections and satisfaction guarantees. We serve NY, NJ & PA and can connect you with a licensed exterminator in your area within 24 hours.

When to Call a Professional Exterminator

While mild cockroach issues can sometimes be managed with DIY methods, there are clear situations where professional help is needed:

• German cockroach infestations: Due to their rapid reproduction and pesticide resistance, German cockroach infestations almost always require professional treatment for complete elimination.
• Recurring problems: If you've tried DIY methods and cockroaches keep coming back, the infestation is likely larger or more complex than you realize.
• Multiple rooms affected: When cockroaches are found throughout the home rather than just in the kitchen, the population has grown beyond what DIY methods can typically manage.
• Daytime sightings: Seeing cockroaches during the day means the population is so large that individuals are being pushed out of hiding spaces — a sign of severe overcrowding.
• Multi-unit dwellings: In apartments, condos, and row homes, cockroach problems are often building-wide issues that require coordinated professional treatment.
• Health concerns: If family members have asthma or allergies triggered by cockroach allergens, professional elimination is urgent and should not be delayed by DIY experimentation.
• You want it done right the first time: Professional treatment with follow-ups has a much higher success rate than DIY approaches, especially for established infestations.

Cockroach Control in Multi-Unit Housing

Cockroach control in apartments, condos, townhomes, and row houses presents unique challenges that require a different approach than single-family home treatments. Understanding these challenges is essential for anyone living in shared-wall housing:

The Interconnected Problem

In multi-unit buildings, cockroaches move freely between units through shared infrastructure — plumbing chases, electrical conduits, HVAC systems, and gaps in shared walls. Treating a single unit while neighboring units remain infested is like bailing water from one section of a sinking boat. The cockroaches will simply migrate back once the treatment residual wears off.

For effective control in multi-unit housing, ideally the entire building needs to be treated simultaneously or in a coordinated sequence. This requires cooperation between property management, pest control professionals, and residents. If you're a tenant dealing with cockroaches in a multi-unit building, start by reporting the issue to your property manager or landlord — in many states, landlords are legally required to provide pest control in rental properties.

Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

In most states, landlords have a legal obligation to maintain habitable conditions, which includes pest control. New York City's Local Law 55 requires building owners to file annual pest management plans. Many other cities and states have similar requirements. As a tenant, you have the right to request pest treatment and, in many jurisdictions, to withhold rent or arrange your own pest control and deduct the cost from rent if the landlord fails to act (check your local laws before taking this step).

As a tenant, your responsibilities include maintaining a clean living space, promptly reporting any pest sightings to management, cooperating with pest control treatments (providing access, preparing your unit as instructed), and not introducing conditions that attract pests (excessive clutter, improper food storage, hoarding).

Effective Multi-Unit Strategies

• Building-wide inspection: A professional should inspect all units, not just those reporting cockroach sightings, to determine the full scope of the infestation.
• Coordinated treatment: Treat all infested units and adjacent units simultaneously to prevent cockroaches from simply relocating during treatment.
• Common area treatment: Address hallways, laundry rooms, garbage areas, utility rooms, and basements — these communal spaces often harbor cockroach populations that reinfest individual units.
• Ongoing monitoring: Install sticky trap monitors in all units and common areas to detect re-infestation early.
• Exclusion between units: Seal gaps around pipes, electrical outlets, and other wall penetrations to slow cockroach migration between units.

The Science of Cockroach Bait Resistance

One of the most concerning developments in cockroach control is the emergence of bait aversion — a phenomenon where cockroach populations evolve to avoid certain bait formulations. Research from Purdue University documented German cockroaches developing aversion to glucose, the primary attractant in many gel baits, in as few as five generations.

This is why professional pest control operators rotate products and use multiple bait matrices with different active ingredients and attractants. If you're using DIY gel bait and noticing decreased effectiveness over time, the cockroaches may have developed bait aversion. Switching to a bait with a different attractant matrix and active ingredient can overcome this. This is one of many reasons professional pest control, with access to a wider range of commercial products and the expertise to rotate them strategically, is more effective for persistent cockroach problems than relying on a single consumer product.

Common Myths About Cockroaches

Let's debunk some common cockroach myths that can lead to ineffective treatment:

Myth: A clean house won't get cockroaches

Reality: While sanitation is crucial for prevention, even spotless homes can get cockroaches — they can enter through sewer connections, be brought in with deliveries or groceries, migrate from neighboring units, or be attracted by factors other than food (water, warmth, shelter). Cleanliness reduces the likelihood and severity of infestations but doesn't guarantee immunity.

Myth: Cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion

Reality: While cockroaches are more radiation-resistant than humans, they are not indestructible. They can, however, survive for a month without food, a week without water, and up to 45 minutes without breathing. They're also developing resistance to common insecticides at an alarming rate, which is why professional-grade products and rotation strategies are increasingly important.

Myth: Ultrasonic repellers work on cockroaches

Reality: Despite marketing claims, scientific studies consistently show that ultrasonic pest repellers have no significant effect on cockroach behavior or populations. Don't waste your money — invest in proven treatment methods instead.

Myth: Spraying the baseboards will solve the problem

Reality: Baseboard spraying is one of the least effective cockroach treatment methods. Most residual spray products are repellent, meaning they push cockroaches away from treated areas rather than killing them. This can actually spread an infestation to other rooms. Gel bait is far more effective because cockroaches actively seek it out and consume it.

Myth: If you see one cockroach, there must be thousands

Reality: Seeing one cockroach doesn't automatically mean thousands more are hiding. It could be a single individual that wandered in from outside. However, if you see one German cockroach inside your home, it's almost certainly not alone — this species doesn't typically occur as solo individuals indoors. The response should depend on the species: a single American cockroach near a basement drain may just need the drain to be screened, while a German cockroach warrants immediate and thorough investigation.

A Step-by-Step Action Plan

If you've discovered cockroaches in your home, here's a clear action plan:

1. Identify the species. Take a photo and compare it to the descriptions above, or capture a specimen for a professional to identify.
2. Assess the severity. Check all likely harboring areas (kitchen, bathrooms, basement) at night with a flashlight. Place sticky traps to gauge population levels.
3. Start sanitation immediately. Deep clean the kitchen, fix any leaks, and remove clutter — regardless of whether you plan to DIY or hire a professional.
4. For mild issues (occasional sightings of American or Oriental cockroaches): Apply gel bait in key areas, seal entry points, and address moisture issues. Monitor with sticky traps for 2-4 weeks.
5. For German cockroach infestations or moderate-to-severe issues: Contact a professional. The cost of professional treatment ($175-$600) is far less than the cost of an uncontrolled infestation in terms of health risks, contaminated food, and ongoing stress.
6. Implement ongoing prevention. Whether you went DIY or professional, maintain strict sanitation, keep entry points sealed, and consider a quarterly professional maintenance plan for lasting protection.

Conclusion: Take Action Now

Cockroach infestations don't resolve themselves — they only get worse with time. Every day you delay treatment, the population grows, allergen levels increase, and contamination spreads. Whether you tackle the problem yourself with the DIY methods described above or enlist professional help, the important thing is to act quickly and thoroughly.

If you're dealing with cockroaches and want professional help, Exterminator Near Me is here for you. We connect homeowners with licensed, experienced pest control professionals in NY, NJ & PA. Our partners provide free inspections, customized treatment plans, and satisfaction guarantees — with treatments with free inspections. Don't live with cockroaches — take back your home today.