How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Baits, Cleaning and IPM

To get rid of cockroaches, take away food, water and hiding places, then put gel bait or bait stations in the cracks where they shelter, such as behind the fridge, under the sink and along cabinet hinges. Avoid spraying near bait, which can keep roaches away from it. Small problems often improve within a few weeks; heavy infestations of German cockroaches usually need a licensed professional.

This combination of sanitation, sealing, monitoring and targeted bait is called integrated pest management (IPM). University researchers, including a Rutgers review, describe it as the key to long-term German cockroach control.

What you need

A flashlight
Sticky monitoring traps
Gel bait or enclosed bait stations labeled for cockroaches
Dish soap, hot water and a degreasing cleaner
Caulk for cracks and gaps
Sealed containers for food and pet food

Which cockroach do you have?

The species tells you where to look and how hard the problem will be.

Species	Looks like	Where it lives	What it means
German cockroach	Small, light brown, two dark stripes behind the head	Kitchens and bathrooms, near warmth and water	Breeds indoors and fast; the hardest to eliminate
American cockroach	Large, reddish-brown	Basements, drains, sewers, crawl spaces	Often comes in from outside or drains; seal and fix moisture
Oriental cockroach	Dark brown to black, shiny	Cool, damp areas: basements, under porches	Moisture problem; seal entry points near ground level
Brown-banded cockroach	Small, with light bands across the body	Drier, warmer rooms; behind pictures, inside electronics and furniture	Spread through the home, not just kitchens

Roaches are mostly active at night. Seeing them in daylight can be a sign of a large population.

Step 1: Find where they hide

Place sticky traps against walls and in corners: under the sink, behind the fridge and stove, inside lower cabinets and near the water heater. Check them after a few nights. The traps with the most roaches show you where to clean and bait first, and later they show whether your efforts are working.

Step 2: Take away food and water

Degrease the kitchen: stovetop, backsplash, range hood, the sides of the stove and fridge, and the floor under them.
Clean the gaps where crumbs collect: toaster trays, under the microwave, the edges of cabinets.
Store food and pet food airtight, and don’t leave dishes or pet food out overnight.
Empty trash nightly during treatment and keep bins lidded.
Fix leaks and wipe the sink dry at night. Roaches can survive longer without food than without water.
Clean the drain and disposal. See how to clean a smelly garbage disposal.
Remove cardboard and paper piles, which offer both shelter and food.

Step 3: Bait the right way

Gel baits and bait stations are widely used by professionals for German cockroaches. Roaches eat the bait, return to their hiding spots and spread it to others.

Apply small dots of gel in cracks and crevices near where roaches hide, not on open counters, following the label for amount and placement.
Put stations in corners, under sinks and behind appliances.
Don’t spray near bait. Sprays and cleaners on the bait can make it unattractive.
Remove competing food so the bait is the easiest meal.
Refresh bait when it is eaten or dried out, as the label says.
Switch products if roaches ignore it. Researchers have documented German cockroach strains that avoid certain bait formulas.

Step 4: Seal and dry

Caulk cracks along backsplashes, around pipes under sinks and behind cabinets. Fill gaps where pipes and wires pass through walls. Run the bathroom fan, fix dripping faucets and consider a dehumidifier in damp basements. Under-sink storage is a common roach hangout; our guide to organizing under the kitchen sink covers leak checks and keeping cleaners in their original containers.

Boric acid: useful, with cautions

Boric acid dust is a long-used roach product. The National Pesticide Information Center describes boric acid as low in toxicity if eaten or touched, but notes that borax can irritate eyes, infants are more sensitive, and pets can show signs of poisoning within hours if they eat it. See NPIC’s boric acid fact sheet.

Buy an EPA-registered product labeled for cockroaches and follow the label. The label is the law.
Apply a very light, barely visible film into voids and cracks, not piles on open floors. Roaches avoid heavy deposits.
Keep it out of reach of children and pets and away from food, dishes and prep surfaces.
Don’t make homemade baits with boric acid and sugar or flour; they are easy for toddlers and pets to eat.
If someone swallows, inhales or gets a pesticide in the eyes, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or emergency services. For questions about a product, NPIC can be reached at 1-800-858-7378.

When you need a professional

You see roaches in daylight or in several rooms.
Sticky traps keep filling up after three to four weeks of cleaning and baiting.
You live in an apartment building, where roaches move between units; tell your landlord or building manager.
You have German cockroaches and someone in the home has asthma or allergies. Cockroach allergens are a known asthma trigger, and fast control matters. See a doctor for symptoms.

Ask a pro what products they use and how you should prepare. Many of the same habits that stop roaches also stop ants in the kitchen.

Bottom line

Identify the species, then clean grease and crumbs, store food tightly, and fix water leaks. Use gel bait or stations in the cracks where roaches hide and don’t spray near them. Monitor with sticky traps, seal gaps, and use boric acid only as labeled and out of reach. Call a licensed professional for large or building-wide infestations.

FAQ

Do bug bombs work on cockroaches?

They rarely reach the cracks where roaches hide and can scatter them to other rooms. Bait in the right places works better.

How long does roach bait take to work?

Activity often drops over one to two weeks, but full control can take longer because eggs keep hatching. Keep monitoring with traps.

Why do I see more roaches after baiting?

Bait can bring roaches out of hiding as they feed or become sick. Keep the bait in place and avoid spraying.

Can roaches come in from drains?

Larger species such as American cockroaches can. Keep drain stoppers in at night and fix any dry floor drains or traps.