How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

If there's a most-dreaded and detested pest among all insects, it might just be the cockroach. There's just something about these flat, oval, brown crawlers that makes a home feel, well, dirty. While the cleanliness of your home can play a role in cockroach attraction to your living space, there's more to it than that.

If you're trying to identify your specific roach problem, check out this guide. Otherwise, let's get into why roaches come inside your home, signs of an infestation, and how to get rid of cockroaches.

What Attracts Cockroaches

Just like other invasive pests that find their way indoors, cockroaches move in because they find an entryway such as a tiny crack, crevice or hole to navigate through, and your home has the food, water, and shelter they need.

These nasty, invasive bugs are food foragers and garbage scavengers. They will devour crumbs, spills, and anything else they can find, whether it's in the pantry, the garbage, or even your pet's food bowl. Cockroaches don't stop at the kitchen, either, as some species will also eat glue from book bindings, feces, dead insects, and more.

Where to Find Cockroaches

In general, cockroaches like to hang out in dark, moist places where food and water are easily accessible. Look for them behind appliances like ovens and refrigerators, under sinks, and in the basement, especially around the furnace. Because kitchens often have both food and water sources, this is one the most common places you'll see cockroaches in homes, but they can also gravitate to bathrooms for the water, warmth, and humidity.

Signs of a Cockroach Infestation

Roaches Next Door: If your neighbors mention they have a roach problem or you see roaches near their trash cans or landscape, take heed because your home might be next.

Cockroach Sighting: Wherever you see a cockroach, there are typically many more that you don't see. Cockroaches are nocturnal and spend 75% of their time hiding, so unless you're raiding the fridge in the dark, you may only see one now and again. 

Droppings: The most obvious sign of the presence of cockroaches is their droppings, which look like pepper flakes or coffee grounds. Larger species, such as American cockroaches, leave behind larger droppings about the size of a grain of rice.

Egg Casings: Cockroach egg casings are long, hollow, and slightly rounded. They range in color from light brown to dark brown and can contain upwards of 50 eggs. If you find egg casings, dispose of them immediately by flushing them down the toilet. Be sure to wear latex or nitrile gloves to protect yourself from bacteria.

Musty Odor: If you have a lot of cockroaches, you'll have a lot of droppings—and that means you'll start to smell them, too. Their collective signature scent? A noticeably strong musty odor.

3 Ways to Kill Cockroaches

Cockroaches populate quickly, so you'll want to take action as soon as you suspect you have them. First, don't panic. Second, follow these simple steps to kill cockroaches and keep them from coming back.

1. Kill on sight. If you see a cockroach, try to not let it get away. Many species can reproduce quickly, so it's best to stop an infestation before it can start. Kill roaches on contact with Ortho® Home Defense® MAX® Kitchen Insect Killer. For best results, spray directly on pests and follow all other label directions.
2. Create a barrier. To protect your home from a future roach infestation, create a long-lasting bug barrier. Follow label directions and spray a wide band of Ortho® Home Defense® Insect Killer For Indoor & Perimeter2 along baseboards, door and window casings, and around the entire perimeter of your home. This fast-drying, no-odor formula provides up to 12 months of protection indoors on non-porous surfaces.

How to Keep Roaches from Entering Your Home

Creating that bug barrier is step one to preventing roaches from coming back. To further help prevent household cockroaches, make your home less attractive to them. These tips can help:

1. Eliminate food sources. Store food in the refrigerator or in airtight containers. Clean up after every meal, including washing dishes, picking up crumbs, and wiping up spills. Take out garbage regularly and store trash in tightly sealed bins.
2. Take away entry points. Seal cracks and repair holes, especially around baseboards, shelves, cupboards, sinks, pipes, and windows. Weather stripping, caulk, and spray foam work well for this. Replace or repair ripped, torn, and damaged window and door screens.
3. Remove potential water supplies. Fix leaky faucets, pipes, and sinks. Cover or cap drains. Insulate or tape pipes to reduce condensation.

One more thing to keep in mind: if you live in an apartment, condo, or row house, you may also end up dealing with your neighbors' cockroach infestations. Talk to your neighbors (tactfully, of course) or community managers about working together to get rid of cockroaches. Then go ahead and share these tips with them!