When to Call a Cockroach Exterminator

DIY treatments for cockroaches are a gamble, but there are a few steps you can take to try to limit the cockroach population. Your first step should be to eliminate anything that’s attracting them in the first place.

• Eliminate dark and undisturbed areas, either by lighting them or sweeping daily.
• Eliminate any areas with heavy moisture, including leaky pipes or standing water.
• Remove food sources. They will eat any organic material they can find, including cardboard, soap, fat, grease, crumbs, and garbage. If you remove their food, this should greatly reduce their population.
• Consider your options for treating cockroaches. While traps can work for smaller populations, over-the-counter sprays aren’t generally recommended, as they typically just shift the roaches from one area of a building to another.

After taking these initial steps, you may have been able to lower their population. In order to get rid of them completely, you will need to call a professional. Cockroaches are some of the hardiest insects on earth, and they have been able to survive nuclear testing sites. Even roach motels aren’t enough to completely eradicate all of the cockroaches in your building.