How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: A Step-by-Step IPM Plan

The best way to get rid of cockroaches is an ordered integrated pest management (IPM) plan: identify the species, map where it is active, remove food and water, use a labeled bait if appropriate, seal hiding and entry points, monitor the results, and escalate when the evidence says the plan is not working. Do not start by fogging or spraying the room.

A baseline and follow-up count show whether the hidden source has changed; killing the few cockroaches you see does not.

Step 1: Identify the Cockroach Before Treating

Species affects where you inspect and whether the source is indoors, outdoors, or elsewhere in the building. Capture a specimen or take a clear photo; use the pest ID flowchart if you are unsure.

Likely cockroach	Useful clues	Where to inspect first	First action
German	Small, tan, with two dark stripes behind the head	Warm kitchen and bathroom cracks, cabinets, and appliances	Start indoor monitoring and a coordinated IPM response; read the German cockroach guide
American	Large, reddish brown, with a pale border behind the head	Basements, utility areas, drains, sewer connections, and exterior entry points	Look for moisture, drain, or structural access and involve maintenance when plumbing is implicated
Oriental	Dark brown to black and glossy	Cool, damp basements, crawlspaces, floor drains, and utility penetrations	Correct moisture and inspect low-level entry points
Smokybrown	Uniform dark mahogany brown	Attics, eaves, vegetation, rooflines, and exterior gaps	Reduce exterior harborage and seal routes indoors

An extension office or licensed professional can confirm an uncertain identification.

Step 2: Map Activity Room by Room

Use a flashlight and numbered sticky monitors near suspected hiding areas. Follow the label and keep monitors away from children and pets.

Area	Inspect	Record
Kitchen	Refrigerator, stove, cabinet corners, sink and pipe gaps, and dishwasher area	Insects, droppings, cast skins, egg cases, moisture, food residue, and monitor count
Bathroom and laundry	Vanity, toilet and pipe gaps, water heater, drains, and damp storage	Leaks, condensation, sightings, and monitor count
Basement or crawlspace	Floor drains, foundation gaps, utility lines, cardboard, and damp areas	Entry, moisture, species clues, and monitor count
Bedrooms and living areas	Shared walls, electronics, stored boxes, and baseboards	Whether activity has spread beyond food and water areas
Exterior and shared spaces	Door thresholds, trash area, pipe chases, meter boxes, landscaping, and neighboring-unit boundaries	Outdoor pressure, building defects, and who controls the repair

Number each monitor and use the same locations for comparison. UC IPM recommends checking frequently at first to find the highest-activity areas, then keeping before-and-after records to evaluate control.

Step 3: Remove Food, Water, and Hiding Places

Cleaning removes resources cockroaches use, but even a clean unit can be reinfested through plumbing chases, deliveries, shared walls, or a neighboring unit.

• Store pantry items and pet food in tightly sealed containers.
• Clean crumbs, grease, spills, and dishes promptly; keep trash in a closed container.
• Repair leaks and dry condensation or standing water.
• Vacuum cracks and crevices to remove debris, shed skins, and egg cases. A HEPA-filtered vacuum can help limit airborne allergen debris.
• Remove cardboard and paper clutter near kitchens and bathrooms.
• Inspect used appliances, furniture, and boxes before bringing them inside.

See integrated pest management for homeowners for the whole-home framework.

Step 4: Use Bait Only as the Label Directs

UC IPM identifies insecticidal baits as a primary pesticide option. The product label—not a blog or another product’s directions—decides whether, where, how much, and how often you may apply it.

Before using any bait:

1. Confirm that the label lists the cockroach species and the intended indoor or outdoor site.
2. Read the entire label, including child, pet, food-contact, storage, and disposal restrictions.
3. Place or apply bait only in label-approved locations near documented activity.
4. Do not apply it on food-preparation surfaces or where children or pets can reach it.
5. Inspect placements and refresh, move, or discontinue them only as that label allows.

For example, an EPA-accepted indoxacarb gel label dated October 28, 2025 prohibits food-preparation surfaces and child- or pet-accessible areas. It also says not to spray over the gel because the bait may become repellent. That is why universal dot sizes, rankings, rotation schedules, and reapplication calendars are inappropriate.

Avoid foggers, bug bombs, and broad indoor spraying. UC IPM warns they can be hazardous and disperse cockroaches without reaching their hiding places. The CDC’s asthma guidance says sprays and foggers can cause asthma attacks. Sensitive households should involve a healthcare professional and licensed pest professional.

Dusts are pesticides too; “natural” or “food grade” does not mean risk-free or pet-safe. Use one only when its label permits the pest, site, method, and placement. Review the pet-safe pest control guide.

Step 5: Seal Entry Points and Harborages

After active areas are mapped and cleaned, close the routes that support reinfestation:

• Seal gaps around plumbing and utility penetrations with an appropriate material.
• Repair door sweeps and weatherstripping.
• Seal cabinet, baseboard, and wall cracks after confirming they are not concealing an unresolved building problem.
• Correct roof, drain, sewer, or foundation defects with the appropriate trade professional.
• Reduce dense vegetation, debris, and damp hiding places beside the structure when outdoor species are involved.

In an apartment, notify management in writing before altering shared building components. Sealing one unit without inspecting connected areas can simply shift activity.

Step 6: Compare Baseline and Follow-Up Counts

Do not promise elimination by a set date. Check the same monitors on a consistent schedule and compare like with like.

Monitor	Location	Baseline count	Follow-up count	Conditions or action changed
1	Behind refrigerator
2	Under kitchen sink
3	Bathroom vanity
4	Entry or utility area

The printable IPM home inspection and monitoring log gives you room for sightings, entry points, service notes, and follow-up actions.

What Changed—and What Did Not?

Monitoring result	What it may mean	Next decision
Counts decline in the same locations	The combined plan may be reducing activity	Continue sanitation, exclusion, and label-directed monitoring; do not add preventive pesticide on a calendar
Counts are flat or rising	A food, water, harborage, placement, or building source may remain	Reinspect, verify every product matches its label, and consider professional help
Counts fall in one room but rise in another	Activity may have shifted or a second source exists	Expand inspection and coordinate adjoining rooms or units
No catches, but fresh signs continue	Monitors may be poorly placed or the pest may be misidentified	Move monitors based on evidence, seek identification help, and avoid guessing with pesticides
Activity returns after an apparent decline	Reintroduction or an unresolved structural source is possible	Review deliveries, shared walls, drains, exterior entry, and neighboring-unit coordination

Apartment Cockroach Control: Who Does What?

Multi-unit control requires shared records and coordinated work.

Role	Responsibility
Resident	Report sightings promptly; provide access; store food; reduce clutter; follow preparation and product instructions; keep monitor records
Property manager	Coordinate inspection of connected units and common areas; communicate schedules; document complaints and follow-up; engage licensed providers
Maintenance	Repair leaks, gaps, door sweeps, drains, damaged cabinets, and utility penetrations within its scope
Pest professional	Confirm species and extent; choose label-compliant methods; document products and placements; set monitoring and escalation criteria

Leases and housing rules determine legal responsibility; coordinated control remains the practical goal.

When to Call a Licensed Pest Professional

Escalate for multiple rooms or units, uncertain identification, flat monitor counts, recurring activity, structural access, sensitive occupants, childcare, healthcare, or food service. Also call when a label is unclear or the site is inaccessible.

Use the DIY vs. professional pest control guide to compare risk and complexity. Ask how the provider will identify the species, document counts, coordinate repairs, and choose label-compliant products.

Start With One Concrete Next Step

Photograph or capture the cockroach, number your monitors, and record a baseline before buying another product. The evidence shows when the plan should change.

Primary sources: UC IPM cockroach management, CDC asthma control guidance, EPA guidance on cockroaches and asthma, and the EPA-accepted gel bait label example.