How to Get Rid of Cockroaches at Home: A Guide

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches at Home: Key Insights

• German cockroaches reproduce faster than most other species found in Canadian homes: a single female can produce over 200 offspring in her lifetime, so spotting even one during the day usually means the problem is further along than it looks.
• Cleaning helps, but it won't fix a structural entry problem: sealing gaps around pipes, baseboards, and shared walls stops new roaches from getting in, even in a spotless home.
• Store-bought sprays kill roaches on contact but rarely reach the egg cases hidden inside wall voids, which is why a DIY treatment often looks like it worked for a few weeks before roaches reappear.
• In apartments and other multi-unit buildings, a cockroach problem is rarely contained to one suite, so treating a single unit without addressing shared walls or pipe chases tends to bring roaches right back.

In this guide, you'll read about:

1. How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Overview
2. How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Apartments
3. How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Houses
4. How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Kitchens
5. When a Cockroach Problem Needs a Pro
6. How to Prevent Cockroaches from Coming Back
7. Find a Pest Control Pro on HomeStars
8. FAQs

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Overview

Most cockroach problems respond to the same basic approach, whatever kind of home you live in. The details change depending on whether you're in an apartment, a house, or working specifically on a kitchen, which are covered in the sections below, but the framework stays the same.

• Identify the type: German cockroaches are the most common indoor species in Canada and breed quickly, while American cockroaches tend to come in from outside and are less likely to build a large indoor colony.
• Find the harbourage areas: check dark, warm spots near food and water, including under appliances, behind baseboards, and inside cabinet voids.
• Remove food and water sources: store food in sealed containers, wipe up crumbs and spills, and fix any small leaks that give roaches a water supply.
• Seal entry points: caulk gaps around pipes, baseboards, and window frames to cut off new roaches coming in from outside or from neighbouring spaces.
• Treat with bait, not just spray: gel baits and bait stations let roaches carry poison back to the nest, which does more to reduce a colony than a direct spray on the roaches you can see.
• Monitor after treatment: sticky traps placed in known hotspots help confirm whether activity is dropping off or a follow-up treatment is needed.

A single roach sighting doesn't always mean a full infestation, but a pattern of repeat sightings, especially during the day, usually does.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Apartments

Getting rid of cockroaches in an apartment comes with a complication houses don't have: shared walls, shared plumbing chases, and neighbours who may be dealing with the same problem. Treating your own unit without addressing the building as a whole often means the roaches simply move back in from next door.

• Report it to your landlord or property manager: in most Canadian provinces, landlords are responsible for arranging pest control in rental units, and early reporting helps stop roaches from spreading to other suites.
• Ask about building-wide treatment: if roaches are coming through shared pipe chases or wall cavities, treating one unit in isolation rarely solves the problem for the building.
• Focus on what you control: seal gaps around your own baseboards, pipes, and electrical outlets, and keep food storage tight even if the source is elsewhere in the building.
• Keep a record: photos and dated notes of sightings support your request if a landlord is slow to act, and can matter if the issue needs to be escalated.
• Be cautious with secondhand items: roaches can travel in used furniture, boxes, and appliances brought in from a shared storage room or hallway.

If the building has a recurring problem, a bait and seal routine in your own suite will only go so far. A pest control pro who's already familiar with the property, or who can coordinate with your landlord, is usually the faster route to a lasting fix.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Houses

Houses give you more control over the whole structure, but they also have more entry points to check: basements, attached garages, crawl spaces, and the perimeter of the foundation.

• Check the basement first: cockroaches often establish themselves near basement drains, sump pits, and stored cardboard before spreading upstairs.
• Inspect the attached garage: garages connect to the rest of the house through doors and shared walls, and clutter there gives roaches a place to hide undisturbed.
• Clear debris from the foundation perimeter: mulch, leaf piles, and firewood stacked against the house give roaches a bridge from the yard to small cracks in the foundation.
• Seal the building envelope: weatherstrip exterior doors and caulk gaps where utility lines enter the house, since these are common outdoor to indoor pathways.
• Treat room by room if the infestation has spread: bait stations placed in the basement, kitchen, and any other affected room work better together than treating just one area.

Because you control the full structure, a house infestation is usually easier to resolve permanently than an apartment one, provided the exterior and interior are treated together rather than one at a time.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Kitchens

The kitchen is the most common place to spot cockroaches in any home, apartment or house, since it offers both food and water in one place. Getting rid of cockroaches in the kitchen means going beyond the visible counters and into the spaces behind and underneath appliances.

• Pull out the fridge and stove: crumbs and grease build up behind and underneath major appliances, and this is one of the most overlooked hiding spots in the kitchen.
• Check under the sink and dishwasher: leaking pipes and drips create the damp conditions roaches need to survive.
• Clean out cabinets and the pantry: wipe shelves down, store dry goods in sealed containers, and check for old packaging in the back of low cabinets.
• Address drains: cover floor drains and rinse sink drains regularly, since drains can be an entry point as well as a water source.
• Place bait stations in corners and along baseboards: kitchens respond well to gel bait placed where roaches travel, rather than relying on spray alone.

A kitchen that's been thoroughly cleaned out but still shows activity after a week or two usually points to a hidden nest rather than a sanitation issue.

When a Cockroach Problem Needs a Pro

Some cockroach problems clear up with consistent cleaning, sealing, and baiting. Others are established enough that DIY methods only manage the visible roaches without touching the nest.

• Seeing roaches during the day: cockroaches are nocturnal, and daytime activity usually means the population has grown large enough that hiding spots are full.
• Finding egg casings: these small, dark, oval capsules can hold dozens of eggs each, and finding several is a sign of an established colony rather than a single stray roach.
• A musty smell that doesn't go away with cleaning: large cockroach populations can leave a distinct odour that lingers even in a clean kitchen.
• No improvement after two to three weeks of consistent DIY treatment: if baiting and sealing haven't reduced sightings, the nest is likely somewhere store-bought products can't reach.

A pro can access wall voids, under-slab areas, and other spots that aren't practical to treat yourself, and can match the treatment to the exact species involved. Professional insect treatments for cockroaches and similar pests typically cost $150 to $350 per visit in Canada. For a full breakdown of what affects that cost, see our cockroach exterminator cost guide, and for broader costs beyond cockroach control, you can check out our exterminator cost guide.

Get quotes from pest control pros for your cockroach problem

How to Prevent Cockroaches from Coming Back

Getting rid of an active infestation is only half the job. Keeping cockroaches from returning takes a few ongoing habits once the visible problem has cleared up.

• Stick to a cleaning routine: regular wipe-downs of counters, stovetops, and floors remove the crumbs and grease that attract roaches back.
• Keep sealing as you go: new cracks can open up around pipes and baseboards over time, so a yearly check for gaps is worth the effort.
• Leave bait stations in place: many gel baits and stations continue working for months and act as an early warning if activity picks up again.
• Inspect anything that comes from storage: used furniture, moving boxes, and items from a shared basement or storage locker are common ways roaches re-enter a home.
• Watch for early signs: a single roach spotted at night is worth acting on quickly, before it has time to establish a new colony.

Staying ahead of these habits is usually enough to keep a treated home roach-free long term.

Find a Pest Control Pro on HomeStars

If cleaning, sealing, and baiting haven't fully solved the problem, or the infestation feels bigger than a DIY approach can handle, HomeStars connects you with pest control pros near you. You can browse profiles, read reviews from other homeowners, and compare quotes before deciding who to bring in.

Find a pest control pro on HomeStars

FAQs: Your Questions about Getting Rid of Cockroaches Answered

Does having cockroaches mean my home is dirty?

Not necessarily. Cockroaches are drawn to food, water, and warmth, and even a clean home can attract them if a nearby unit, storage area, or the outdoors gives them a way in. Cleanliness reduces the odds of an infestation taking hold, but it doesn't fully explain why roaches show up in the first place.

Can cockroaches affect my health?

Cockroaches can trigger allergies and asthma in some people, particularly through droppings and shed skin that build up over time in an untreated infestation. They can also carry bacteria on their bodies as they move between garbage, drains, and food surfaces. If anyone in your home has asthma or allergies, it's worth prioritizing treatment sooner rather than later.

How long does it take to fully get rid of a cockroach infestation?

A minor problem caught early can often clear up within a couple of weeks of consistent baiting and sealing. A larger, established infestation, especially one involving German cockroaches, can take four to eight weeks to fully resolve, since bait needs time to work through the colony and any eggs already laid will still hatch. Pros on HomeStars can give you a more specific timeline once they've assessed the extent of the problem.

Are foggers and bug bombs effective against cockroaches?

Foggers release pesticide into open air, which can kill roaches out in the open but rarely reaches the cracks, wall voids, and appliance gaps where most of the colony is hiding. They can also pose a safety risk if used near pilot lights or other gas appliances. Bait stations and targeted gel treatments are generally more effective for cockroaches specifically.

Is it normal to still see a few cockroaches after professional treatment?

Yes, for a short period. Bait-based treatments work over days, not instantly, so it's common to see roaches for a week or two after treatment as the bait takes effect through the colony. If activity hasn't noticeably dropped after that window, it's worth contacting the pro who did the treatment, or finding another pest control pro on HomeStars for a follow-up assessment.

Do cockroach problems get worse in the winter?

Often, yes. Most cockroaches can't survive freezing outdoor temperatures, so as the weather cools they look for warmth and move indoors through vents, foundation gaps, and door thresholds. This is why homeowners sometimes notice a jump in sightings in late fall, even in a home that hasn't had roaches before. Sealing entry points ahead of the colder months can reduce how many roaches make it inside in the first place.