• Look out for holes in cardboard boxes, musty smells, and dead or alive cockroaches in various areas.
• Easy preventative methods include sealing off all entry points, removing standing water, and managing the trash.
• Use sticky traps or a boric acid mixture to kill the pests at home.

If you’ve spotted a live or dead cockroach inside your home, it’s time to take immediate action. While it doesn’t necessarily mean there is an infestation, preventing one is essential.

Today, pest control experts share their best tips to get rid of cockroaches before they infest your home. These include blocking off entry, eliminating food and water sources, and using at-home remedies such as sticky traps and a boric acid mixture to kill the pests. Additionally, the experts share common signs that reveal you may have a cockroach infestation, how to keep the bugs away from your home, and when to call a professional.

Signs You Have a Cockroach Infestation

• Live and dead cockroach sightings. Seeing live cockroaches around the house, especially during the night, and finding dead cockroaches lying around.
• Cockroaches in multiple rooms. Live or dead cockroaches in more than one room and in various areas around the house.
• Damage around the house. Noticeable holes in cardboard boxes, food packaging, books, and other items the cockroaches have chewed through.
• Droppings. There are droppings left behind in various parts of the home, as well as eggs and skin that the cockroaches have shed.
• Unpleasant odor. There is a noticeable musty smell that doesn’t disappear but only gets stronger and potentially causes allergies.

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10 Ways to Get Rid of Them

Block Off Entry Points

To get rid of cockroaches before they infest your home, Daniel Baldwin, an entomologist at Hawx Pest Control, says it’s crucial to block off all entry points. He recommends thoroughly inspecting your home’s interior and exterior, and noting any structural damage like cracks or holes.

“These can serve as entry points for cockroaches, so it’s crucial to seal them immediately,” Baldwin says.

Manage Your Trash

Trash is a prime food source for cockroaches and Baldwin says managing trash and food waste is crucial to prevent an infestation. He recommends utilizing trash cans with secure lids, disposing of food waste in the kitchen daily, and making sure garbage bags are tightly tied and placed in garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.

Check Seals Around Doors and Windows

Cockroaches frequently enter the home through cracked seals around doors and windows. To keep them out, Baldwin suggests you check all seals and fill any gaps or spaces with caulk. Additionally, he says installing door sweeps can be helpful in eliminating small gaps that cockroaches can also use to enter.

Eliminate Sources of Standing Water

“Many common household pests are attracted to water, so eliminating sources of standing water really goes a long way in pest prevention,” Chris Cronan, regional technical training manager at Arrow Exterminators, says.

Cronan advises that you pay attention to potential standing water sources and eliminate them. This is because cockroaches require daily water intake and struggle to survive without it. He adds that they can also obtain their water requirements by consuming high-moisture foods, which is why storing food in sealed containers is also essential.

Use Boric Acid

For an effective cockroach removal method, Baldwin recommends using boric acid which dehydrates the pests. Start by combining equal parts of boric acid, flour, and sugar. Sprinkle the mixture in areas where you’ve seen cockroaches, which Baldwin says is typically behind appliances, inside cabinets, and near cracks in walls. Keep an eye on the area and replenish the boric acid mixture as needed.

Inspect Storage Boxes

“Cockroaches often hide in boxes, especially those stored in garages, basements, or attics,” Baldwin says.

For this reason, he advises that you regularly inspect boxes and bulk items for cockroaches and other pests, especially if you are going to move them from one area of the house to another, as it could lead to a potential infestation.

Get Sticky Traps

If you’re looking for a chemical-free way to remove cockroaches before there’s an infestation, pest control experts recommend using sticky traps.

“By placing these traps in areas where cockroaches have been seen, you can stop them from spreading to other areas of your home and trap them,” Baldwin says.

Additionally, Craig Sansig, service director and public health entomologist at Viking Pest Control, says that placing many small glue traps in dark, sheltered areas can help with detecting the cockroaches’ hiding places and be used to gauge the progress of control efforts.

The experts say this method is ideal for occasional cockroach sightings and useful for catching a small number of roaches, however, it’s not enough to eliminate a larger infestation. What’s more, Cronan says that some species, such as German cockroaches, are known to resist most home remedies.

Store Food in Sealed Containers

A clean kitchen is key to preventing a cockroach infestation, and cutting off the pests’ access to food is particularly important. Besides regularly sanitizing the space and not letting dishes accumulate in the sink, Cronan says you should always store food in a sealed, airtight containers to prevent cockroaches from gaining access and multiplying.

Install Screens

Cockroaches will use any small or large opening to enter your home, so take Cronan’s advice and install screens on windows, doors, and any other screen-compatible openings. Additionally, check already installed screens for holes and cracks to ensure pests don’t have a way to get in.

Identify and Observe Hiding and Bait Locations

“It is important to identify all harborage locations as missed areas will quickly re-infest areas you may have treated,” Sansig says.

Once you have identified the cockroaches’ hiding spots and have used either sticky traps or boric acid to eliminate them, Sansig says you should keep an eye on the bait locations. He says will help determine whether they are accepting and feeding on the bait, and if not, he advises multiple baits may need to be applied to find one that they do not have an aversion to.

How Do Cockroaches Get Inside Your Home?

• Cockroaches can enter your home through cracks in and around the foundation. This is why sealing holes as soon as you notice them is essential.
• Door and window screens with holes or cracks can allow pests to enter. Repair or replace damaged screens to block all access.
• Landscaping such as bushes and trees close to the house can act as a bridge for cockroaches to get inside the house. For this reason, make sure landscaping is trimmed and away from the facade.
• Trash that is not sealed and placed inside lidded trash cans can attract cockroaches whether it’s inside or outside the house.

How to Keep Cockroaches Away From Your Home

To keep cockroaches away from your home, Cronan shares the following tips:

• Trim trees and bushes. Keep branches, bushes, and shrubbery trimmed back and away from your home, as it can act as a bridge for cockroaches and other pests such as ants.
• Keep firewood away from the house. Make sure to store any firewood at least 20 feet away from your house and preferably on an elevated surface.
• Seal cracks. If you notice cracks in or around the foundation of your home, seal them immediately. Pay close attention to the areas where utilities and pipes enter your home as these are tunnels through which cockroaches can enter.
• Install screens. Cut off the cockroaches’ access to your home by installing screens on doors, windows, vents, and openings to the chimney.
• Keep up with regular maintenance. It’s crucial to keep up with regular maintenance tasks inside and outside of your home to help control cockroach population growth outside and reduce the likelihood of pests coming in.

Types of Cockroaches You May Be Dealing With