Scientific studies show evidence that German cockroaches are resistant to many common pesticides, making the pests difficult to eliminate with do-it-yourself (DIY) methods. You can try your luck with thorough cleaning, pest sprays, and bait stations, but your best bet for getting rid of German cockroaches and preventing their return is to call a professional pest control company. In this guide, we’ll suggest methods for getting rid of German cockroaches on your own. We’ll also share our recommendations for the best pest control professionals for the job.
How To Identify a German Cockroach
German cockroaches vary in color from light brown to tan. They’re usually no more than 0.6 inches (1.5 centimeters) long. This is smaller than a similar pest species known as the American cockroach. Since these insects are nocturnal and prefer to hide, the first signs you see may be droppings that look like coffee grinds, oval-shaped egg cases, or a musty smell. If you see live roaches during the day, it means the problem is already substantial.
How To Get Rid of German Cockroaches
Once you see a German cockroach, act fast. German cockroach eggs hatch within 15–30 days, meaning the population can multiply quickly. Try these DIY steps to clean your home, eliminate the insects, and keep them from coming back:
- Clean food waste and dry moist areas: German cockroaches are attracted to heat, water, and food sources. Walk from room to room with a flashlight, looking in cracks and along baseboards for evidence of roach activity. Although you may not see live roaches during the daytime, you may see droppings, shed skins, or dead roaches. Look closely in kitchens and bathrooms, especially inside kitchen cabinets and behind appliances and furniture where roaches may hide. If you find roaches in your kitchen, get rid of decaying fruits and vegetables, clean counters, and vacuum crumbs. Check pantries and cabinets, too. If you find roaches in your bathroom, inspect for leaks and dry any wet areas.
- Set bait stations or spray: There are two main methods of chemical cockroach control: sprays and bait stations. Sprays either repel cockroaches or kill them on contact. Bait stations and gel baits lure cockroaches in with poisoned food, and the roaches then take the bait back to their nests. Gel baits can be squeezed into smaller cracks where bait stations can’t fit. The slow-acting insecticide will allow the cockroaches to infect others, hopefully eliminating most or all of the roach infestation. Bait stations make the insecticide difficult for pets or children to accidentally get hold of, but make sure to keep gel baits away from little hands, paws, and mouths. We recommend setting bait over using sprays. Repellent sprays will only succeed in driving the roaches back into hiding, allowing them to continue to reproduce. Contact insecticides will only kill the roaches that you see or that step on the areas you spray, which won’t stop the problem at its source. In particular, don’t use sprays after laying down bait, since the roaches that take the bait must survive long enough to spread it.
- Use stronger insecticides, if necessary: There are other types of cockroach control that you can try if bait stations aren’t sufficient. Insecticide dust, like diatomaceous earth, boric acid, or synthetic formulas, can get into cracks and crevices that even gel bait can’t reach. Insect growth regulator (IGR) can actually stop roaches from reproducing. This substance is a liquid or aerosol foam that stops cockroach nymphs from shedding their exoskeletons and reaching reproductive maturity, breaking the breeding cycle. This is a slower-acting form of insecticide that works best in conjunction with bait. Be wary of “natural” and “nontoxic” cockroach remedies. Some are merely ineffective, like baking soda and household spices like cinnamon and thyme. Others, like essential oils, can irritate skin and allergies if not handled correctly.
- Seal cracks and fill crevices along the exterior of your home: Cockroaches enter from outdoors. Inspect your windows and doors for gaps. Seal cracks and crevices along windows, doors, and utility pipes with caulk or other sealants to prevent roaches from getting in.
When To Call in the Pros
If you’ve followed the above steps and your home still isn’t roach-free, it’s time to call a professional exterminator. German cockroaches reproduce so rapidly and efficiently that it’s often difficult for homeowners to kill them all without help. Pest control professionals have the training to find the sources of the infestation and the equipment and products to eliminate the problem. If the infestation is large and well-established, you’ll likely save time by calling an exterminator as your first step.
Read more: How Much Does a Roach Exterminator Cost?
Our Top Picks for Professional Cockroach Control
There are plenty of reliable, affordable pest control companies that are well-equipped to kill German cockroaches. Terminix is a well-known nationwide pest control provider that can eliminate all varieties of cockroaches using baits, dusts, and aerosols. With 300 locations around the country that offer 24/7 customer support, Terminix is one of the most accessible options in pest control.
Orkin is another excellent option that prides itself on giving its technicians ongoing training in the latest pest control techniques and methods. We recommend getting quotes from both companies to see which one better fits your needs and budget.
FAQs About German Cockroaches
Can baking soda kill German cockroaches?
If you’re searching for natural insecticides or cleaning solutions, you’re bound to come across the idea that baking soda can take care of nearly any household problem. It’s non-toxic to children and pets, making it a safe and popular option, and you’ll find plenty of advice for combining it with onions or sugar to make a bait.
However, according to informational material from the University of Nevada Institute of Agriculture, baking soda does not kill cockroaches. You’re welcome to try it, as it is harmless and inexpensive, but it’s also unlikely to make a dent in the problem.
What keeps cockroaches away?
While you should try to prevent cockroaches from getting inside your home, you shouldn’t use repellent at the same time as bait. Once you’ve gotten rid of the cockroach infestation and cleaned your house thoroughly, repellent sprays and insect barriers applied around weak points in the home, like windows and doors, can help.
Reportedly, cockroaches dislike strong smells like cinnamon, peppermint, vinegar, coffee grounds, and some essential oils, though their repellent effects are unproven. Additionally, no chemical or natural substance is going to be as effective as properly sealing cracks to the outdoors.
Why are German cockroaches so hard to get rid of?
German cockroaches are small, reproduce rapidly, and have few natural indoor predators. Additionally, their stomachs have adapted to survive on a wide variety of food sources, and they’ve developed resistance to many common pesticides. The combination of all of these factors means a few adult cockroaches can turn into a large infestation in a short period.
How did I get German cockroaches?
Although roaches like a dirty, cluttered environment, the presence of German cockroaches isn’t necessarily a sign that your home is filthy. Roaches seeking warmth and food can get inside through even tiny cracks and then feed on crumbs or even non-food materials within your home.
Additionally, roaches or their eggs may be carried inside on grocery items, luggage, packages, or handbags. Your best bet is to make your home as hostile and impenetrable to cockroaches as you can.