How to get rid of cockroaches
Roaches are beatable with the right bait and a real sanitation pass, but it takes 2–6 weeks and you have to commit. German cockroaches are the most common indoor species and the hardest to clear — large or persistent infestations are worth a pro.
Tools
- ✓For finding harborage spots behind appliances and under sinks.
- ✓For sealing cracks where roaches hide.
Materials
- +The single most effective DIY product. Place pea-sized dabs in cracks, not open surfaces.
- +Backup for spots where gel won't stick (vertical surfaces, behind appliances).
- +Place behind fridge, under sink, in cabinets — they show you where activity is heaviest.
- +Dust in wall voids, behind outlet plates, under appliances. Lethal but slow.
- +Seals larger gaps roaches use to travel between walls.
Steps
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1
Identify the species
German cockroaches are tan with two dark stripes behind the head, about 1/2-inch long. American roaches are reddish-brown and 1.5+ inches. The strategy differs — Germans live indoors and breed in hiding spots; Americans usually come from sewers and basements.
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2
Deploy sticky monitors
Place 6–10 sticky traps in dark, warm spots: behind the fridge, under the sink, inside lower cabinets, behind the oven. Check in 48 hrs to find hotspots.
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3
Deep-clean the kitchen
Wipe every surface, pull out appliances, vacuum crumbs from under them, empty the toaster crumb tray, fix any leaking pipe under the sink. Roaches die without water in 1 week.
Tip: Take out the trash nightly. Don't leave dishes in the sink overnight. -
4
Bait the hotspots
Place pea-sized dabs of Advion gel inside cracks, in corners under cabinets, along the back of the fridge. Use 5–10 dabs per room. Add Combat stations near appliances.
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5
Dust the voids
Puff boric acid into wall voids via outlet plates (turn off power first), under appliances, and into the gap behind the kickplate under cabinets.
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6
Wait, then re-bait
Activity should drop sharply by week 2. Re-apply gel at 2 weeks and again at 4 weeks. Old gel dries out and stops working.
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7
Seal entry points
Caulk and foam every gap you can find — around pipes, under door sweeps, where the countertop meets the wall.