- 1). Improve sanitation. Cockroaches invade an area in search of food and water. If cockroaches cannot find these items, they will be more likely to move along. Cleanup crumbs and spills, seal food containers and double-bag trash. In addition, make sure you scrub surfaces with hot, soapy water frequently. Cockroach feces contains a chemical (aggregation pheromone) that attracts new cockroaches to the area. By scrubbing surfaces, you can remove this chemical.
- 2). Get rid of hiding places. In addition to food and water, cockroaches are looking for a place to live. This means dark, moist places. Sealing cracks and crevices, pulling mulch away from the house (at least 1 foot from the foundation), stacking firewood off the ground and away from the house and keeping clutter (such as newspapers and boxes) from accumulating can all help to encourage a new infestation of cockroaches to move along to the next home.
- 3). Use chemicals to kill cockroaches. Chemical control includes baits, sprays and dusts. Baits can be placed along walls and in corners where you suspect cockroaches are hiding. Dusts, including boric acid, are best for hard-to-reach areas, such as under refrigerators and in between cracks and crevices. Sprays are also good for hard to reach areas.
- 4). Monitor the situation. Over the course of a couple months, the infestation should be greatly reduced or eliminated. If it has not, consider moving to chemicals. If this still does not work, you may need to remodel the area to make it less habitable for cockroaches or call in a professional exterminator.