How to Prepare for Your Cockroach Treatment

The two things that decide success: empty the kitchen and bathroom cabinets we need to treat, and remove competing food sources. Gel baits only work when the bait is the easiest meal in the room.

The night before

Kitchen. Empty all cabinets, drawers and the pantry in the kitchen — put contents in bins or bags in another room (dining table is fine). Clear everything off countertops. Empty the cabinet under the sink completely.

Clean, then stop feeding them. Wash dishes, wipe counters and degrease the stovetop and the sides of the stove. Vacuum or sweep floors, especially along baseboards and under appliances. Empty all garbage and take it outside. Store all food — including pet food, and yes, including the fruit bowl — in the fridge or in sealed containers.

Bathrooms. Empty the vanity cabinets. Fix or report any dripping taps — cockroaches need water more than food, and a leaking trap under a sink is a water fountain for them.

Appliances. If you can, pull the stove and fridge slightly away from the wall so we can treat behind them. If you can’t move them safely, leave it — your technician will.

Day of treatment

Plan for everyone, including pets, to be out during treatment and for about 4 hours after, or until your technician confirms re-entry. Cover aquariums and turn off their air pumps.

What NOT to do

Do not spray store-bought insecticides or bug bombs before (or after) our visit — sprays repel cockroaches away from our baits and can make an infestation harder to eliminate. Do not wash the treated areas or wipe along baseboards for at least two weeks after treatment — you’d be removing the product that’s working.

In apartments and condos

Cockroaches travel between units through shared walls and pipe chases. We’ll treat your unit thoroughly and tell you honestly whether the building needs to be involved — and give you documentation for property management if it does. See what to expect during your visit and our German cockroach guide for more.

Expect to see MORE cockroach activity for a few days after treatment as they leave hiding spots and contact bait — that’s the treatment working. Details in After Your Treatment. Questions? (705) 302-1887.