How to Deal with an Extreme Cockroach Infestation at Home

Seeing cockroaches in your home is bad enough, but when you spot them often or in big numbers, you might be dealing with a serious cockroach infestation. These bugs don’t just look gross. They carry germs, leave feces behind, and can trigger allergies.

If you're noticing sightings around your stoves, refrigerators, or even on your countertops, it's time to take action. Here's how to get rid of roaches step by step and when to call a pest control company for backup.

Key Takeaways

German and American cockroaches live in different areas and need different treatments to control an infestation.
Food, water, and clutter attract cockroaches and make it easier for them to hide and multiply fast.
Store sprays often make things worse, while sticky traps, gel baits, and boric acid work more effectively.
Professional pest control helps when signs like droppings, oothecae, or musty odors show a severe roach infestation.

Know What Kind of Roaches You're Dealing With

Before you begin any control plan, it's important to identify what species of cockroaches you’re up against. Here's a side-by-side comparison to help you tell them apart:

Features	German Cockroach	American Cockroach
Size	Small—about ½ to ⅝ inch	Large—up to 2 inches
Color	Light brown with two dark stripes on the back	Reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-8 on the head
Common Hiding Places	Tight crevices in kitchens and bathrooms	Basements, around stoves, under or behind refrigerators
Reproduction	Rapid—egg cases (oothecae) hatch quickly into nymphs	Slower, but still capable of building large populations
Signs of Roach Infestation	Cockroach droppings (look like black pepper), sightings, shed skins	Musty odor, smear marks, dead cockroaches
Habitats	Indoors near food sources and pet food	Damp voids, leaky pipes, and cardboard boxes
Infestation Level Risk	High—severe infestations can grow quickly	Moderate—but still needs prompt pest control

Seeing signs of a cockroach infestation is a red flag.

The more signs you notice, the more likely it is that you're dealing with a severe pest problem that may require professional services.

Cut Off Their Food and Water

Roaches survive on very little. Homeowners should clean up dirty dishes quickly, wipe down countertops, and store pet food in sealed containers. Check for leaks under sinks and around appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators.

Also, throw away old cardboard boxes and reduce clutter. These are perfect roach habitats. Vacuum often to get rid of crumbs and food sources. Good sanitation is key to cockroach control.

Seal Up Cracks and Hiding Spots

Roaches sneak through the smallest spaces. Use caulk to seal entry points like cracks and crevices in baseboards, behind toilets, and around kitchen pipes. Fill in gaps in wall voids and around windows or doors.

They love tight hiding places, so block off any small holes where they could be nesting. This step is easy to skip, but it makes a big difference in stopping an infestation.

Use the Right Products

If you're dealing with a stubborn roach problem, using the right tools is a game-changer. Some common methods can make things worse.

Here’s what works best:

Avoid Sprays From the Store

Many homeowners turn to sprays for quick results, but most store-bought sprays only scatter the roaches into deeper voids.

They can also interfere with gel baits and make professional pest control services less effective, especially with German roaches, which are already resistant to many products.

Use Sticky Traps to Track Movement

Sticky traps don’t eliminate an infestation on their own, but they help you figure out where the roaches are coming from. Set them behind refrigerators, under stoves, and along baseboards.

This helps target your treatment areas more effectively and gives you a sense of the infestation size.

Place Gel Baits in High-Activity Areas

Gel baits are one of the most effective ways to kill cockroaches, especially when placed near signs of roach activity. Make sure to apply them in dark, hidden areas where roaches travel, such as under sinks and inside cabinets.

Apply Boric Acid Lightly

When used correctly, boric acid can be an excellent DIY tool. But too much is a problem. It acts as a repellent instead of a killer.

Use a thin, barely visible layer in dry areas where kids and pets won’t access it, like behind appliances or inside wall crevices.

Get Professional Pest Control if Things Are Out of Hand

The longer a cockroach problem sticks around, the worse it gets. If the infestation is big or not going away, it's time to call in the pros. A professional pest control company like Native Pest Management knows how to treat severe infestations the right way.

We use pest control products that are safe around pets and kids. For German cockroaches, we apply insect growth regulators that stop them from multiplying. For other species of cockroaches, like the American cockroach, we use Maxforce Complete Granular Insect Bait to treat both inside and outside your home.

We also treat wall voids and attics, places where roaches like to hide and where DIY products can't reach.

Call us today for a free inspection and let us help you clean up the problem, fast and for good.