A cockroach at night in a family kitchen is a worry, but it is also a problem with a clear path to a solution. Start by working out where they are hiding.
Cockroaches seldom appear in a home because of dirt. They arrive in bags of shopping, cardboard boxes, second-hand appliances and through shared walls or pipework. Once inside, they look for warmth and water. Behind the fridge, around the dishwasher motor and in the cupboard under a leaking sink are perfect spots.
Redhill, a suburb of Arnold, has mostly post-war housing, with kitchens that have often been refitted several times. Each refit tends to add boxed-in pipes, hidden voids behind kickboards and gaps around appliances. Those hidden spaces are warm, dark and rarely disturbed, so a group can build up without anyone noticing. Houses converted to flats can also share ducts and pipe runs.
Reduce what supports them. Fix any leaks, wipe up spills, empty the bin every night and store food in sealed containers. Pull out appliances and clean the floor and wall behind them. Do not leave pet food down overnight. A sticky trap placed along a wall will show where the activity is heaviest, which helps a technician plan the treatment.
Avoid fogging the room with a shop-bought aerosol, as it tends to drive roaches into neighbouring rooms or homes, and it leaves residues on surfaces where you prepare food.
After treatment, keep monitoring for several weeks with sticky traps. Finding fewer insects each week is the sign you want to see, while a sudden rise can show that eggs are hatching or a new harbourage has been missed.
Smaller jobs help too. Seal gaps around pipes under the sink, repair cracked tiles and fit a brush strip to the back door, so the kitchen offers fewer places to hide.
Cockroaches breed steadily, and eggs are protected in cases that resist some treatments, so a single application rarely finishes the job. How many visits are needed depends on the extent of the infestation and the building. In shared properties, the neighbours may also be affected and it helps to speak to them early.
Keep a note of any bites, allergies or breathing problems in the household, since cockroach allergens can aggravate asthma, and mention these when you call.
We will inspect the kitchen, find the harbourages and treat them, then give you plain advice on prevention. Free advice comes with all treatments, and there is no call-out charge. Call 0115 937 5117.
Mostly. They are nocturnal and hide in the day. Seeing one in daylight often means the hiding places are crowded, which suggests a larger group than you can see.
Yes. They use shared pipes, ducts and gaps in walls, and travel in belongings and deliveries. If you live in converted housing, telling neighbours or your landlord helps treat the building as a whole.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
