Getting rid of cockroaches yourself

Start with gel bait

Gel bait is the most useful DIY product. Cockroaches eat it, return to their shelter and spread it to others, so it can clear a small problem without scattering them. Buy a retail cockroach gel and read the label before you use it.

Place small dots, not lines, where cockroaches travel and hide: behind the fridge and cooker, under the sink, along the back of cupboards and near pipes. Put it close to their shelter and away from food, children and pets. Do not mix it with sprays in the same spot.

Prepare the room

Bait works best when cockroaches have nothing else to eat. Clear crumbs and grease, wash up each night, seal dry food in tins or boxes, empty the bin daily and remove pet bowls overnight. Fix leaks, because they need water.

After you place bait, do not clean it away. Wiping the area removes the product you have just put down.

Why sprays often fail

A can of spray kills the cockroaches it hits and scatters the rest. They run deeper into walls and spread to other rooms, which can make a small problem bigger.

If you do use a retail product, follow the label exactly. Professional-only insecticides are not sold to householders, so a firm can use products you cannot buy.

What to expect and when to stop

Expect several weeks of dying cockroaches. Keep checking the bait and replace it when it is eaten or dried out. Check at night with a torch to see whether numbers are falling.

Seal gaps around pipes, skirting and cupboards once the numbers drop. If you are still seeing cockroaches after three to four weeks, or if you see them in daylight, the infestation is bigger than a retail product can handle. See cockroach control for what a professional does.

When DIY will not work

Call a professional for German cockroaches, for daytime sightings and for any shared building. In a block, cockroaches move through shared pipes and walls, so treating one flat is rarely enough. Ask your landlord or managing agent for a block-wide treatment.

A professional also names the species first, which matters because German and oriental cockroaches need different handling. Check our identification guide first if you are unsure.

The law and your rights

There is no legal bar on buying consumer cockroach products. Use them as the label says. There is no cockroach licence, and a professional follows biocide and COSHH rules.

If you rent and cockroaches come from the building, you do not have to fix it yourself. Exposure to pests is part of the HHSRS hazard called Domestic hygiene, so report it to your landlord in writing. See the cost guide to compare what a professional charges.