How to get rid of cockroaches

There are a number of options available for exterminating cockroaches. When applied correctly, each can control cockroaches effectively. Professional treatment is the most effective way to get rid of cockroaches in your home or business to guarantee a long-term solution and prevent re-infestation.

For businesses, a cockroach infestation will result in contamination of food and surfaces, damage to stored food, potential action by food safety authorities and damage to your reputation. The health hazards associated with this disease-spreading insect are a concern for both homeowners and businesses.

Below is a description of the treatments available for getting rid of cockroaches.

Our Rentokil technicians are skilled, experienced professionals: they are state-certified, licensed applicators and are required to participate in regular training programs to maintain their expertise.

With a deep understanding of the habits of each cockroach species, we can use our knowledge to develop an effective control program for your property.

Cockroach bait is one of the most common methods of cockroach control and is extremely effective in indoor locations such as kitchens (both commercial and residential), food handling and preparation areas, hotels and hospitals.

Cockroach baits come in three formats:

• Liquid
• Gel
• Solid

The success of the treatment exploits the cannibalistic nature of cockroaches to help successfully remove an infestation. The bait is placed in strategic areas around a property where cockroaches are known to dwell. The toxins in the bait will not only affect the cockroach that consumes the bait, but also affects other roaches through secondary transmission.

After a cockroach has fed they will often return to the nest where they will defecate. Any other cockroach which consumes the faeces, saliva, or carcass of the infected roach will also be affected by the cockroach bait. Infection can also occur through direct contact with the toxins from the bait dispersed within the cockroach nest.

Essentially this creates a cycle of cockroaches becoming infected and passing it on to other roaches. Because of this, cockroach bait has a proven track record of successfully exterminating whole colonies of cockroaches.

Fumigation is the more traditional method of cockroach control. This involves the use of insecticides in a gas to exterminate the cockroaches in a confined space.

The fumigation process involves sealing a facility, or part of a facility, where a cockroach infestation is at a high level. A gas is then introduced into the area to reduce the population. Fumigation generally is applied as an addition to other cockroach control services when the infestation is at a high level.

Cockroach fumigation is highly effective for businesses such as:

• Manufacturing
• Warehousing
• Agriculture
• Milling

There are a number of fumigation techniques, with each one being tailored to the environment it is used in.

Find out more about Rentokil’s fumigation services >

Heat treatment is an environmentally friendly chemical-free option for getting rid of cockroaches in certain situations. This method eradicates cockroaches at every stage of their life cycle from egg to adult.

Rentokil’s Entotherm heat treatment is a pesticide-free solution. It consists of a mobile system that delivers dry heat in a portable container between 50°C and 60°C for a monitored period. This ensures the cockroaches are killed without causing any damage to your property.

The Entotherm heat treatment is suitable for businesses such as hotels, schools, hospitals and restaurants.

Find out more about Rentokil’s Entotherm heat treatment >

Proactive cockroach control is best suited for businesses, especially those handling food where it can help to comply with food safety legislation, standards and audit requirements for food hygiene.

It involves taking active measures to prevent infestation and monitor for early signs of an infestation.

Following cockroach prevention best practices is the most efficient way of proactively controlling cockroaches.

Learn about the steps you can take to prevent a cockroach infestation > 

Our service begins with a thorough survey of your property. We can look for typical signs of cockroaches, identify any potential shelter sites and the invading species.

1. Guaranteed 24 hour response (Monday to Friday)
2. Regular inspections: this even includes night-time inspections. Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures and night-time inspections will better reveal any hiding areas on your premises
3. Certified technicians: we have a team of reliable, qualified and experienced professionals local to you and based across Australia
4. Safe, targeted treatments: we minimise the risk of insecticides in the home by using non-toxic products, which are highly targeted at the crevices where cockroaches hide. Products used may include a spray, gel baits or dusting powders
5. Expert knowledge: our knowledge, backed by global experience, about the habits of cockroach species enables us to provide the most efficient methods of control
6. Convenient treatment times: our discreet treatments are carried out at times convenient to you to minimise disruption to your business or home life
7. Chemical-free solutions: suitable for homes and sensitive business environments, our chemical-free Entotherm heat treatment service can resolve cockroach problems effectively
8. Professional prevention advice: your local technician can provide expert prevention advice on how to proof your home and prevent a re-infestation
9. Long-term support: our technician will arrange follow up visits (if they are needed) to re-treat the identified hiding spots at an interval that coincides with the hatching time of the cockroach egg cases (oothecae). We can continue to monitor for signs of activity through the use of our Insect Monitor Unit (IMU) suitable for use in even sensitive business environments. Our work is not complete until your problem is fully resolved.