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Getting Ready for Roach Treatment: A Kitchen Checklist
Updated: 1 day ago
Roaches need food, water, and places to hide. When you take those away, treatment works better. Nebraska Extension's low-toxic roach control guide backs this up. Here is a simple checklist before we come.
What should you clean first?
Wipe up grease and crumbs on counters, stoves, and cabinets.
Clean on, around, under, and behind the stove and fridge.
Wash dishes and pots right away. Do not leave dirty dishes out overnight.
Empty the trash daily, ideally in the evening. Roaches are most active at night.
Fix drips and wipe up spills. Roaches need water.
How should you store food?
Keep all food, including pet food, in tightly sealed containers.
Do not leave pet food bowls on the floor overnight.
Keep compost, garbage, and recycling in sealed containers.
What clutter should go?
Paper bags, cardboard, magazines, and newspapers near the kitchen.
Boxes stuffed between appliances or inside cabinets.
Anything stored near areas where you have seen roaches.
Roaches love cardboard and paper. They hide in tight spaces with other roaches, so clutter gives them more room.
What should you NOT do?
Do not set off bug bombs or spray aerosols. Nebraska Extension says these products repel roaches and can push them deeper into walls.
Do not use sprays or household cleaners right around bait. They can repel roaches away from it.
Do not move boxes of stuff from room to room. Roaches ride along.
Can you help in the meantime?
Yes. Nebraska Extension says a vacuum works well on roaches you see. Seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag. Then put it in an outside trash can. Sticky traps help too. They show you where roaches are hiding.
Where do we help?
We help clients in Wichita, Derby, and Andover, and in Overland Park. Learn about cockroach control in Wichita and cockroach control in Overland Park.
Quick Answers
Should I spray before the technician comes?
No. Nebraska Extension says sprays and bombs repel roaches and can make them harder to control later.
Will cleaning alone get rid of roaches?
Usually not. But cleaning removes food and water, and Nebraska Extension says roaches struggle without them. It helps treatment work.
What about pet food?
Keep it in a sealed container, and pick up bowls overnight. Roaches will eat it.
How We Help
We take a look, explain what we see in plain words, and walk you through your options. No scare tactics. No contracts. Call or text us at (316) 775-7867 in Wichita or (913) 222-2847 in Overland Park.
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