To eliminate cockroaches permanently, or at least for as long as possible, first remove what keeps them in the home: food, water, and hiding places. Next, locate cockroach travel routes with sticky traps. Finally, treat these areas with an insecticide approved in Canada, applied according to the label. Health Canada states that pesticides alone are not successful, as the environment must first be modified.
No solution guarantees that a cockroach will never return. Cockroaches and their egg cases often enter with delivery boxes, used furniture, or empty bottles. The 4-step plan below aims for a reduction in captures down to zero, then an environment that is inhospitable to a new cockroach colony. If captures persist, step 4 indicates when to call a professional.
To confirm the species and see photos of the signs, consult the cockroach sheet in our Insect Library. For the first steps to take, our comprehensive guide on cockroaches, roaches, and roach infestations covers immediate management.
Why cockroaches settle in and return
Cockroach, roach, and cockroach all refer to the same pests. Cockroaches live anywhere they find food, water, and shelter. According to Health Canada, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and plumbing areas attract them because they are warm and damp. Cockroaches prefer foods rich in starch, sugar, or protein. When hungry, cockroaches will eat almost anything.
The German cockroach is one of the most common species in homes. According to Health Canada, the adult measures 1.3 to 1.6 cm. Its pale brown body has two dark bands from the head to the base of the wings. Our Insect Library also lists the American cockroach and the Oriental cockroach.
The presence of cockroaches does not necessarily mean the home is dirty. Cockroaches often arrive with items: used furniture, food, empty bottles, or shipping boxes. Once in a building, they easily move from one room or apartment to another. Since cockroaches are active at night, an infestation can go unnoticed for some time.
The first signs of presence are often indirect. Our Insect Library describes excrement resembling black pepper grains, brown egg cases called oothecae, and, in an advanced infestation, a greasy musty odor. Dark streaks on walls, in very damp places, also signal cockroach activity. A cockroach seen in broad daylight generally indicates a major infestation, since these insects prefer darkness.
Damage to the structure of a home is rare. According to Health Canada, cockroaches can contaminate food and spread diseases. They pass over food preparation surfaces after moving through garbage cans or drains. Their excrement and body fragments can also cause a reaction in people with asthma.
Step 1: remove food, water, and hiding places
Insecticides work better in a home where cockroaches have little to eat and few places to hide. Health Canada recommends combining intensive cleaning with an insecticide. Start with these prevention steps:
- Wipe up spills immediately and do not leave water or pet food out day and night.
- Store food in airtight plastic or glass containers, as cockroaches can pierce cardboard and lay their eggs inside.
- Clean dark areas near food often, especially under and behind kitchen appliances.
- Empty garbage cans daily into a closed container.
- Wash dishes the same evening or leave them to soak in soapy water.
- Vacuum often to remove crumbs, cockroaches, and their egg cases.
Also reduce the home's water sources. Repair leaky faucets and pipes. Insulate condensing pipes. Ventilate the bathroom and dehumidify the basement and poorly ventilated rooms. Then caulk cracks, crevices, and openings around pipes. A fine screen placed over vents, open pipes, and drains also limits cockroach entry points.
Step 2: locate travel routes with sticky traps
Sticky traps are first used to measure. According to Health Canada, they show where cockroaches are and in what numbers, allowing efforts to be concentrated in the right place. Place these traps along baseboards and walls, under the sink, behind the refrigerator, under the stove, and near pipes. Record the captures from each trap every week to monitor the infestation. The fullest ones indicate the travel areas to treat first.
Natural solutions and home tips against cockroaches
The natural solutions described by Health Canada are mostly physical. Steam cleaning is suitable for furniture, toys, or items touched if the material can withstand heat and moisture. After vacuuming, place the bag in soapy water to destroy cockroaches and their eggs. You can also freeze infested items for at least 24 hours, ideally up to a week, at -8 °C.
Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made of marine fossils. It damages the cockroach's outer shell as it passes through, dehydrating it. According to Health Canada, it is not toxic to humans and animals and remains active as long as it stays dry. Avoid breathing in the dust during application. Apply it in dark corners, cracks, under sinks, and along baseboards.
Avoid home tips like mixing baking soda and sugar. Our Insect Library presents it as an unproven method. Health Canada advises against making your own pesticides due to health and environmental risks. White vinegar and essential oils are not among the methods described by Health Canada against cockroaches.
Step 3: treat active areas with an approved insecticide
Choose a product whose label lists cockroaches and the area to treat, with a product registration number (PCP) confirming Health Canada approval. You can check a label using Health Canada's label search. Apply it where the traps captured the most cockroaches and follow the label, which always takes precedence.
Health Canada describes several types of solutions available to consumers. Residual insecticides for cracks and crevices are the most used against cockroaches. Bait stations, in tamper-proof containers, kill cockroaches approximately 48 to 96 hours after ingesting the active ingredient. In severe infestations, aerosols increase treatment effectiveness by drawing insects out onto treated surfaces. Our Insect Library also mentions insecticide gels, applied in wall cracks, under baseboards, and behind appliances.
Precautions during treatment are detailed in our guide on how to get rid of cockroaches.
Our collection of cockroach products includes sticky traps, bait stations, powders, and insecticides. Check the label of each item before purchase.
Step 4: monitoring and prevention to prevent cockroaches from returning
Keep a few sticky traps in place for several weeks after treatment. They indicate if cockroach presence returns and in which room. Depending on the infestation level, more than one application may be necessary. The label indicates if a new application is permitted.
Maintain the habits from step 1 even when captures drop to zero. These maintenance tips form the basis of prevention. Inspect delivery boxes, used furniture, and empty bottle crates before bringing them into the home. Do not keep empty cardboard boxes in cabinets or the basement, as cockroaches can lay eggs in them.
In an apartment, cockroaches easily move from one home to another. Notify the owner or building manager at the first signs, so that neighboring homes can be checked at the same time.
Health Canada also suggests considering a licensed exterminator or pest control operator. Call a professional in the following situations:
- Captures do not decrease despite cleaning and an application according to the label.
- Several homes are affected.
- You prefer not to handle pesticides.
In case of accidental poisoning, call a poison control center immediately. Bring the product label or container.
For more information, the cockroach sheet in the Insect Library describes common species and their hiding places. The cockroach collection presents the traps and baits available online.
