Cockroaches are the pest people are most embarrassed to call about — and they shouldn't be. In the Illawarra's warm, humid summers they turn up in spotless homes just as often as messy ones. All they need is warmth, a bit of moisture and a gap to hide in.
The frustrating part is how stubborn they are. You spray, they vanish for a week, and then they're back on the benchtop at 2am. That's because what you're seeing is a fraction of what's actually there.
German vs Australian cockroaches
It helps to know what you're dealing with, because the two common types behave differently.
- German cockroaches are the small ones that infest kitchens and bathrooms. They breed fast and live in tight, warm gaps — behind the fridge, inside the dishwasher, in the cracks around cupboards. These are the ones that get out of hand quickly.
- Australian and American cockroaches are the big ones that come in from outside, drains, subfloors and garden beds. Less of a breeding problem indoors, more of a "why is there a cockroach the size of a matchbox in my hallway" problem.
How we get on top of them
We treat the source, not the symptom. That means professional gel baits placed exactly where cockroaches harbour and feed, plus a treatment to the surrounding cracks, voids and entry points. The bait gets carried back through the colony, so it works on the ones you never see — not just the few that wandered into view.
For the bigger outdoor species we also look at how they're getting in: gaps under doors, drains, weep holes and subfloor vents. Close those off and the problem largely takes care of itself.
Keeping them gone
Once we've knocked them down, a few habits keep them away: wipe up crumbs and spills, fix dripping taps, keep the bin sealed, and don't leave pet food out overnight. Cockroaches need water more than food, so a dry kitchen is a quiet kitchen.
If you've got cockroaches and you're sick of the cat-and-mouse, give us a call. One proper treatment beats a year of spray cans.
Common questions
- Why do cockroaches keep coming back after I spray?
- Supermarket sprays kill the ones you hit and not much else. The colony lives in the warm, hidden gaps behind your kitchen and bathroom, and they breed faster than you can spray. We treat those harbourage points directly with professional baits and products, which is why the result lasts.
- How long does a treatment take to work?
- You'll often see more activity for a day or two as the bait does its job and cockroaches come out, then numbers drop off sharply over the following week. A full treatment generally keeps them down for months.
- Do I need to empty my kitchen cupboards?
- For most jobs, no. We'll let you know if any prep helps, but our gel baits are placed precisely in the gaps cockroaches use, so there's rarely any need to pull the whole kitchen apart.