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The non-panic guide to dealing with cockroaches (step one: stay calm)
Warning: If you see one roach, chances are there are many more.
Place these small plastic disks anywhere you’ve spotted a roach. They’re filled with a poisonous gel that is mixed with roach food to attract them. The disks have little slits in the sides to allow roaches to access the bait. There are 18 traps in this box, and the traps last for up to 12 months once you place them out.
Similar to the option from Combat, these bait stations are filled with a mix of roach food and bait. They are unscented and last for up to three months once you place them out. These traps have adhesive on the bottom to help them stick to wherever you put them, and they can be used indoors and outside, according to the brand.
These bait stations are filled with a mix of food and slow-acting poison, which actually makes them more effective. Our experts told us that roaches eat the poison, poop it out and other roaches eat that poisoned poop — yup, really. The tops of these stations are clear, making it super easy to tell if the gel bait has run out. They also have adhesive strips on the bottom so you can mount them wherever you need.
If you’ve seen larger roaches, you’ll want to get bait traps made for bigger bugs. These are larger than normal traps and have wider openings to allow big roaches to get to the gel. Also nice: They are child-resistant, so curious kids can’t access the poison.
Though our experts recommend gel baits, some people may prefer just buying the gel — especially if you need to put it in a small space that won’t fit a trap. This gel from Bayer comes in a syringe-like tube, allowing you to be very precise about where you put it. The gel will last for up to a year once you apply it, and it is not toxic to pets, according to the brand.
Though many people associate cockroach infestations with having a dirty house, that’s not necessarily the case. “Roaches usually start outdoors in mulch, leaf piles, drains, sewers, garbage bins, or woodpiles,” says Carpenter. “If you have anything like this close to the house or even right against the wall, you’re increasing the chances that they’ll get in.”
In addition to outside conditions, there are certain things inside that may draw roaches in. “Warmth, moisture, and food crumbs, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms can all attract roaches,” says Juan Rezk, chief marketing officer at Certus Pest In Tampa, Florida. “I’ve seen infestations begin with a single slow sink leak or when people neglect to wash their dishes overnight.”
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed two pest control experts.
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