Advice
What Attracts Cockroaches Into a Home or Kitchen
Cockroaches look for warmth, moisture, food and dark hiding places, so understanding what draws them in is the first step to keeping them out of your kitchen.
Read the guide →Our approach is to find where they are living before we treat anything. We inspect carefully, apply a targeted treatment, check progress and give you plain advice on cleaning and proofing. You will know the price before any work starts, and we explain each step as we go. If you are not sure what you have seen, describe it when you call and we will say whether it sounds like a cockroach.
How to spot a cockroach problem
Most people notice cockroaches at night, when a light goes on in the kitchen and something runs for cover. Other signs are easier to miss. Droppings look like ground pepper or coffee grounds and collect along the edges of cupboards, inside drawers and behind appliances. Egg cases, shed skins and a stale, musty smell all point to a settled colony in the building.
Cockroaches favour warm, damp and dark spaces, so we look first at the places most people never see. That means behind kitchen units, under sinks, around the back of fridges and cookers, inside drains and in bin stores. In flats and shared buildings they can travel along pipes and service ducts, so the source is not always in your own home. We look at the whole building where we can, because that is the only reliable way to trace where they are coming from.
Why cockroaches should not be ignored
Cockroaches walk through drains, bins and other unclean places and then across the surfaces where food is prepared. In doing so they can spread germs onto worktops, utensils and food. That makes them more than a nuisance, and for any business that handles food it is a serious problem that needs prompt attention.
They also breed steadily once settled. Left alone, a few insects become many, and they spread into neighbouring rooms and sometimes neighbouring properties. Acting early keeps the treatment simpler and the cost lower. If you have seen even one cockroach and cannot explain where it came from, it is worth having the property looked at. Landlords and managing agents in particular should not leave a report from a tenant for later, as the problem rarely stays in one flat.
What a visit involves and who we help
We start with an inspection of the kitchen, bathroom, utility areas and anywhere else the insects may be sheltering. Once we know where they are living, we carry out a targeted treatment and explain what to expect in the days afterwards. We then monitor progress, and we give practical advice on cleaning, food storage and sealing gaps so the problem does not return. Where a treatment needs a repeat visit, we say so at the start rather than after the first call.
We work with householders, tenants, landlords and managing agents, as well as takeaways, restaurants and shared buildings. Devon has a mix of older terraced housing, seaside flats, holiday lets and busy town centre premises, and each can present its own hiding places. We agree the price with you first, so there are no surprises once we begin. Tell us about the building when you call, and whether it is shared, so we can plan the visit properly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have cockroaches?
The clearest signs are live insects seen at night, droppings that look like pepper or coffee grounds, egg cases and a musty smell. Check behind kitchen units, under sinks and around appliances with a torch. If you find any of these signs, we can inspect the property and confirm what is going on.
Will one treatment be enough?
That depends on how far the problem has spread. Many cases need a treatment followed by monitoring to check that numbers are falling. We explain the plan after the inspection, including whether a follow up visit is likely, so you know what to expect before you agree to go ahead.
Can you help a food business with cockroaches?
Yes. We work with takeaways, restaurants and other food premises. After treatment we can talk through cleaning routines, waste handling and proofing that help prevent a return. Pest control is only one part of food hygiene, but it is an important one for any kitchen.
Do I need to leave my home during treatment?
We tell you before we start whether anything needs to be moved or covered, and how long to keep children and pets away from treated areas. Most households carry on as normal once those simple instructions have been followed. Ask us if you have any particular concerns about your household.