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 →If you have seen a cockroach or found droppings, we inspect to find where they live and explain the plan before we start. The aim is to treat the cause, not just the one you spotted.
Newer estates and modern kitchens
Modern homes are often well sealed, yet cockroaches still find routes. Gaps around pipes under sinks, behind fitted kitchen units and around extractor ducts are common. Insects can also arrive in shopping, boxes and second-hand appliances, and then thrive in the warm space behind a dishwasher or fridge.
In an Ivybridge estate home we look at those hidden spots first, using a torch and checking for droppings that resemble coffee grounds, egg cases and a musty smell. If we find activity we treat the harbourages directly and set up monitoring to confirm progress.
Older terraces and shared walls
Older terraced homes have their own weak points: gaps where services pass through party walls, loose floor boards and boxed-in pipework. A cockroach problem can travel along these routes from house to house, so one household treating alone sometimes finds the insects return.
That is why we mention the neighbours when we see signs of movement between properties. Dealing with it together is usually more effective. We explain what we found, what we treated and what repairs, such as sealing around pipes, will reduce the chance of a repeat. Across Ivybridge, we see the same pattern of shared routes between homes.
Shops, takeaways and flats near the moor edge
Food outlets and flats above shops in Ivybridge face the same risks as anywhere, with deliveries, shared bins and drains to watch. We cover the PL21 area, and also Plymouth and Totnes. Roaches can spread germs onto food surfaces, so for businesses we keep records of the visit and give simple routines for staff to follow. Where a home backs onto open moorland edge, people sometimes blame the wild ground outside, but the insects we treat are nearly always indoor species. We concentrate on the kitchen, utility room and bathroom, and we tell you plainly if we think the source is next door.
Frequently asked questions
We live on a newer Ivybridge estate. Why would we have cockroaches?
New homes are not immune. Roaches arrive in boxes, shopping or used appliances, then settle somewhere warm. Gaps behind kitchen units and around pipes give them cover. An inspection finds the actual harbourage.
Should I tell my neighbours if I have cockroaches?
It helps, particularly in terraces and flats, because roaches can use shared voids and pipes. If a neighbour is affected and untreated, the insects may keep coming back to your side.
Are cockroaches a sign of a dirty house?
Not necessarily. They look for warmth, moisture and shelter, and food crumbs help. Good cleaning reduces the pull, but even tidy homes can get them through deliveries or neighbouring properties.