How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches ( Latest Update 2026)
Did you know that German cockroaches are the most common type of cockroach all over the world? The German cockroach is a common household pest that’s notorious all over the world for its ability to breed and infest the home, no matter what course of treatment is undertaken to exterminate them. You might be wondering how to get rid of German cockroaches. German cockroaches thrive in households as they like to eat remnants of human food (and pretty much almost anything else they can find). For this reason, they like to be as close to human populations as possible, which is why we often find them and other pests infesting our homes.
How To Get Rid Of German Cockroaches
Identified by their brown colour and occasional two dark stripes along their head, the younger German cockroaches are usually close to being plain black. Although they have wings, they tend to prefer to walk, hence you’ll usually spot them running around the surfaces of your home. As they are such a germ-infested pest, it’s important to manage any infestations, as these cockroaches can bring unwanted bacteria into the home.
The best way to know how to get rid of German cockroaches is to prevent their infestations rather than focus on eradicating them when we see them. As they say, prevention is better than cure. If you want to know where cockroaches are hiding in your home, pay particular attention to where they may be running. When lights are turned on, they’ll often run towards their safe place, so simply noting this might give you some clue as to where they’re hanging out.
Read on for our guide on how to best remove German cockroaches from your home:
- Eliminate clutter
- Clean up after yourself
- Put away food
- Keep everything dry
- Seal off your rubbish bin
- Block off the sink
- Seal everything
- Extermination
1. Eliminate clutter
German cockroaches thrive in messy environments as they like to explore nooks, and crannies, and seek shelter where they can. For this reason, you should eliminate clutter from your home whenever you can. The more your home looks like a rubbish tip, the more cockroaches it will attract.
2. Clean up after yourself
Always clean up completely, especially after cooking and eating. Just a small amount of crumbs that haven’t been wiped is enough to feed these critters, so it’s vital that you wipe down all surfaces (preferably with disinfectant), vacuum floors, and do the dishes rather than leave them in the sink overnight. Remember to clean your toaster as well, and ideally keep it covered, as this forgotten appliance houses crumbs that German cockroaches love to feed on.
3. Put away food from the german cockroaches
Leaving out exposed food is an easy way to guarantee cockroaches. For this reason, you should store food in air-tight containers and in the pantry, where they can be away and not obvious to cockroaches.
4. Keep everything dry
Cockroaches like damp environments, and this means they love bathrooms and kitchens. Make sure you don’t have leaking taps or pipes, and always wipe up puddles of water, particularly in the kitchen and around the dishes. Pay special attention to the dishes, dishwasher, and under the sink.
5. Seal off your rubbish bin
Cockroaches love to go through our scraps, so ensure you have a bin with a lid that closes tightly. Rubbish will only attract cockroaches even more, and this is the downfall of many households.
6. Block off the sink
Cockroaches like to venture into the sink so they can go down into the drain for a drink. By simply adding a strainer to the sink, the source will be blocked off so that cockroaches can no longer access the pipes.
7. Seal everything
Making sure you don’t have exposed cracks, holes, and even door and window frames is a vital part of keeping cockroaches at bay. Don’t allow them to hide or breed, and use sealant and duct tape wherever you need to, particularly in problem areas.
By remaining vigilant and proactive with these tips, you’ll help make your household an unattractive place for cockroaches. These are habits that will have a profound impact on the number of infestations you experience.
8. Exterminate the cockroaches
In addition to prevention, however, you may occasionally need to kill cockroaches that you spot in your home. For those instances, there are several options to take:
- Sprays – This will only kill roaches that you spot, and will not affect other roaches in the home. Therefore it’s not considered an effective treatment for lasting results;
- Boric acid – This can have a greater effect, as when cockroaches walk through the acid they will be infected and later on, die;
- Baiting – This can come in gel form, which is great for cracks, or bait stations, which attract cockroaches to feed, and later kill them as they are poisoned; (Also it can kill up to 6 cockroaches, by eating droppings from infected cockroaches)
- Insect growth regulator – Even if you feel you’ve rid your home of unwanted visitors, you’ll need to break the breeding cycle. These products kill cockroaches that may hatch after you’ve killed others, as it doesn’t allow them to reach breeding age (hence the breeding cycle can be stopped); The first spray kills the adults and stops them from laying more eggs, and the second spray after 21 days kills the nymphs that have hatched, breaking the breeding cycle;
- Pest control – Finally, if you need professional assistance to rid your home of existing cockroaches, you can enlist the help of a pest controller to give your home an all-over with industrial-grade pesticides.
FAQs
How do you get rid of German cockroaches?
Combine prevention with treatment. Remove clutter and food sources, fix leaks, seal cracks and bins, then use gel bait or bait stations and an insect growth regulator. Re-treat after 21 days to catch newly hatched nymphs. For a heavy infestation, call a professional pest controller.
What kills German cockroaches?
Baits are the most effective DIY option because cockroaches carry the poison back to the nest. Boric acid also works as cockroaches walk through it. Sprays only kill the cockroaches you see and won’t clear an infestation.
What do German cockroaches look like?
Adults are light brown with two dark stripes behind the head. Young German cockroaches are smaller and often almost black.
Do German cockroaches fly?
They have wings but rarely fly, and usually run across surfaces. If you see them running when you switch on a light, they are heading for their hiding spot, which tells you where to place bait.
Why do I have German cockroaches in my house?
They are drawn to food crumbs, grease, water and clutter. Unwiped benches, dishes left in the sink, open food, leaking pipes, uncovered bins and unsealed gaps all attract them.
Are German cockroaches dangerous?
They can spread bacteria around your kitchen and food areas. Prompt control and good hygiene reduce the risk.
How long does it take to get rid of German cockroaches?
It takes patience. Cockroaches already in the home need to be killed first, then the breeding cycle must be broken, which takes at least two treatments 21 days apart. Keeping the home clean after that prevents them coming back.
When should I call a pest controller for German cockroaches?
Call if you still see cockroaches after baiting, or if you see them in the daytime, which usually signals a larger infestation. Pestline treats cockroaches across Melbourne’s south-east. Call 1300 361 646 for a free quote.
The Final Word
Taking the necessary steps to kill existing cockroaches, and then maintaining consistency in keeping your home cockroach un-friendly, will yield the best results over time. With patience, you can rid your infestation for good.
Call Pestline on 1300 361 646 and we can discuss what we can do to help when it comes to cockroaches here.
Want to know how to get rid of other bugs out of your home? Check out our other blogs:
Written by Matthew Behman
Matthew Behman is a certified pest control expert in Melbourne with over a decade of experience managing pests in homes, gardens, and commercial properties. Solving common types of problems including spider nests, cockroaches, bed bugs, termites etc. Matthew is committed to delivering affordable and comprehensive pest management services tailored to meet the unique needs of residential and commercial clients.
