How do I need to prepare my home for a cockroach treatment?

For our cockroach control treatments, residents can't do much to prepare their homes. Like our ant control method, we do not require any moving of furniture for standard treatments, and residents may stay home during treatment (unless otherwise advised by the technician).

However, for families with unborn or newborn babies, we recommend minimising exposure to any pesticide that you may come into contact with. So, if there are any sprays applied inside the home, we recommend you vacate the home during the treatment.

For pet owners, we recommend removing the animal/s from the area being treated. Dogs and cats we recommend removing any food or water bowls before the service and then replacing the bowls after the service is completed and any products used have dried. If there is a treatment to be carried out to the exterior of the home, the ideal would be if the animal can be moved to a neighbour or friends property whilst the treatment is being carried out, if that is not possible then place the animal in the garage or laundry whilst the exterior is being treated. The animal can be returned outside once the products used have dried (3-4 hours dependent upon weather conditions). For more information in regards to other pets (reptiles, fish, rodents etc.), please visit our FAQ page.

Next step

How do cockroach inspections work?

Cockroach control program begins with an inspection, looking for live and dead cockroaches, droppings and egg cases. Our entire cockroach control treatment covers 3 stages. The first is assessment, which covers:

• Size of the infestation
• Spread of infestation
• Necessary methods to control cockroach population
• Follow up treatments

Our technicians will inspect:

• In kitchen cupboards, under sinks and around appliances like the refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and microwave oven;
• In cabinets/drawers from wet areas like the bathroom and laundry; and
• If relevant, sub floor areas.

If you find any evidence of cockroaches, then you can start with some basic cockroach control tasks.

Next step

What methods are used to control cockroaches?

We have three different forms of cockroach control. Spraying and dusting, baiting and sticky board traps.

Cockroach Spraying and Dusting

Spray and dust formulation products for cockroach control are a great first-line option and are quite safe for your family. This option is very fast acting, and if the product treatment is complete cockroaches will not migrate from one room to another. Applied in the right places, dust products can offer good, long-term residual protection.

However, any cleaning or wetting of the treated areas will render both spray and dust cockroach control products ineffective. So, the technician will recommend that no cleaning takes place right after a treatment.

Cockroach Baiting

New cockroach control products and formulations have made baiting, once considered an ineffective treatment, more useful again. New generation gel baits are odourless, safe to use in sensitive areas and contain attractants which make the products irresistible to cockroaches.

Cockroach gel baits can be more precisely and neatly applied than dust products. Additionally, little preparation for this cockroach control treatment is needed. However, please be aware that this form of cockroach control may take longer to work (in comparison to sprays and dust formulations).

Sticky Board Traps

Constructed like fly paper, our sticky board traps are safe for use and help understand where the cockroach ‘hot spots’ are in your home. These are highly recommended for follow up treatments. These boards are very effective, but mainly for nesting females, males looking to mate, and young cockroaches looking to socialise. This particular treatment method is best used in addition to another treatment method. 

A balanced combination of the above treatment methods works best. Your Flick Anticimex technician knows the appropriate balance and is able to strategically place baits, traps and spray to best combat your cockroach problem.

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