To keep roaches from coming back after treatment, take away the food, water and hiding places they rely on, seal the gaps they travel through, and keep monitoring so any survivors are found early. Give the treatment time to work as well: UC IPM’s guide to cockroaches notes that an effective bait program may take 7 days or longer to show results. Saela Pest Control, a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, treats cockroaches in homes and businesses, and the ten tips below support its cockroach control service rather than replace it.
1. Keep the Kitchen Clean Every Day
Kitchens are where German cockroaches most often settle, because they offer warmth, moisture, food and dark hiding spots close together. A daily routine removes the crumbs and spills that keep them going:
- Clean up spills and crumbs right away, including on the floor
- Wipe counters and stovetops at the end of each day
- Wash dishes before bed instead of leaving them overnight
- Empty kitchen trash every evening
Penn State Extension’s guide to German cockroaches recommends the same basics: no dirty dishes overnight, no spilled food and garbage emptied each evening. UC IPM adds that even tiny crumbs or liquids caught in cracks provide food, so consistent cleaning matters more than an occasional deep clean.
2. Remove Water Sources
Cockroaches need regular access to water, so drying out the places they visit makes your home much less hospitable. Focus on these sources:
- Fix leaking pipes and faucets, including under sinks
- Wipe sinks, tubs and shower floors dry at night
- Pick up pet water bowls overnight if roaches have been seen nearby
- Run a dehumidifier in damp basements or laundry areas
UC IPM recommends fixing plumbing and irrigation leaks to reduce sources of water. Leaks under sinks and behind dishwashers deserve a close look, because they combine moisture with dark hiding spots. Saela’s article on whether cockroaches can influence asthma and allergies explains why a lingering population is worth resolving.
3. Seal Entry Points and Gaps
Sealing gaps limits how roaches move into your home and between rooms. Check and seal these spots:
- Gaps around pipes and wires where they pass through walls, floors and cabinets
- Cracks along baseboards, countertops and backsplashes, sealed with caulk
- Gaps under exterior doors, closed with door sweeps and weatherstripping
- Openings around vents and drains, covered with fine screening
Caulking holes where pipes pass through walls in kitchens and bathrooms is a necessary step in controlling German cockroaches, according to Penn State’s German cockroach guidance. UC IPM also recommends sealing openings to the outside and using door sweeps and weatherstripping.
4. Declutter Regularly
Clutter gives cockroaches places to hide and breed out of sight. Reduce it with a few habits:
- Keep paper and cardboard storage to a minimum, and use plastic bins for long-term storage
- Organize closets, pantries and storage areas so floors and shelves are easy to see
- Don’t let laundry or dishes pile up
- Donate or recycle items you no longer use
UC IPM recommends removing piles of papers, cardboard boxes and other clutter. Fewer hiding places also make it easier for a technician to place baits and monitors where roaches actually travel, which is the first step in Saela’s integrated pest management cycle.
5. Be Realistic About Natural Remedies
Natural remedies such as bay leaves, cucumber slices and essential oils are not a reliable way to keep roaches away. None of the extension guides reviewed for this article recommends them:
- Bay leaves in drawers and cabinets aren’t recommended as cockroach control in the extension guides reviewed here
- Cucumber slices near entry points aren’t recommended either
- Essential oils such as peppermint or eucalyptus may smell pleasant but are not a substitute for sanitation and baits
- Desiccant dusts such as diatomaceous earth are a real pest-control product, but they belong in wall voids and must be used as their label directs
UC IPM describes desiccant dusts such as diatomaceous earth and silica aerogel as repellent and effective when applied to voids and other out-of-the-way places. Because repellent products can keep roaches away from bait, ask your technician before adding any product near bait placements. Saela’s technicians are trained by Dennis Weiss, Saela’s board-certified entomologist, who holds the Entomological Society of America’s Board Certified Entomologist credential.
6. Store Food Properly
Roaches are drawn to food they can reach easily, so storage is one of the most effective prevention steps. Keep food sealed:
- Store cereal, crackers, flour, sugar and other dry goods in airtight containers
- Keep ripe fruit and opened produce in the refrigerator
- Pick up pet food bowls after meals
- Don’t leave food out on counters overnight
Penn State Extension specifically recommends storing cereal, crackers, cookies, flour, sugar and bread in airtight sealed containers. UC IPM suggests glass jars or resealable plastic containers.
7. Clean and Vacuum Thoroughly
Regular vacuuming removes the food particles that collect where you rarely look. Add these to your routine:
- Vacuum floors, carpets and baseboards regularly
- Clean under and behind the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher
- Wipe hard surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom
- Vacuum cracks and crevices with a narrow attachment
UC IPM recommends regularly vacuuming indoor cracks and crevices, cleaning behind kitchen appliances and cleaning floors and counters. If baits or monitors have been placed, clean around them rather than wiping them away.
8. Manage Garbage Carefully
Garbage is a reliable food source for roaches, so handle it in a way that keeps it sealed. Follow these steps:
- Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids, indoors and out
- Empty indoor trash every evening
- Rinse and clean trash cans regularly
- Keep outdoor bins closed and away from doors
Both Penn State Extension and UC IPM recommend containers with tight-fitting lids. Moving outdoor bins away from entry doors also helps with outdoor species, and Saela’s guide to roach control in 2025 covers how the different species are treated.
9. Maintain Outdoor Areas
Outdoor cockroach species such as American, oriental and Turkestan cockroaches can wander indoors from the yard. UC IPM notes that these species live outdoors but can temporarily invade indoor spaces. Reduce outdoor shelter near the house:
- Clear leaf litter and debris from along the foundation
- Trim shrubs and plants so they don’t touch the house
- Store firewood and lumber away from the house
- Make sure water drains away from the foundation
UC IPM recommends removing trash and stored items such as stacks of lumber or firewood from around the outside of the home. German cockroaches, by contrast, usually arrive inside on boxes, grocery bags and appliances, so check deliveries and secondhand items before storing them.
10. Keep Up Follow-Up Visits and Monitoring
Monitoring is the step that catches a small rebound before it becomes another infestation. A professional plan and simple traps work together:
- Keep scheduled follow-up visits so baits and monitors can be checked
- Place sticky traps along walls and under sinks to see whether activity continues
- Report new sightings early instead of waiting for the next visit
- Ask your technician which cleaning products are safe to use near baits
UC IPM calls sticky traps the best way to detect and monitor cockroach populations. Saela’s German cockroach treatment uses gel baits, crack-and-crevice applications, monitoring devices and a follow-up visit, and while a plan is active, Saela offers no-charge return visits for covered pests between scheduled services.
Conclusion
Keeping roaches from coming back depends on steady habits after treatment: clean daily, remove water, seal gaps, cut clutter and keep monitoring. Pesticides alone will not solve a cockroach problem, as UC IPM’s cockroach pest note points out, and these steps are what make treatment last. In a March 2026 HomeAdvisor review, Pearl M. reported seeing dead insects after the first treatment.
If you still see roaches a few weeks after treatment, or you want help setting up a prevention plan, book a call to talk with Saela about cockroach control. Saela’s Altamonte Springs, Florida location is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 341 Google reviews as of October 2026.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
