Cockroaches come indoors for food, warmth, water and shelter, so understanding what draws them in is the first step towards making your home less inviting.
Cockroaches eat almost anything, and that is a large part of why they do so well around people. Crumbs under the toaster, grease on the cooker hood, spilled drinks, unwashed pans and open packets in cupboards all provide a meal. Pet food left out overnight is another favourite. They also eat things we do not think of as food, such as cardboard, paper labels and soap residue. A kitchen that looks tidy can still feed them if there is a build-up behind the cooker or under the fridge. Even a few grams of food a day is enough to keep a small group going.
Most cockroaches found in British homes prefer warm, humid conditions. The German cockroach is typically found indoors near kitchens and heating, while the oriental cockroach favours damp, cooler spots such as drains, cellars and utility areas. Leaking pipes, dripping taps, condensation and damp cupboards under sinks give them the water they need, and they cannot survive long without it. Boiler cupboards, warm appliance motors and heated airing spaces are especially attractive, particularly through the colder months when the outdoors is less welcoming. Keeping these areas dry and well ventilated helps.
Cockroaches are nocturnal and spend most of the day tucked into tight cracks. Gaps behind kitchen units, loose tiles, the space around pipes where they pass through walls, and the cavities inside appliances are ideal. Cluttered cupboards, piles of cardboard boxes and stacked newspapers offer extra shelter. The more clutter and narrow crevices a room has, the harder it is to spot them, and the faster a small group can become a larger one. Narrow gaps are especially welcome, because cockroaches like to feel surfaces touching them on all sides.
Cockroaches can arrive in shopping bags, cardboard boxes, second-hand appliances, luggage and deliveries. In flats and terraces they move between properties through shared walls, service ducts and pipe runs, which means a neighbour's problem can become yours. Drains and gaps beneath doors also let in the oriental species. Commuter towns and busy high streets in Essex, where food businesses sit beside homes, can see movement between properties, so a clean home is not always enough to avoid a visit. Checking boxes and second-hand items before bringing them indoors is a sensible habit.
Clean up crumbs and spills each day, wipe surfaces, and take rubbish out before bed. Store dry food in sealed containers and pick up pet bowls overnight. Fix leaks, dry the area under sinks, and keep damp to a minimum. Seal gaps around pipes and skirting with suitable filler, and clear clutter from cupboards. Pull out appliances now and then to clean behind them. These steps will not always remove a long-running problem, but they make your home much less attractive and support any treatment.
Do not rely on spraying household products around the kitchen, and avoid using foggers or bombs. They can drive cockroaches deeper into walls and neighbouring homes, and leave residue on surfaces where food is prepared. Do not ignore sightings in daylight, which often mean the hiding places are already crowded. Never use unproven remedies near food, children or pets, and do not assume a single sighting is harmless.
If you see cockroaches more than once, find droppings, shed skins or small brown egg capsules, or notice a musty, oily smell, it is time to call us. Cockroaches breed quickly and are very good at hiding, so an infestation is rarely confined to the one spot where you saw it. We will find out which species you have, trace where they are living and coming from, and treat the property safely. In flats and terraces we can also advise on neighbouring properties.
If you would rather not deal with it yourself, call us on 01245 327 274 or send an enquiry below. You can also read more about our cockroach control service.
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Rats are secretive and mostly active after dark, so the first clues are usually small marks and sounds rather than a sighting of the animal itself.
Read the guide →Not always, as a single one can arrive on a delivery or from a neighbouring property. But cockroaches are nocturnal, so seeing one at all, and especially in daylight, often means more are hiding nearby. Keep watching, clean thoroughly and contact us if you see another or find droppings.
No. A clean house can still have cockroaches if they arrive from outside or from neighbours, and warm, damp spaces and tiny gaps suit them. Poor hygiene makes things worse by providing food, but cleanliness alone cannot promise they will stay away.
Cockroaches avoid light and activity, so they stay hidden during the day and come out in the dark to feed and drink. If you switch on the kitchen light late at night and see them scatter, that is normal behaviour, and it usually means the group living nearby is already settled.
They walk through drains, waste and other dirty places and can carry germs onto food and work surfaces, so they are a hygiene concern. They can also trigger allergies and asthma in some people. That is why quick action and careful cleaning of food areas matter.
Tell us what you have found and roughly where it is. We will come back to you — or call 01245 327 274 if it is urgent.
