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Step 1
Eliminate water sources by tightening leaky pipes, emptying pans under refrigerators and getting rid of places around your house where water collects. Indoor plants should not be over-watered and water should not be left standing in the sink or other areas for long. Cockroaches can only survive for 12 days with food but no water.
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Step 2
Get rid of potential food sources by sealing tightly any open food bag, storing and disposing of garbage properly, emptying sink strainers regularly and washing dishes immediately after use. Remember to vacuum regularly areas where food is consumed to clean away crumbs and possible German roach eggs. Dispose of the vacuum bag in an outdoor container.
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Step 3
Clean up outside areas where German roaches may live or the ways that they can enter your house. Seal cracks and crevices and clean up clutter both inside and outside the house. Pull mulch away from the house, trim shrubs and other plants and fill tree holes with cement. Both mulch and ivy are favorite breeding grounds so consider keeping those away from the house if used.
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Step 4
Place baits in corners where you suspect German cockroaches are living or are coming into your home. Gel applications can be put into cracks, crevices and around windows and doors by using a syringe.
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Step 5
Spray insecticides into cracks and crevices that are not near places where baits have been placed. Use outdoor sprays for the places that you suspect roaches may be entering. Avoid spraying near food preparation areas or into or around electrical outlets.
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Step 6
Use dusts like boric acid in hidden areas such as under refrigerators, stoves or sinks. Dusts are generally effective longer than other measures but should be used in combination with them.
