Last updated on June 30th, 2023 at 07:45 pm
According to urban legend, cockroaches are the only creature that can survive a nuclear Armageddon. But like many other enduring urban legends of our time, it’s likely untrue. In any case, these pesky critters do have a reputation for resilience.
The German roach is the most prevalent cockroach species in the world — and frankly, the reason all the 70 cockroach species (or thereabouts) found in the US get a bad rap. Typically, German roaches invade human-occupied spaces.
These creepy crawlies are known to carry disease-causing germs and can trigger allergic reactions in humans. Is a German roach infestation giving you sleepless nights? Read on to learn how to get rid of German roaches overnight.
German roaches reproduce fast, laying up to 40 eggs at a time. That means a German cockroach infestation can rapidly become severe. German roaches are also among the most resilient pests you’ll ever encounter.
So, how do you get rid of these annoying crawlies naturally? Here are a few tips to keep German roaches away for good.
Deep clean your home
The first step to keeping your home roach-free is maintaining sanitary conditions. German roaches, and cockroaches in general, thrive in filthy conditions. Clean your kitchen thoroughly and remove overflowing garbage, leftover food, and any crumbs behind appliances.
Have a cleaning routine
If you want to eliminate German roaches permanently, you need to establish a cleaning routine. Focus on minimizing clutter, taking the trash out regularly, and dealing with food waste immediately. Vacuuming as part of your cleaning routine helps remove allergens and food particles.
Inspect hiding places regularly
As mentioned earlier in the article, German roaches are incredibly resilient. Be sure to inspect their favorite hiding spots regularly to prevent re-infestation. German roaches can also hitchhike on groceries, so check produce bags and boxes when you come home from the grocery store.
Keep an eye out
Getting rid of German roaches naturally is an ongoing process. Once your home is clean and tidy, use insect monitors in different parts of your home to keep an eye out for these filthy roommates. An insect monitor is a simple sticky trap you can use to tell what creepy crawlies are frequenting different areas in your home.
Seal entry points
The final step to rid your home of German roaches is to seal entry points. Sealing openings is particularly important if you live in a warm, humid area where German roaches can survive outdoors. Use caulk or silicone to seal openings, including gaps between tiles, cracks around doorframes and windows, etc.
How to Get Rid of German Roaches in an Apartment
Discovering a nest of German roaches in your apartment can be upsetting. It’s imperative that you take aggressive roach control measures to nip the infestation in the bud. Here’s what you can do to eliminate German roaches in an apartment.
Conduct visual inspection
The first thing you need to do is identify the German roach hot spots in your apartment. Start with a visual inspection of the favorite hideouts, starting in the kitchen. The kitchen has food, water, and plenty of nooks and crannies for the roaches to hide.
Look out for live cockroaches, corpses, droppings, and bits of shell. Look behind and underneath appliances, in dark drawers and cabinets, and under the sinks. Conduct a thorough and then move on to other rooms.
Set sticky traps
On top of visual inspections, use glue traps — or insect monitors — to take the guesswork out of your extermination efforts. These sticky traps will help you discover German roach hot spots and kill some roaches simultaneously.
Use gel bait
When you know about all the German roach hot spots in your apartment, you can use gel baits to get rid of them. Gel bait attracts roaches with food infused with a slow-acting poison that doesn’t kill them immediately. They take it back to their nests and infect the others, wiping out the entire colony.
Spray insecticide
You can also spray German roaches with insecticide, killing them on contact. For the best results, use contact insecticide with gel baits to get rid of your German roach problem quickly. The poison in the gel baits will take care of any survivors.
Break German roach breeding cycles with IGR
The primary reason German roaches are difficult to eliminate is that they reproduce quickly. Insect growth regulators (IGR) is a substance you can use to break their reproduction cycles, helping you get rid of German roaches once and for all.
Best German Cockroach Killer
Are you looking for the best German cockroach killer for your roach problem? Try Ortho Defense Insect Spray. A single spray will keep these pesky critters out of your home for 18 months.
Best German Cockroach Bait
If you are looking for the best German cockroach bait to help you get rid of your unwelcome guests, give Hot Shot Roach Bait a try. This low-profile trap uses a liquid that tacks the roaches’ head, legs, and back.
Gel Bait for German Roaches
For gel bait to get rid of German roaches, we’ve heard good things about the Syngenta Advion Cockroach Bait. You shouldn’t expect instant results, but the slow-acting bait can take out the entire colony of German roaches over time.
Get Rid Of German Roaches For Good!
As always, prevention is better than cure. You can avert a German cockroach infestation by making your home inhospitable to these filthy critters through good sanitation. But that’s easier said than done, and you may still find yourself dealing with an out-of-control German roach situation.
So, how do you deal with a nest of German roaches in your home? The species’ quick reproduction cycles and resilience to common pest control methods make them incredibly challenging — but not impossible — to eliminate.
Get rid of German roaches using a multi-pronged approach. Lay down gel baits, spray contact insecticide, and apply insect growth regulator (IGR) to break their breeding cycles. If the infestation is severe or you feel like the whole DIY approach is a little over your head, hire an exterminator.