What to Do When You Find Cockroaches

Finding a cockroach can be unsettling. The good news is that a calm, methodical response helps. Here's what to do in the first hours and days.

Step 1: Note where you saw it

Write down where and when you saw the cockroach. Was it in the kitchen at night? Near the bathroom sink? This information is helpful during an inspection.

Step 2: Look for other signs

Use a flashlight to check under sinks, behind appliances, inside cabinets and along baseboards for droppings, egg casings or shed skins. Our guide on how to tell if you have a cockroach problem covers what each sign looks like.

Step 3: Remove easy food and water

• Clean counters, stovetops and floors
• Store food in sealed containers
• Don't leave pet food out overnight
• Fix leaks and dry wet areas

Step 4: Reduce hiding places

Cardboard, paper bags and clutter offer cockroaches shelter. Recycle boxes you don't need and keep storage areas organized.

What to avoid

• Overusing store-bought sprays: spraying randomly can scatter cockroaches into new areas without addressing where they're living
• Ignoring it: cockroach activity often grows when left alone
• Moving infested items to new rooms: this can spread the problem

Step 5: Call a professional

If you're finding more than an occasional cockroach, or you see droppings or egg casings, professional cockroach control is worth considering. A professional can locate harborage areas and treat them directly.

Libra Pest Services customers describe responsive service. One wrote that after moving into a new home with roaches, Germaine "showed up on short notice, came on time, found the nest" and returned two weeks later for a follow-up. Outcomes vary by property, but locating where cockroaches live is a key step.

Apartments and shared buildings

In multi-unit buildings, cockroaches can travel between units. It may help to let your building manager know so the building can be inspected more broadly.

Key takeaways

• Document what you've seen, then check for more signs
• Remove food, water and hiding spots
• Avoid random spraying that scatters activity
• Call (347) 586-2463 for a free estimate on cockroach extermination