Cockroach control in Hoofddorp: how it works
Cockroaches live hidden in warm, dark places: behind the fridge and dishwasher, inside the motor housing of appliances, under the sink and in gaps around pipes. During the inspection we search those hiding places with a torch and set sticky monitors, so we can see where activity is highest and which species we are dealing with.
Then comes treatment with gel bait: small drops in cracks and seams, exactly where the insects run. Cockroaches feed on it and carry it back to their hiding place, where others come into contact with it too. We prefer not to spray, because that scatters them to new spots. At the same time we seal pipe openings and gaps. Because egg cases hatch later, we always schedule one or more follow-up visits.
Which cockroach do you have?
In homes and businesses there are usually two species. The German cockroach is small and light brown, with two dark stripes on the shield behind its head. It loves warmth and mostly lives in kitchens, and the female carries her egg case until it is almost ready to hatch. The Oriental cockroach is larger, dark brown to black and slower. It prefers cool, damp places such as crawl spaces, cellars and sewers, and sometimes comes up through drains. Other signs to look for:
- black specks like ground pepper in drawers, hinges and corners
- empty egg cases and shed skins
- a musty, sweetish smell in cupboards
- cockroaches out and about in daylight: a sign of a large population
How cockroaches get in
Cockroaches rarely walk in by themselves; they are carried in. Think of cardboard boxes and crates from suppliers, a second-hand fridge or microwave, or luggage after a trip. In apartment buildings they also move from flat to flat through shared service shafts, ventilation ducts and gaps around pipes.
So it has little to do with hygiene alone, but food scraps, grease behind the cooker and a dripping tap certainly make life easy for them. For cockroaches, water is at least as important as food.
What you can do – and what not to do
A few habits give the treatment a head start:
- Do not leave dishes or food out overnight, and keep the area behind the cooker and fridge free of grease.
- Store food in sealed containers and do not leave pet food out.
- Have dripping taps and leaking drains repaired.
- Unpack deliveries outside or in the hallway and get rid of cardboard straight away.
Do not use sprays and do not wipe away the gel bait, or it will stop working. If you also find small droppings and gnaw marks in the same kitchen, mice are probably involved as well; read about mouse control.
Cockroaches in restaurants and commercial kitchens
A restaurant, hotel kitchen or staff canteen cannot afford cockroaches. We work discreetly and plan treatment around your opening hours, for example before the lunch service or after closing time. We explain what we found and treated, so you can note it in your own hygiene records. Your staff get practical tips on cleaning, receiving deliveries and reporting sightings.
More about our work for businesses and households is on our pest control in Hoofddorp page.
