Cockroach control in Haarlem: gel bait and proofing
The species that causes trouble in homes and restaurant kitchens is usually the German cockroach. It is small and light brown with two dark stripes behind the head, and mainly active at night. During the day it hides in warm, damp crevices: behind the dishwasher, under the worktop, around the fridge motor and in electrical sockets.
Our cockroach control centres on gel bait. We apply it in small drops right at the hiding places. Cockroaches feed on it and carry it back to the group, so it also reaches insects we never get to see. We also seal gaps around pipes and skirting boards and come back to check that the treatment has worked.
Signs of cockroaches
Where you see one cockroach, there are usually more. Look out for:
- Tiny black specks, like ground pepper, in drawers, behind appliances and along skirting boards.
- Empty egg cases: small, brown, oblong capsules in cracks and corners.
- Shed skins and dead insects in cupboards or under the fridge.
- A musty, sweetish smell in a closed cupboard or storeroom.
- Cockroaches scattering when you switch on the light at night.
Not sure whether it is a cockroach or a harmless beetle from the garden? Keep one in a jar; that lets us identify the species quickly.
How cockroaches get in
Cockroaches rarely just wander in. They usually travel in cardboard boxes, crates from the wholesaler, second-hand kitchen appliances or luggage. In a block of flats or commercial building they move to the neighbours through service shafts, cable ducts and gaps.
They multiply quickly and are not just unpleasant: they walk over rubbish and worktops and can spread bacteria that way. For restaurants and food businesses there is the added risk of failing a food safety inspection. Acting early keeps the job manageable.
What you can do – and why spraying backfires
Make life hard for them: clear away all food scraps in the evening, do not leave dirty dishes out, store food in sealed containers and use a bin with a tight lid. Fix dripping taps and leaking traps under the sink, because cockroaches need moisture. Get cardboard boxes out of the house quickly.
Avoid spray cans and bug bombs. They drive the insects into new crevices, and the gel bait we apply works less well where spray has been used. If you also find rodent droppings in the kitchen, read more about mouse control.
Cockroaches in restaurants and businesses
In a commercial kitchen, treatment has to fit around the work. We schedule visits around your opening hours, work discreetly and only apply gel where no food is prepared. You receive practical advice on cleaning, storage and proofing, so your staff can help reduce the chance of a new infestation.
Deliveries deserve attention too: check crates and boxes on arrival and unpack them outside the kitchen. If you also have mice, rats or other pests around the premises, our pest control in Haarlem team will look at those as well.
