Cockroach control in Zaandam: which species?
In homes and commercial kitchens it is usually the German cockroach: light brown, a little over a centimetre long, with two dark stripes on the shield behind its head. It loves warmth and moisture and lives mainly in kitchens. The larger, almost black Oriental cockroach is less common and prefers cool, damp places such as cellars and crawl spaces. Signs of cockroaches:
- insects running around at night and darting off when the light goes on;
- tiny black specks, their droppings, in cupboards and along joints;
- brown egg cases or empty moulted skins behind appliances;
- with a larger infestation, a musty, sour smell.
How cockroaches get in and where they hide
Cockroaches rarely just wander in. They arrive with goods: cardboard boxes from a supplier, a second-hand fridge or microwave, a bag of shopping or a previous occupant's moving boxes. In apartment blocks they travel through service shafts and gaps around pipes from one kitchen to the next.
During the day they hide in dark, warm corners close to food and water: the corner behind the fridge, around the dishwasher, under the sink and in gaps in kitchen units. The warm interior of a coffee machine or microwave is popular too. If you see them out in daylight, their hiding places are probably full and the population is large.
Our cockroach control with gel bait
Spraying with a can from the supermarket often just spreads cockroaches further. Our approach is more targeted. During the inspection we locate their hiding places, sometimes using sticky traps to show where activity is highest. We then apply gel bait into cracks, hinges and joints, exactly where the cockroaches live and out of reach of children and pets. They feed on it and carry it back to their hiding place, so others in the group are affected as well.
After a few weeks we come back to check and top up where necessary, because egg cases can still hatch later. We also advise on sealing gaps and on cleaning. That combination of inspection, proofing and targeted control is at the heart of our pest control in Zaandam.
What helps – and what works against the treatment
Cockroaches live on crumbs, grease and moisture, and the less of these they find, the better the bait works. Do not leave washing-up or uncovered food out overnight, keep the hob and extractor hood free of grease and keep the bin closed. Get a dripping tap or leaking sink trap repaired, as water attracts them too.
- After a gel treatment, do not use spray or strong cleaning products where the gel has been applied.
- Throw cardboard boxes away instead of storing them in the kitchen or storage room.
- Seal gaps around pipes and behind skirting boards, after checking with us.
- Check second-hand appliances before they go into your kitchen.
Cockroaches in restaurants and businesses
For restaurants, snack bars, staff canteens and food businesses, cockroaches are a serious matter, both for hygiene and for the trust of your customers. We plan treatment to disrupt your business as little as possible, for example before or after opening hours, and we work discreetly. Your team gets practical tips on keeping hard-to-reach areas clean and checking deliveries.
Where cockroaches feed on waste and stock, rodents sometimes follow. If you find droppings larger than a cockroach's, or gnaw marks on packaging, read more about mouse control.
