Domakihub How to Get Rid of Cockroaches for Good
A practical, room-by-room elimination plan for homes, rentals, and hotels in Greece.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Cockroaches are one of the most common pest problems in Greek homes, holiday villas, and hotel kitchens — especially in the warmer months when high humidity and heat drive them indoors. The video above walks through a proven four-step extermination method; this guide adapts those principles into a practical action plan you can follow room by room. Work through all five steps in order for the best chance of a permanent result.
Why Cockroaches Are Hard to Eliminate
Cockroaches are survivors: a single female German cockroach can produce hundreds of offspring in a few months, and eggs are sealed inside a protective casing called an ootheca that is largely immune to most surface sprays. Killing the adults you can see rarely solves the problem because the egg cases and juveniles hidden in cracks continue the cycle.
In Greece, the two species you are most likely to encounter are the German cockroach (Blatella germanica), which is small, pale brown, and almost always found indoors near food and moisture, and the larger American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), which enters from drains and outdoor areas. Each needs a slightly different approach, but the core elimination method is the same.
What Does Not Work (and Why)
Aerosol sprays sold in supermarkets give instant knock-down satisfaction but they do not reach hidden egg cases, they repel rather than eliminate colonies, and overuse builds chemical resistance. Similarly, ultrasonic plug-in devices have no reliable scientific backing for cockroach control.
The most effective modern approach combines a slow-acting gel bait that workers carry back to the nest, an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents juveniles from maturing, and targeted residual treatment along the routes cockroaches travel. This multi-layer strategy is what professional exterminators use and what you will replicate in the steps below.
5 Steps to Eliminate Cockroaches
- 1
Inspect and identify the species and hotspots
Before buying any product, spend 15 minutes with a torch at night — cockroaches are nocturnal — checking under the sink, behind the refrigerator, inside kitchen cabinets, along pipe runs, and around the back of appliances. Note where you see live insects, droppings (tiny dark specks), or egg cases. Knowing the exact harborage points means you treat the right spots instead of spraying randomly.
- 2
Sanitise and remove harborage
Cockroaches need food, water, and shelter. Clear out cabinet clutter, store dry food in sealed containers, fix dripping taps, seal gaps around pipes with silicone, and remove cardboard boxes (cockroaches breed inside corrugated card). Removing these resources does not kill a colony, but it forces the insects to seek out your bait rather than ignoring it.
- 3
Apply gel bait in every harborage zone
Gel baits such as Advion or Maxforce contain a slow-acting insecticide suspended in an attractive food matrix. Place pea-sized dots every 15-20 cm along the inside back edge of cabinets, behind the refrigerator, under the dishwasher, inside the meter box, and at the base of the toilet. Crucially, do not spray any insecticide in the same area — the repellent effect stops cockroaches from eating the bait.
- 4
Treat surfaces with a residual spray or dust
Apply a residual spray (pyrethroid-based) or boric acid dust in the voids and cracks that cockroaches use as highways: inside wall cavities where pipes enter, under skirting boards, inside electrical sockets (use dust only, never spray near electrics). Boric acid is low-toxicity to humans but lethal to cockroaches that walk through it and then groom themselves. Reapply dust every three months.
- 5
Monitor with sticky traps and re-bait as needed
Place sticky-pad cockroach monitors under the sink, behind the fridge, and in any bathroom with a drain. Check them every week. A sharp drop in catches within two to three weeks confirms the colony is collapsing. Replace gel bait once it dries out or is consumed — usually every four to six weeks. In rental properties and hotels, schedule a full re-inspection at the start of each high season (April and October).
Rather have a pro handle it?
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FAQ
- How long does it take to get rid of cockroaches completely?
- With a proper bait-and-residual treatment, most infestations collapse within two to four weeks. Heavy infestations in properties with lots of harborage — particularly old kitchens with cracked tiles or extensive pipe runs — can take six to eight weeks and may need a second treatment round.
- Is it safe to use gel bait if I have children or pets?
- Modern gel baits contain very low concentrations of active ingredient and are placed in cracks and behind appliances where children and pets cannot easily reach them. Keep pets and children out of the room while applying the bait, and let it dry for 30 minutes. Boric acid dust should also be applied deep inside voids, not on open surfaces. Always read the product label and store products locked away from children.
- When should I call a professional exterminator?
- Call a licensed pest control company if you still see live cockroaches four weeks after completing your own treatment, if the infestation is throughout the building rather than one area, or if the property is a hotel or rental with guests. Professionals have access to higher-concentration products and can inspect hard-to-reach roof voids and drainage systems that are common cockroach entry points in Greek properties.