Start with the basics: sanitation and sealing

Roaches need three things to survive in your apartment: food, water, and shelter. Remove those and you remove the infestation. Start by cleaning thoroughly — sweep under appliances, wipe down counters and stovetops daily, and take out trash in a sealed container every night. Roaches eat crumbs, grease, pet food, and cardboard, so eliminate those sources first.

Next, cut off their water. Fix any leaking pipes under the sink or around the toilet. Dry the sink and tub before bed — roaches will drink from standing water. Wipe down the bathroom after showers. This alone stops many infestations from getting worse, because roaches cannot survive long without water.

Finally, seal entry points. Caulk cracks in baseboards, around pipes, and where walls meet the kitchen. Roaches hide in gaps thinner than a credit card. Pay special attention to the space between your apartment and your neighbor's — that shared wall is often how roaches travel between units.

Key Takeaways

  • Roaches survive on food scraps, water, and hiding spots, so eliminating those three things is the foundation of any treatment.
  • In apartments, you may need to coordinate with your landlord or building management because roaches often move between units through shared walls and pipes.
  • Over-the-counter gel baits and boric acid powder work for small infestations, but large ones usually require a professional pest control service.
  • If you treat your apartment but neighboring units do not, roaches will return within weeks, so communication with your landlord matters.

Use gel baits for small infestations

If you see only a few roaches, gel baits are your first chemical step. Products like Combat Max or Advion contain poison mixed with food attractant. Roaches eat the bait, return to their hiding spots, and die — and other roaches eat the dead roaches and the poison, spreading it through the colony.

Place baits in corners, under sinks, behind appliances, and along baseboards where you have seen roaches. Put them in a line, not scattered randomly. Replace baits every two weeks or when they are empty. Most infestations show improvement within a week, but full control takes three to four weeks because you are killing multiple generations.

Gel baits work best when you have already cleaned and sealed. If food and water are still available everywhere, roaches ignore the bait. If cracks are still open, new roaches keep entering from neighboring units. Baits alone rarely solve an apartment infestation — they work as part of a complete approach.

Know when to call your landlord or building management

In most states, landlords are legally required to maintain apartments free of pests. That means if you have a roach infestation, your landlord must pay for professional treatment — you should not have to pay out of pocket. Document what you see: take photos, note dates and locations, and keep receipts for any cleaning supplies or baits you buy.

Contact your landlord in writing (email is fine) and describe the problem clearly. Say you have cleaned and sealed entry points on your side, but you need professional treatment. Most landlords will hire a pest control company within a week or two. If your landlord ignores the request, send a second email and keep a copy. In many places, you can withhold rent or break your lease if the landlord fails to address a pest problem, but check your state's tenant laws first.

Apartment roach problems are almost always shared problems. Your neighbors may have roaches too, and if only your unit is treated, roaches from their apartments will reinfest yours within weeks. A good landlord treats multiple units at once. If your building has a roach problem, ask whether the landlord is treating other units — if not, treatment in your apartment alone will not work.

Hire a professional pest control service if the problem is large

If you see roaches regularly, in multiple rooms, or if baits have not worked after four weeks, you need a professional. Pest control companies have access to stronger treatments and the knowledge to find where roaches are hiding and breeding. They typically use a combination of gel baits, insecticide sprays, and growth regulators that prevent roaches from reproducing.

A professional treatment usually costs between $150 and $400 for an apartment, depending on the size and severity. Many companies offer a may provide: if roaches return within 30 days, they treat again for free. Ask about this before you hire. Some companies require you to prepare the apartment (remove dishes, clear counters, move items away from walls) — follow those instructions exactly or the treatment will not work.

After professional treatment, roaches may seem worse for a few days because the chemicals drive them out of hiding before they die. This is normal. Keep the apartment clean and sealed, and do not use other pesticides on top of the professional treatment — mixing chemicals can be dangerous and reduces effectiveness.

Use boric acid powder carefully if you choose it

Boric acid is an older, inexpensive treatment that kills roaches by damaging their exoskeleton. It is sold as a powder under names like Roach Prufe. You dust it lightly in cracks, under appliances, and along baseboards where roaches travel. It works slowly — roaches die over several days — but it is cheap and lasts longer than baits.

Boric acid is toxic if swallowed, so use it only if you do not have children or pets, or if you can keep them away from treated areas. Never use it on countertops or anywhere food is prepared. Dust it lightly — a thin layer works better than a thick one, and thick powder makes roaches avoid the area. Reapply every few weeks until roaches are gone.

Boric acid works best in combination with baits and sanitation, not alone. It is also slower than gel baits or professional treatment, so if you need results quickly, choose a different method.

Prevent roaches from returning after treatment

Once you have eliminated the infestation, keep it gone by maintaining the habits that worked: clean daily, fix leaks when ready, seal cracks, and store food in sealed containers. Roaches can survive weeks without food but only days without water, so staying on top of moisture is critical.

Check your apartment monthly for signs of roaches — droppings that look like black pepper, dead roaches, or a musty smell. If you see any, treat when ready before a new colony establishes. In apartments, also talk to your neighbors occasionally. If they mention roaches, alert your landlord so treatment can happen building-wide before roaches spread to your unit.

If roaches return despite your efforts, they are likely coming from neighboring units. Contact your landlord again and ask for building-wide treatment. A single apartment cannot stay roach-free if the building as a whole has an infestation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get rid of roaches?

Small infestations treated with baits usually show improvement in one to two weeks and are gone in three to four weeks. Larger infestations or those requiring professional treatment may take four to eight weeks because you are killing multiple generations. Roaches reproduce quickly, so patience and consistency matter more than speed.

Can I treat my apartment if my landlord will not help?

Yes, you can buy baits and seal cracks yourself. However, if the infestation is large or if roaches are coming from neighboring units, your own treatment will have limited success. Document your efforts and your landlord's refusal, because in most states you have legal options if the landlord neglects pest control.

What if I see roaches after professional treatment?

Contact the pest control company when ready. Most offer a may provide and will retreat for free if roaches return within 30 days. If roaches appear after 30 days, they may be new roaches entering from other units, which means the building needs treatment, not just your apartment.

Are roaches a sign my apartment is dirty?

Not necessarily. Roaches travel between apartments through shared walls and pipes, so you can have roaches even if your apartment is clean. That said, a clean apartment is much harder for roaches to survive in, so sanitation is always your first step — whether the infestation started with you or came from a neighbor.

Should I use bug bombs or foggers?

No. Bug bombs are ineffective against roaches because the insects hide in cracks where the fog does not reach. They also contaminate your entire apartment with pesticide, require you to leave for hours, and are often illegal in apartment buildings without landlord permission. Gel baits, boric acid, or professional treatment are all better choices.