Cockroach control in Utrecht: recognise and act
The species we find most often in Dutch kitchens is the German cockroach. It is just over a centimetre long and light brown, with two dark stripes behind its head. During the day it hides in warm, damp places; at night it comes out to look for food and water.
- cockroaches scattering when you switch the light on at night
- small black specks, like ground pepper, in cupboards and along edges
- brown egg cases or shed skins behind appliances
- a musty, sweetish smell when the infestation is larger
If you see one out in daylight, the infestation is often already large, because their hiding places are full.
Where cockroaches come from
Cockroaches rarely walk in from outside. They are usually carried in: in cardboard boxes from a wholesaler, with a second-hand fridge or microwave, or in luggage. In an apartment block they travel through service shafts, cable ducts and gaps around pipes from one kitchen to the next.
Once inside, they choose the warmest spots: behind and under the fridge, near the dishwasher motor, in the plinth under the worktop and around the boiler. They find water in a leaking trap or a wet sink. Wherever crumbs and grease collect, they will follow.
Professional cockroach control with gel bait
Our cockroach control starts by finding the hiding places. With a torch, and sometimes sticky monitoring traps, we see where the insects gather. We then apply gel bait in tiny drops, right into the cracks and corners where they live. The cockroaches feed on the bait in their hiding places, so we reach them in spots you could never get to yourself.
After a few weeks we return to check and top up where needed, because egg cases that were still closed at the time of treatment hatch later. We also seal gaps around pipes where necessary. For other pests, see our page on pest control in Utrecht.
What you can do yourself about cockroaches
Do not reach for a spray. Shop-bought insecticide drives cockroaches into other cupboards or next door, and makes the gel bait we apply later less attractive. What does help is making life difficult for them:
- leave no dishes, crumbs or pet food out overnight
- wipe the sink and worktop dry before going to bed
- store food in sealed containers
- get cardboard and empty bottles out of the house quickly
- have a dripping tap or leaking trap repaired
If you also find rodent droppings in the same kitchen, it is worth reading about mouse control too; both pests seek out the same warm corners.
Cockroaches in restaurants and student houses
In a commercial or shared kitchen, one tidy person is not enough. Agree who cleans when, who takes the rubbish out and how food is stored. An infestation in a student house will keep returning as long as one room full of leftovers acts as a larder.
For restaurants we plan treatment around opening hours, so the kitchen is out of use for as short a time as possible. Gel bait is placed where it does not come into contact with food. Check deliveries on arrival, and unpack boxes in a separate area rather than putting them straight into the stockroom.
