What to Expect After an Exterminator Sprays for Roaches

There is no one-size-fits-all cockroach treatment, but there are common concerns homeowners have.

This guide includes:

What to Expect After Roach Exterminator Treatment

After professional cockroach pest control services treat your home, you should see a reduction in cockroaches, their nesting materials, and typical signs of infestation. 

However, don’t be surprised if you see remaining roaches fleeing your property.

Why Are There Still Roaches After Pest Control?

Cockroach pest control treatments often take time to effect, and they don’t always outright kill roaches – some roaches will survive but are likely to find the quickest way out of your property. 

You may even see roaches during the daytime if it hasn’t been a norm for your particular infestation. The likelihood is that they are confused or actively repelled by the pest treatment, meaning their nesting and living habits have been disrupted. 

If you still believe there is an issue with a roach treatment taking effect, contact your local pest control services to discuss your concerns.

Related: How to Treat Cockroaches in Apartments and Homes

Do Roaches Get Worse After Spraying?

Are you seeing more roaches after you spent money on professional pest services? 

Don’t fret – that means it’s working! 

You’ll likely notice more roaches than usual immediately after beginning treatment, but that’s because they’re trying to escape the chemicals killing them.

How Long Do Roaches Come Out After Spraying?

Depending on the infestation, it can take months for professional pest technicians to completely control a roach problem (typically the case with German roaches).

How to Tell if Roaches Are Dying

If you see cockroaches in abnormal places, away from nooks and crannies, they are likely confused and trying to flee. 

Similarly, if they move slowly, pest control treatments are taking effect.

Why Are There Baby Cockroaches in My Home?

Because the life cycle of a typical cockroach takes about 100 days from egg to adult, babies may still be hatching during your cockroach treatment. Treatment will work on them, and they’ll just as well leave their nest for a safer place than your home.

What to Do After an Exterminator Treats Your Home

It’s good to have a long-term mindset when it comes to treating your home for cockroaches.

Trust that the treatments are working, and keep the following in mind:

Do Not Clean Treated Areas

Cleaning right after cockroach pest control – especially deep cleaning of surfaces that they have treated – can disrupt the process of getting roaches out for good. 

While a cockroach pest control treatment is not an excuse for a messy home, it does take a bit of uninterrupted time for the roach solution to take effect.  

Clean Surrounding Areas

It is important to remove easy sources of food such as loose crumbs, open food containers, or trash containers – it’ll keep them from simply moving their nest to another area inside your home.

Restrict Water Sources

Roaches affected by pest control treatment will be in dire need of water for survival. This means that as they migrate, they will gravitate toward any safe water source they can find, including showers, bathtubs, sinks, etc. 

Don’t make it easy on roaches to access your water supply – make sure your plumbing is tightly secure.

What to do If You Are Still Seeing Roaches After Treatment

The most important thing to do when getting your home treated for a roach infestation is to be patient. There are some factors that make cockroaches hard to control.

With the highest quality pest control treatments, you’ll likely see a reduction in roach activity within days, while total control and complete elimination of your infestation may take months. There is no use in doubling up on many treatments at once – trying to stack DIY solutions on top of professional pest treatment during this time may set you back and undo the progress you’ve already made.

However, you shouldn’t take the success for granted, either – if there remains a considerable amount of roaches in treated areas around your property (signifying no significant change), communicate with your pest control professional for proper estimation and expectations.

How to Clean Up Bug Spray

Keep children and pets away from treated areas until the solution has dried and settled for the greatest effect and safety. If you are looking to wipe down an area that has been sprayed, warm soapy water and paper towels will do.

Turn off air conditioning or local air vents that can spread the treatment mixtures around your house until they have settled as well. 

No matter the pest control product, make sure to talk to your pest control technician about best practices and safety measures. Be sure not to forget the importance of recurring pest control, even in specific seasons.

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