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Cockroach extermination in a Kitchener kitchen — KW Pest Control

Kitchener · Waterloo · Cambridge · Guelph

Cockroach ExterminatorIn Kitchener-Waterloo

KW Pest Control gets rid of German cockroaches in homes, apartments, restaurants and multi-unit buildings in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Treatment is two visits with gel baits and insect growth regulators placed where cockroaches hide and breed. Cockroach treatment starts at about $800 before HST for a house with one kitchen.

Request free estimate Call 519-957-1766

Licensed & insured technicians

Kitchen & multi-unit focus

Published price ranges

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Cockroaches in Kitchener-Waterloo

Almost every cockroach call we get is the German cockroach. Adults are light brown, about 13 to 16 mm long, with two dark stripes behind the head. They live indoors year-round, close to warmth, food and water: behind fridges and stoves, under sinks, inside cabinet hinges, in dishwashers, microwaves and coffee makers and in the gaps around plumbing.

German cockroaches breed fast. A single female carries an egg case with 30 to 40 eggs, and the young mature in weeks, so a few roaches can become hundreds in a couple of months. They spread between apartments through shared walls, plumbing and electrical chases, and they hitch rides into homes in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, used appliances and furniture.

Occasionally we see larger American or Oriental cockroaches coming up from floor drains or basements. They’re treated differently, so tell us what you’re seeing when you call.

Pest control technician treating kitchen cabinets for cockroaches

Signs of a cockroach infestation

More on our blog: signs of a cockroach infestation in your home.

Cockroaches running when you turn on a light at night
Cockroaches seen during the day, which usually means a large population
Droppings like black pepper or coffee grounds in drawers, cupboards and along hinges
Brown smear marks along wall corners and cabinet edges
Empty egg cases, brown and purse-shaped, about 6 to 8 mm long
Shed skins in cupboards and behind appliances
A musty, oily smell in heavy infestations

Why cockroaches are a health concern

Cockroaches walk through drains, garbage and food in the same night. Health agencies link them to the spread of bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli on food and surfaces, and their droppings and shed skins are a known trigger for asthma and allergies, especially in children. For restaurants and food businesses, a cockroach sighting can mean a failed health inspection.

Our cockroach treatment process

Phone estimate.Tell us where you’re seeing cockroaches and how many. The estimate is free.
Inspection.We find the main harbourages, usually in the kitchen and bathroom, and check neighbouring rooms or units.
First treatment.We apply gel baits in cracks, hinges, behind appliances and inside voids, along with an insect growth regulator (IGR) that stops young cockroaches from reaching breeding age. Treatment is targeted, not a spray across the floors.
Second treatment.We come back for a second treatment to catch cockroaches that hatched from egg cases after the first visit, since egg cases protect eggs from most products.
Prevention plan.We’ll show you what to clean, seal and change so cockroaches don’t come back.

How to prepare for cockroach treatment

Empty the kitchen cupboards and drawers under and around the sink, or as your technician advises.
Clean grease from behind and under the stove and fridge, and wipe counters.
Store food in sealed containers and take out garbage and recycling.
Fix dripping taps and leaks if you can.
Don’t use store-bought sprays before or after treatment. They repel cockroaches from the bait and scatter them.

Why sprays and foggers don’t work on German cockroaches

Foggers and contact sprays kill the roaches you see but don’t reach the ones hiding in hinges, wall voids and appliance motors. Worse, many cockroaches have learned to avoid sprayed surfaces, and repellent sprays push them into new rooms or the unit next door. Professional gel baits work because cockroaches eat them and share them in the colony, and growth regulators stop the next generation.

Cockroaches in apartments and restaurants

In apartment buildings, cockroaches move between units, so treating one kitchen usually isn’t enough. We work with property managers and landlords to inspect and treat affected units and their neighbours at the same time. Restaurants and food businesses need treatment around service, food prep and inspections. See commercial pest control.

How much does cockroach treatment cost?

Cockroach treatment starts at about $800 before HST for two treatments in a house with one kitchen. Larger homes, multi-unit buildings and restaurants cost more and are quoted after an inspection. Your technician confirms the price before any work starts. See the pest control cost guide.

How to prevent cockroaches

Inspect grocery bags, cardboard boxes and second-hand appliances before bringing them in.
Clean crumbs and grease every day, including behind the stove and toaster.
Don’t leave dishes, pet food or water out overnight.
Seal gaps around pipes under sinks and behind appliances.
Get rid of stored cardboard, where cockroaches love to hide.

Cockroach extermination in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph

KW Pest Control serves homes and businesses in four cities: Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. That includes downtown Kitchener and Doon, Uptown Waterloo and Beechwood, Galt, Preston and Hespeler in Cambridge, and every Guelph neighbourhood from the Ward to the south end. Not sure we cover your street? Call 519-957-1766 and ask.

Kitchener · Waterloo · Cambridge · Guelph

Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge Guelph

Cockroach extermination: FAQ

How much does cockroach extermination cost?

Cockroach treatment starts at about $800 before HST for a house with one kitchen and includes two treatments. Larger homes, apartment buildings and restaurants cost more and are quoted after an inspection. Your technician confirms the price before any work starts, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Why do you need two treatments?

German cockroach eggs are protected inside a hard egg case that most products can’t penetrate. The first treatment kills the active cockroaches, and the second treatment catches the young that hatch from egg cases afterwards, before they’re old enough to breed. Skipping the second visit is the most common reason cockroaches return.

How long does it take to get rid of cockroaches?

You’ll usually see far fewer cockroaches within one to two weeks of the first treatment, and the second treatment cleans up the next generation. Heavy infestations, apartments with infested neighbours and restaurants can take longer. Keeping food and grease cleaned up between visits makes a big difference.

Are cockroaches a sign of a dirty home?

Not always. German cockroaches come into clean homes in grocery bags, boxes, used appliances and through shared walls in apartments. Clutter, crumbs and grease do help a small problem become a large one. Good housekeeping won’t eliminate an infestation on its own, but it makes professional treatment work faster.

Is cockroach treatment safe for kids and pets?

Yes, when instructions are followed. We use Health Canada-registered gel baits and growth regulators placed in cracks, hinges and voids, not sprayed across floors and counters. Your technician will tell you how to prepare, which areas to avoid and for how long, and how to keep pets away from bait placements.

Do you treat cockroaches in apartments and restaurants?

Yes. We treat cockroaches in apartments, multi-unit buildings, restaurants and food businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Because cockroaches move between units, neighbouring units should be inspected and treated at the same time. Commercial and multi-unit jobs are quoted after an inspection.

Get rid of cockroaches. Call KW Pest Control.

Call 519-957-1766 and tell us what you’re seeing. Estimates over the phone are free, and an inspection is required for an exact quote on larger jobs. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; leave a message after hours and we’ll call you back the next business day. Call 519-957-1766 Send Us a Message

Request free estimate Call 519-957-1766

Call 519-957-1766