Windsor, Ontario
Cockroach control
Dark specks in a cupboard, or a cockroach under the sink when you turned on the light? Tell us what you've seen and where, and we'll help you work out where they're hiding and what to do next.
Estimates are free.
Signs of cockroaches
Cockroaches are most active at night, so they can go unnoticed for some time. Look for droppings, egg cases, cast skins and sightings after dark, especially in warm, damp spots close to food and water.
Droppings
Tiny dark specks that look like grains of pepper.
Spots and smears
Dark spots or smears on surfaces where cockroaches travel and rest.
Egg cases
Small capsules that hold the eggs, found near hiding spots or brought in on boxes and second-hand items.
Cast skins
Empty skins left behind as young cockroaches grow.
Sightings at night
Live or dead cockroaches, most often in kitchens and bathrooms after dark.
Sightings by day
A cockroach out in the daytime can be a sign of a larger population. It can also follow a disturbance or a recent treatment.
Where cockroaches hide
In the kitchen
- Under the kitchen sink and around pipes
- Behind and under the fridge and stove
- Inside kitchen cabinets and cupboards
- Around microwaves, toasters and coffee makers
Elsewhere in the building
- Bathrooms
- Basements and plumbing areas
- Cracks and crevices in walls and cabinets
- Near garbage containers and in stored cardboard
How they arrive
Gaps aren't the only way in. Cockroaches and their egg cases can hitch a ride on everyday things, including:
- Food items, grocery bags and shipping boxes
- Used furniture and appliances
- Empty beer and soft drink bottles
- Things that have been in storage
Why hiding places matter
Cockroaches live in warm, damp places close to food and water, which is why kitchens, bathrooms and plumbing areas come up so often. Health Canada notes that pesticides alone won't succeed: the conditions that let them hide, feed and drink have to change too. So we start with where they're living, not only where you saw one.
Knowing which cockroach you have helps as well. The German cockroach is one of the most common household cockroaches in the world, but different cockroaches favour different places, so a clear photo of one you've found is useful.
They're worth dealing with promptly. Health Canada notes that cockroaches can contaminate food and food-preparation areas, and that people with asthma may react to their droppings and body parts.
How we deal with cockroaches
We use an Integrated Pest Management approach: treatment where it's needed, alongside changes that take away food, water and hiding places.
Inspection
Our licensed, certified exterminators look for droppings, egg cases and live activity to find where they're hiding and how far it has spread.
Treatment for the setting
Baiting or another treatment where it's appropriate, chosen for the hiding places and the setting, with people, pets and property in mind.
Sealing and recommendations
Where it's appropriate, we seal cracks and gaps, and tell you what to change, such as leaks or food storage.
Follow-up visits
Follow-up visits are included as part of the service.
What happens next
Tell us what you're seeing
Call, use the estimate form or message us on WhatsApp. Say where you've seen cockroaches or droppings, and whether you rent or own. Photos help.
We look at what you've shared
A description, photos or a short video can be enough for us to quote from.
An on-site inspection, if needed
If your details or photos aren't enough, we'll tell you whether an on-site inspection is needed.
Your quote
Estimates are free. We aim to send yours within 60 minutes, by email or WhatsApp.
Before treatment
- Clean up spills and crumbs right away, and don't leave dirty dishes out overnight.
- Keep food in sealed plastic or glass containers, not paper or cardboard, and garbage in a sealed bin emptied daily.
- Don't leave pet food and water out around the clock.
- Fix dripping taps and leaky pipes, and keep damp areas dry.
- If you can, hold off on sprays and foggers until we've seen the activity. They may scatter cockroaches to other areas, which makes their hiding places harder to find.
- If your treatment needs any preparation, we'll tell you what to do beforehand, and what to do after.
Cockroach prevention tips from Health Canada (opens in a new tab)
Homes and businesses
At home
Whether it's a house or an apartment, tell us which rooms you've seen them in, and whether neighbouring units have them too.
For businesses
Restaurants are one of the places we work, along with residential buildings and other public places, and we offer ongoing commercial accounts.
Ask about an ongoing accountWhere we work
We're based in Windsor and work across these communities. Outside them, contact us and we'll confirm availability.
Cockroaches: common questions
Does seeing one cockroach mean I have an infestation?
One sighting doesn't tell you how many there are. It may have come in on a box or a bag, or it may be the first sign of more. Look for droppings, egg cases or cast skins near where you saw it, especially in warm, damp spots, and tell us what you find.
Does having cockroaches mean my home is dirty?
Not necessarily. Cockroaches can be carried in on everyday items, and they're drawn to warmth and moisture as well as food. Keeping things clean still matters, because it takes away what they live on.
I rent. Who deals with cockroaches?
The Landlord and Tenant Board's general guidance for Ontario is that landlords must take steps to control pests such as cockroaches, and tenants must keep their unit to an ordinary standard of cleanliness. Every tenancy is different, but if you rent, the usual first step is to tell your landlord in writing. If you manage a building, we work in residential buildings too. Read the Landlord and Tenant Board's maintenance and repairs brochure (opens in a new tab).
Do I need to leave home during treatment?
Whether anyone needs to leave a room, or the home, depends on the treatment we choose and the conditions on site. We consider people, pets and property when choosing it, and we explain any preparation or re-entry instructions before treatment.
How much does cockroach control cost?
We quote each job individually, and estimates are free. Photos of what you've found, and where, help us quote from a message instead of a visit.
Not cockroaches?
Droppings in a cupboard and dark spots on bedding aren't always from cockroaches. If what you've found doesn't fit, start here.