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Roaches are nocturnal, disease-carrying scavengers that’ll eat anything you leave out. They’ve survived for millions of years because they’re good at what they do. If you see one during the day, your problem’s already worse than you think.
The good news? They’re predictable. They want food, water, and dark hiding spots. Take those away or poison them in the process, and you win.
1. Insecticides
Spray kills on contact, which feels satisfying but doesn’t solve the problem. The ones you see are maybe 10% of what’s hiding in your walls. 
Modern insecticides create a barrier that lasts weeks or months. Spray along baseboards, under sinks, and around entry points. Roaches walk through it, pick it up on their legs, and die later. It’s preventive, not just reactive.
2. Roach Bait
Roach bait works like ant bait. They eat it, carry it back to the nest, and spread it to others. This is your best option for hitting the colony you can’t see.
Place bait stations under the fridge, behind the oven, inside cabinets, and in any corner that doesn’t get much light. Get the kind where you can see the bait disappearing so you know it’s working.
3. Boric Acid
Boric acid is cheap and works. Dust it in cracks, behind appliances, and anywhere roaches travel. It sticks to their bodies, they ingest it while grooming, and it kills them.
Safe around pets and kids as long as nobody’s eating it directly.
4. Cracks
Roaches squeeze through gaps you’d think were too small. Seal cracks in walls, floors, and around pipes with caulk or foam. Check behind baseboards and around windows.
This won’t fix an existing infestation, but it stops new ones from moving in once you’ve cleared the current batch. Also, take your garbage out daily. Roaches love warm environments, so keeping the air cool and circulating helps, but don’t count on climate control to do the heavy lifting.
