Restaurants can have cockroach problems for a multitude of reasons. Maybe their supplier has cockroaches and accidently delivered a shipment contaminated with roaches. Maybe the restaurant is connected to another business that has cockroaches and the roaches are migrating. Or perhaps the restaurant is lacking sanitation or cleaning, and roaches are thriving. In any case, we have cockroach treatments for restaurant kitchens.

Where do we find cockroaches in restaurants?

Cockroaches are excellent at hiding and will use cracks and crevices to conceal their presence. Once established, cockroach populations can explode and cause real concern for restaurants and their food products. Roaches also prefer warm areas with ample food sources, which is easy to find in a commercial kitchen.

Many times, cockroaches will be in or near the compressors found in refrigerators, coolers, and freezers. Restaurants will often have many of these types of coolers which means there are tons of habitat opportunities for roaches.

Where to look for roaches in a restaurant kitchen

Roaches in the seals of coolers, fridges, and freezers

How to treat for cockroaches in Restaurant Kitchens

Since restaurants are handling, preparing, cooking, and serving food, any cockroach treatment has to be done with safety in mind. We do not want to risk contaminating food or food handling equipment with our treatment efforts. As such, there are specific methods and options that must be used when eradicating roaches in a restaurant kitchen.

Before we can begin a roach treatment, we need to identify where the cockroaches are hanging out. We will check the areas we listed above and sometimes place monitors or traps to get a sense of where the most roach activity is.

Cockroach Baits

Cockroach baits are a great choice to treat for cockroaches. The baits that we use are in a tube and come out as a thick gel. The bait is applied to areas where the roaches will be but not where staff will touch or where food is handled or cooked. A great place to apply roach bait is under equipment and in corners of cabinets and drawers.

The roach bait works as a treatment method because the cockroaches eat it as a food source. Once consumed, the roach bait eliminates the roach. There are many different types of roach baits that use a variety of active ingredients. We tend to rotate our roach baits to ensure that the roaches don’t develop any resistance.

Cockroach Dusts

Cockroach dusts and powders are a great treatment option for voids, enclosed spaces, and electrical conduits and boxes. Unlike baits, cockroach dust is applied and the roaches simply walk through it. Once the cockroach contacts the dust or powder it is ingested when the roach grooms itself. When ingested, the roach powder will eliminate the cockroach.

This method works best when applied to dry areas such as wall voids and cracks. Many dusts and powders are not effective when wet so finding a dry area to apply is critical. Dusts and powders when applied correctly can last for a long time, much longer than liquid sprays and baits.

Cockroach Sprays

Cockroach sprays or liquid treatments are another effective roach treatment method. Care needs to be taken to apply the liquid where the roaches are going to contact it and not be applied to food preparation areas. There are many types of liquid roach sprays, and we rotate the type of liquid spray used to prevent the roaches from gaining resistance to them. Roach liquid treatments will work the quickest but do not last as long meaning that follow-up services are needed.

Sealing and Roach Proofing

We find that the most effective method is to seal up the gaps and crevices so that roaches can’t establish themselves. This method should be used in combination with the methods listed above. We use caulk and other sealants to seal up gaps in floor tiles, walls, and other areas where roaches like to hide.

Before sealing we will typically apply roach dust or powder to the void and then seal it shut. Not only will sealing prevent the roaches from coming out into the restaurant kitchen, but it will also prevent new roaches from entering those spaces and establishing themselves.

How to prevent Roaches in kitchens

Many restaurants and commercial kitchens are required to have routine pest control treatments. These treatments are designed to treat current roach and pest problems as well as help prevent infestations. We typically recommend monthly or bi-monthly pest treatments for our restaurant clients. This frequency allows us to maintain the restaurant and keep small problems small.

Cockroach Treatments for your restaurant

Prudential Pest Solutions are the experts at treating and preventing cockroach and roach problems in commercial kitchens and restaurants. We have the knowledge, experience, and licensing to handle and resolve ANY roach issue you may have. Have a roach problem or don’t want a roach problem, call the experts today!