Sometimes. A small American or Australian cockroach problem can often be cleared with hygiene, gel baits and sealing entry points. But German cockroaches — the little ones that infest kitchens — breed so fast and resist supermarket sprays so well that they almost always need professional treatment.
Small numbers, and outdoor species (American or Australian) wandering in from drains or the garden, are often manageable yourself. Bait them, clean up food and water, seal the gaps they're coming through, and you can usually get on top of it.
German cockroaches. They reproduce extremely fast — one female and her offspring can become thousands within months — they hide in tiny warm cracks, and many are now resistant to the over-the-counter sprays people reach for, which just thin the numbers without stopping the breeding.
1) Deep-clean the kitchen and remove food access. 2) Fix any water leaks. 3) Place gel bait (not spray) where you see droppings. 4) Seal gaps around pipes and skirting. 5) Give it two weeks. If you're still seeing them, escalate.
If numbers aren't dropping within a couple of weeks, or you're seeing roaches in daylight, a professional gel-baiting treatment will work out cheaper than months of supermarket products that don't quite get there.
They're small (about 1.5cm), light brown, with two dark stripes behind the head, and they cluster in kitchens and bathrooms. If that's what you're seeing, DIY usually won't be enough.
Hygiene removes the food and water they rely on and is essential — but on its own it won't clear an established infestation. You also need to bait, and for German cockroaches, usually a professional.
For a minor problem you should see numbers dropping within a week or two. If they're not, that's the signal to bring in a professional rather than keep spending on sprays.
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