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CausesModerate risk

Why Are Cockroaches in My Kitchen?

Written by PestMan Editorial TeamTechnical review pendingPublished Updated

Quick answer

Kitchens give cockroaches everything they need: crumbs and grease, water from sinks and dishwashers, and warm hiding places behind appliances and inside cupboard hinges. Small light-brown cockroaches in a kitchen are usually German cockroaches breeding indoors, while large ones are usually outdoor cockroaches that came in through drains, gaps or doors.

Why this happens

Cockroaches favour tight, warm, humid spaces close to food. Fridge motors, dishwasher insulation, oven housings, microwave vents and the gaps behind kickboards all provide these conditions.

German cockroaches rarely survive outdoors in Australia, so if they are in your kitchen they are living there. They are commonly introduced on cardboard, grocery bags and second-hand appliances. Larger cockroaches usually enter from sub-floors, drains or gardens and wander into kitchens looking for food and moisture.

Grease and food residue in hard-to-reach places, such as under the stove or along the edges of benchtops, can sustain a population even in a kitchen that looks clean.

What you may be seeing

  • Cockroaches running when you switch the light on at night.
  • Pepper-like droppings in cupboard corners, drawer runners and hinges.
  • Small dark nymphs, which indicate breeding.
  • Egg cases behind appliances or in cupboards.

What you can do

  • Pull out the fridge and stove if safe to do so and clean behind and underneath them.
  • Degrease cupboard hinges, drawer runners and range hoods.
  • Store dry food in sealed containers, and do not leave dishes or pet food out overnight.
  • Fix dripping taps and leaks under the sink; dry the sink at night.
  • Seal gaps around pipes under the sink and behind kickboards.
  • Reduce cardboard storage in or near the kitchen.

What not to do

  • Do not spray insecticide inside food-preparation areas or cupboards unless the product label specifically allows it.
  • Do not use surface sprays alongside gel baits; sprays can make baits less attractive.
Using pest products safely

If you use any insecticide or bait, read the label first and follow it exactly. Australian law requires products to be used only as the label directs, including where and how they may be applied and how to protect children and pets.

When professional help may be needed

Kitchen infestations of German cockroaches are often difficult to eliminate with shop-bought products alone, particularly in apartments. A professional can locate harbourage, use baits and growth regulators appropriately and follow up to confirm the population is gone.

Still having trouble with cockroaches? Talk to a pest professional →

Cockroaches

Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.

Species mentioned

German Cockroach

Blattella germanica

A small, light-brown cockroach that lives and breeds indoors, mostly in kitchens and bathrooms. It reproduces faster than any other household cockroach and is the species most often behind persistent indoor infestations.

Guide

The Australian Guide to Cockroaches

Everything an Australian household needs to know about cockroaches: which species you are seeing, why they are there, how they get in, the health implications, and how to prevent and manage them.

Guide

Pest Prevention Checklist

A printable seasonal checklist of simple, low-cost tasks that reduce pests around Australian homes, with the reason behind each step and extra lists for renters, apartment residents, pet owners and Queenslander owners.

Guide

How to Pest-Proof Your Home

A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.

Guide

Common Brisbane Household Pests

A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.

Guide

Understanding Pest Activity After Rain

Why storms and wet weather bring cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes and spiders into homes, what to expect in the days and weeks afterwards, and what to do before and after rain and floods.

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Sources & further reading

PestMan provides general information only and does not replace licensed pest-management, medical, veterinary or structural advice. Always read and follow product labels. Read our disclaimer.