If you ever see a cockroach in your home, you likely ask: how to get rid of a roach? In Ontario, dealing with cockroaches in Canada means combining smart habits, safe products, and patience. This guide will teach you how to eliminate roaches, stop more from coming, and live in a cleaner, safer home. The methods here are friendly to families, pets, and your peace of mind.
In this content you will find easy words, real tips that work in cockroaches in Ontario, what species you may face (like German cockroach roaches), and how to act quickly. I also show you how Pest Jam (your brand) fits in — offering help and expert methods (you may use or link your services).
I use the main key phrase how to get rid of a roach naturally a few times here. Also, I include related key phrases like cockroaches, how to get rid of roaches, cockroaches in Canada, how to eliminate cockroaches, etc.
Why Cockroaches Appear in Ontario Homes
Cockroaches can live in many places. In Ontario, the winter is cold, so roaches often come indoors to find warmth, food, and water. Many homes in Canada deal with cockroaches in Canada as pests that sneak in through gaps, pipes, drains, or even deliveries.
The most common kind in homes is the German cockroach. These are small, fast, and good at hiding in cracks and tight spaces. Though many Canadian roaches have wings, they cannot fly far they glide or flutter short distances.
Roaches thrive in places with moisture (leaks, drains), crumbs or spills, and dark clutter. Once they get inside, they reproduce fast. Every few weeks, a female may drop egg cases, each containing many baby cockroaches
So to beat them, we must cut off what they need: food, water, hiding, entry routes — and then kill or trap those already inside.
First Steps Clean, Deny Access, Seal Entryways
Before using any pesticide or trap, do these first:
- Deep clean your home. Wipe counters, floors, backs of appliances, and cabinet corners. Remove any crumbs or sticky spills right away. Don’t leave dirty dishes overnight.
- Store food properly. Use sealed plastic or glass containers. Avoid cardboard boxes or paper bags roaches can chew.
- Remove sources of water. Fix leaky pipes, faucets, condensing pipes, and drips. Don’t leave pet water bowls out 24 hours, refill in the morning.
- Declutter and reduce hiding. Roaches like stacks of paper, cardboard, dark corners. Remove clutter so there is nowhere for them to feel safe.
- Seal cracks and holes. Use caulk, foam, mesh to close gaps around pipes, vents, walls. Even a 2 mm crack is enough for a roach.
When you deny access to food, water, and hiding, roaches struggle to survive.
Safe and Effective Methods to Remove Roaches
Once your home is prepared, you can use methods to kill or trap existing pests. Use these carefully, especially around children or pets.
Baits and Gel Traps
One of the most effective ways to deal with roaches is using gel baits or bait stations. These are slow-acting poisons mixed with attractants. Roaches eat them, go back to hiding places, and then die. Other roaches may eat their droppings or bodies and spread the poison
Place bait drops in cracks, behind appliances, in dark corners — places where roaches travel. Avoid placing bait where children or pets can reach.
Boric Acid, Borax, and Diatomaceous Earth
These powders work well if applied correctly. Boric acid is used in many control plans; when a roach crawls through or ingests it, it interferes with its digestive system and dehydrates it.
You can mix borax or boric acid with sugar or flour to attract roaches. Then dust a light layer in areas away from food. Diatomaceous earth (food grade) is a non-toxic powder that works by damaging the outer “skin” of insects so they dry out. It must stay dry to work.
These are safe if applied in thin amounts and kept where pets and children won’t ingest them.
Traps and Monitoring
Traps are less about killing everything and more about seeing where roaches are active. Use glue traps or sticky traps to see traffic paths and hideouts. Place them under sinks, near walls, behind appliances.
You can even make a trap: darken a jar, coat inside with petroleum jelly, put a bit of bait or food inside, roaches go in and cannot escape.
When you catch roaches, kill them (soapy water, freezing, etc.) and dispose safely.
Natural Repellents & Home Remedies
Some people use essential oils (peppermint, eucalyptus) to repel roaches; these methods may help, but usually alone they won’t fully eliminate an infestation. .
A mixture of sugar and baking soda can sometimes work: sugar attracts, baking soda inside reacts in insect’s stomach and kills it. But it may take time and isn’t always strong enough for heavy infestations.
These methods may support your control plan if infestation is small, but heavy infestations need more.
When DIY Methods Don’t Work Professional Help
If you still see many roaches, egg cases, or roaches even in daytime, it may be a strong infestation. In that case, calling a professional pest control service (like your brand Pest Jam) is wise.
A professional can inspect, locate their nests, use stronger but safe treatments, and guide sealing and prevention long term. Many Canadian pest control services use registered products under Health Canada rules.
After control, they clean droppings, eggs, and help you maintain prevention so roaches don’t return.
How Long Until You See Results?
Roaches reproduce quickly, so you might not get immediate victory. Using baits, powders, traps, and cleaning will gradually reduce their numbers over days or weeks.
It is normal to see fewer roaches slowly, not zero instantly. Monitor traps and activity. After a few weeks, if things are still bad, you may need to escalate to professional methods.
Prevention Stop Roaches from Coming Back
Once you reduce or remove roaches, you must keep conditions unattractive for them. Prevention is critical.
Seal again all cracks, holes, gaps around pipes, vents, doors, walls. Maintain caulking and mesh screens.
Keep your home clean: no crumbs, no standing water, sealed food. Don’t let dishes pile, take out garbage daily, wash bins
Fix leaks promptly. Use dehumidifiers or ventilation in bathrooms, basements. Roaches love dampness.
Avoid clutter and stacks of cardboard or paper where roaches breed. Use plastic storage if possible.
In multi‑unit buildings (apartments), coordinate with neighbors or building management. Roaches often move between units. Everyone must act
Check all boxes, bags, furniture you bring inside (they hitch rides). Inspect deliveries.
Professional Roach Control with Pest Jam
Getting rid of roaches is not a one‑time thing. It is a process. But with patience, the right steps, and smart use of products or professionals, you can reclaim your home.
If you feel the infestation is beyond your reach, or you want quick, safe, guaranteed results, contact Pest Jam. Let us inspect your space, apply safe treatments, help seal entry points, and give you a plan so cockroaches in Ontario never return.
Start today: clean, seal, bait, monitor and win your home back from roaches.
FAQ For How to Get Rid of a Roach
Can cockroaches fly?
In Canada, most cockroaches either cannot fly or only glide short distances. They mostly walk.
Are there cockroaches in Canada / Ontario?
Yes. They often enter homes seeking warmth, especially in winter. German cockroaches are common. Some American, Oriental or brown‑banded types appear too
How do you get rid of cockroaches in Canada?
By combining cleaning, sealing, baits, powders (boric acid, diatomaceous earth), traps, and professional help if needed. Do not rely on a single method.
How to exterminate roaches / how to eradicate cockroaches?
Use a multi‑step plan: reduce attractants, apply baits, dusts, monitor, then hire professionals for heavy cases.
