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- Cockroaches
Cockroach extermination
Montreal, Laval and the South Shore
A cockroach darting under the fridge when you switch on the kitchen light at night usually means there are others. We find where they hide, treat them with registered products and show you how to prepare your home so the treatment works.
In Montreal-area kitchens and bathrooms, it's usually the German cockroach: a small, light-brown insect with two dark stripes behind its head. It has wings but doesn't fly. It settles wherever it finds water, food and shelter, such as under the sink, behind appliances and along pipes. Because it comes out mostly at night, it can go unnoticed for a long time.
Cockroaches often ride in on a delivery box, a case of empty bottles or a second-hand appliance, or come through the walls from the unit next door. In a plex or apartment block, the problem is rarely confined to one unit; to treat the whole building, see our page on apartment buildings. Restaurants and grocery stores also have inspection rules to meet: see businesses and restaurants. And if you're finding tiny black dots on the mattress instead, think bed bugs.
Why cockroaches are so hard to shake
They live in cracks
By day, they stay wedged into cracks behind baseboards, under the sink, in cabinet hinges and around fridge or dishwasher motors. A spray on the counter never reaches them there.
They travel with your things
Cardboard boxes, grocery bags, bottle cases, used furniture and appliances: that's often how they get into a perfectly clean home. A second-hand microwave or toaster can be enough.
They protect their eggs
The female carries her egg case until it's nearly ready to hatch, then tucks it into a crack. A few survivors are enough to restart the population, which is why follow-up matters.
They need water
A leak under the sink, a cracked tub seal or a seeping dishwasher gives them all the water they need. Fixing leaks and airing out the bathroom are part of the treatment.
How to tell you have cockroaches
They rarely show themselves, so their traces are usually what you notice first.
- Tiny black droppings, like ground pepper, in cabinet corners, on shelves and along hinges
- Brown, oblong egg cases, full or empty, stuck in cracks, under drawers or behind appliances
- Shed skins: small, pale, empty casings left by young cockroaches as they grow
- A musty smell, or a strong, unpleasant odour in a closed cabinet, a sign the population is already large
- Cockroaches running under the appliances as soon as the light goes on; seeing them in daylight suggests their hiding spots are overflowing
- Cockroaches caught on a glue trap under the sink or behind the fridge, a simple way to see where they travel
How we get rid of cockroaches
Treatment works when inspection, preparation and follow-up all line up.
Inspection
We look for hiding spots and activity: kitchen, bathroom, under the sink, appliances, pipe openings. In a building, we'll also ask what's going on next door.
Preparing your home
We explain what to do before the visit. Usually that means emptying kitchen and bathroom cabinets, degreasing the stove and range hood, putting food in sealed containers and taking out the garbage. Until then, don't use any insecticide, vinegar or bleach.
Targeted treatment
We apply registered products into cracks and hiding spots, according to the rules, then go over what to do afterwards, such as when you can use the kitchen again.
Follow-up
We then check whether activity is dropping and adjust as needed. We also show you which cracks to caulk and which leaks to fix, so survivors have nowhere left to hide.
Where we treat cockroaches
Commercial and institutional
- Restaurants and commercial kitchens
- Grocery and convenience stores
- Hotels and seniors' residences
- Cafeterias and daycares
- Food warehouses
Cut off water, food and hiding spots
- Don't leave dirty dishes on the counter or food in the pet's bowl overnight.
- Keep cereal, flour and snacks in tightly closed glass or plastic containers; cardboard and paper won't stop them.
- Clean behind the stove and fridge, where grease and crumbs build up.
- Fix leaks under the sink and air out the bathroom after showers.
- Check delivery boxes, cases of empty bottles and used appliances before bringing them in, and get cardboard out quickly.
- Caulk gaps around pipes, under counters and along baseboards.
Service 24/7, free quoteFrequently asked questions
Can't find what you're looking for? A technician answers 24/7.
Call 514-231-1615Do cockroaches mean my home is dirty?
Not always. Health Canada says their presence isn't necessarily a sign of uncleanliness. A spotless apartment can pick them up from a neighbour or a delivery. A clean kitchen does starve them, though, and helps the treatment work.
Why do cockroaches come back after I use a bug spray?
The spray kills the ones out in the open, not the ones tucked into cracks with their egg cases. Montreal public health and the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal also warn that misusing insecticides can scatter cockroaches into other rooms or elsewhere in the building, which makes them harder to eliminate. Our tip on exterminators versus store-bought products explains what a professional does differently.
Are cockroaches a health risk?
Their droppings and debris are allergens that can cause or worsen asthma and allergic rhinitis, according to Montreal public health. They can also contaminate food and prep surfaces after crawling through garbage or drains. For questions about your health, call Info-Santé 811.
How much does cockroach extermination cost?
It mainly depends on three things: how large the infestation is, how many rooms or units are affected and how much follow-up the situation needs. You get a free quote once we've inspected the kitchen and the hiding spots.
