Cockroaches at home: 7 signs, professional treatment and 2026 cost
How to spot a cockroach infestation, why home remedies don't work, and how much a professional treatment costs in 2026.
Cockroaches at home: what to do in 2026?
A professional cockroach treatment costs between €150 and €400 depending on the surface area and the level of infestation. Home remedies (vinegar, baking soda, tape traps) are ineffective on an established colony — they shift the problem without solving it.
The 7 signs of an infestation
- Cockroaches visible at night in the kitchen or bathroom (switch the light on at 3 a.m.)
- Small black specks (pepper-grain droppings) along the skirting boards
- A faint, unpleasant smell in the cupboards
- Egg cases (oothecae), dark brown and capsule-shaped, in the corners
- Translucent white moults under the furniture
- Bite marks on food or cardboard packaging
- Unexplained itching in sensitive people
Indicative price table
| Configuration | Indicative price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 room | €150 – €220 | 1 day |
| 2-3 room apartment | €200 – €320 | 1 day |
| House | €300 – €400 | 1-2 days |
| Restaurant / shop | €350 – €600 | by quote |
| Follow-up visit (included) | €0 | 14 days after |
Why home remedies don't work
- Vinegar / baking soda: cockroaches resist and adapt
- Tape traps: catch a few individuals, not the colony
- Over-the-counter insecticide bombs: kill the visible adults and scatter the eggs and young into other rooms
- Deep cleaning: useful but not enough — cockroaches travel through pipes and live off micro-crumbs
The professional 3-step protocol
Step 1 — Diagnosis
Species identification (German cockroach, Oriental cockroach, American cockroach), location of the nests, and estimation of the infestation level.
Step 2 — Targeted treatment
Insecticide gel bait applied as droplets along travel paths: the cockroaches eat it, return to the nest and contaminate the whole colony. More effective than spraying for German cockroaches (the most common species in France).
Step 3 — Follow-up visit
14 days later, a check confirms effectiveness and a complementary treatment is applied if needed. Included in the Pest Run price.
Special case: apartment buildings
In a shared building, cockroaches move through the common pipework. Treating apartment by apartment often fails — the building manager has to coordinate a global treatment. Pest Run can intervene on the common areas in coordination with your building manager.
Got cockroaches?
Pest Run is opening soon in your area. Join the waitlist to be notified as soon as a certified professional is available near you.