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Cockroaches

Home Cockroaches

 

Cockroach on a surface

Having problems with cockroaches?

Cockroaches are one of the most persistent pests in buildings — they hide well, multiply quickly, and can contaminate food preparation areas. If you are spotting cockroaches at night, finding droppings, or noticing a musty odour, it usually means there is established activity nearby.

Common UK species include the German cockroach (light brown, often in kitchens and warm indoor areas) and the Oriental cockroach (darker, more often linked to basements, drains, and cooler damp spaces).

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Professional Cockroach Control Services in the UK

Cockroaches are a serious hygiene pest. They contaminate food and surfaces, trigger asthma and allergy symptoms in some people, and are notoriously difficult to remove without a structured plan. Shire Pest Solutions provides targeted cockroach control to eliminate activity at the source and prevent re-infestation.

Why Cockroach Problems Escalate Quickly

Cockroaches prefer warm, humid environments with easy access to food and water. Even small crumbs, grease deposits behind appliances, and minor leaks can support a population. Because they hide during the day and feed mostly at night, infestations can go unnoticed until numbers increase.

Where Cockroaches Commonly Hide

  • Behind fridges, freezers, dishwashers, and cookers
  • Under sinks and inside kitchen cupboards
  • Around boilers, water heaters, and heating ducts
  • Within wall cracks, gaps around pipework, and behind skirting
  • In dark storage areas, cluttered rooms, and bin zones

Health and Hygiene Risks

Cockroaches can carry and spread harmful pathogens. They move between drains, waste areas, and food preparation spaces, contaminating surfaces through droppings and regurgitated matter. This makes quick intervention especially important for kitchens, restaurants, takeaways, HMOs, and commercial premises.

How We Treat Cockroach Infestations

Effective control requires more than a quick spray. Our approach focuses on treating harbourages and nymph hiding areas using professional-grade products with strong residual performance, alongside practical prevention advice:

  • Inspection: Identify species, hot spots, and contributing factors such as moisture and food access.
  • Targeted treatment: Apply insecticides to key harbourages and high-risk zones.
  • Hygiene and proofing advice: Help reduce the conditions that allow cockroaches to thrive.

How to Reduce the Chance of Re-infestation

  • Keep food sealed in airtight containers and clear crumbs and grease daily
  • Empty bins regularly and clean bin storage areas
  • Fix leaks promptly and reduce standing water in kitchens and bathrooms
  • Seal gaps around plumbing and service penetrations
  • Clean beneath appliances and in dark corners as part of routine maintenance

If you suspect cockroach activity, contact Shire Pest Solutions for a fast assessment and a treatment plan that actually works.

Cockroach close-up
German cockroach on a surface
German cockroach infestation example

Cockroach Control FAQ

Common signs include seeing live cockroaches (especially at night), finding droppings that resemble black pepper or coffee grounds, noticing an unpleasant musty odour, and discovering egg cases (oothecae) in dark corners or behind appliances.
Yes. Cockroaches can spread diseases such as salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and even the polio virus. They contaminate food and surfaces with their droppings and regurgitated matter, posing a serious health risk in both homes and businesses.
Cockroaches are drawn to warm, humid environments with access to food and water. Common attractants include food spills, open bins, leaky pipes, and cluttered spaces. Even small crumbs or standing water can invite them in.
They typically hide in dark, humid, and hard-to-reach places like behind fridges, under sinks, inside cupboards, within wall cracks, and around boilers or water heaters. They emerge mostly at night to feed.
While over-the-counter products may help reduce numbers, cockroach infestations are notoriously difficult to eliminate without professional help. Many treatments don’t reach hidden eggs or harbourages, allowing populations to rebound quickly.
Pest control experts use targeted insecticides with long residual effects to treat infested areas, including nymph hiding spots. At Shire Pest Solutions, we also provide advice on hygiene improvements and proofing to prevent re-infestation.
Keep kitchens and food areas clean and dry, seal up entry points around plumbing and doors, store food in airtight containers, and fix leaks promptly. Regular cleaning beneath appliances and in dark corners also helps deter cockroaches.

More About Shire Pest Solutions

Shire Pest Solutions is a trusted and local pest control company proudly serving homes and businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond. We have built our reputation on professionalism, reliability, and fast response times, specialising in the safe and effective removal of pests including ants, wasps, rodents, bed bugs, and more.

Our expert technicians hold full qualifications and use the latest tools and treatments to resolve pest problems quickly and safely—without unnecessary disruption. Whether you face a minor domestic issue or a large-scale commercial infestation, we design our services to meet your needs with minimal fuss and maximum effectiveness.

Based locally, we regularly assist customers in Didcot, Wallingford, Abingdon, Wantage, Witney, Newbury, Thame, Thatcham, and Stokenchurch. Our knowledge of the local area enables us to provide rapid call-outs and treatments that are suited to the unique pest challenges of each location.

At Shire Pest Solutions, we don’t just eliminate pests—we stop them from returning. We offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and we dedicate ourselves to customer satisfaction, making us the go-to pest control provider for homeowners, landlords, and commercial clients alike.

Contact us today to arrange a call-out or find out more about our pest control services across Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.