What Lures Roaches and Where Do They Conceal Themselves?

Do you understand what draws roaches and the spots where they're most likely to hide? Because having them in your home is definitely something you want to avoid.

Cockroaches possess a nearly Transformer-like ability to scurry, fly, climb upside down, and compress their crunchy bodies to slip into hairline gaps. And unless they're hissing or heavy enough to make a sound while taking a bold walk across your paper or plastic items, they typically remain silent.

Difficult to eliminate? Yes, that's true. These traits contribute to their status as the most successful insect species in the United States, whether they’re the half-inch (1.3-cm) or the 2-inch (5.1-cm) variety.

The location of dead roaches gives you clues about where they came from, their path, and their end point. However, spotting a live one likely indicates there are entire colonies hidden within your building.

10. Ceilings

Many roaches prefer hanging out on ceilings in dark spaces, ready to drop and scurry at any moment. Most will dart off into hidden spots when the lights are switched on or someone approaches. If you've seen cockroaches on the ceiling, they're likely coming from cracks or decorative areas like crown molding.

Unfortunately, if you're trying to catch a roach from the ceiling, it’s hard to knock them down without having them land on you or scamper away to an unreachable hiding spot.

9. Pipes

Cockroaches are drawn to water. Locations where pipes enter a home — whether through walls, floors, or behind cabinets — are often moist and constantly releasing warm condensation, which roaches can easily access. Exposed pipes on walls also offer ideal hiding spots, as do areas near washers and dryers.

Sealing the gaps between pipes and walls or behind false cupboards and cabinet backs can help keep these spaces dry and make them less attractive to roaches. Some areas where pipes end, like bathtubs with faucets, may be harder to manage. Cockroaches are also adept at climbing into open faucets.

8. Furniture

We adore cozy furniture with just the right balance of firmness, softness, and warmth — and cockroaches do too. Their flat, smooth bodies make them perfect for tucking into narrow spaces where they can feel the fabrics or materials on both their topsides and undersides.

Be cautious when bringing new furniture into your home: check for any pre-existing eggs or hidden pests. Roaches enjoy our furniture so much that they may settle in and lay their eggs there, forming hardened egg colonies ready to hatch in a few weeks, potentially producing tens to thousands of young roaches. You may find yellowed or white egg casings under wooden and plastic tables or chairs too.

Luckily, egg casings are relatively simple to remove and destroy.

7. Cardboard and Paper

Certain types of cockroaches treat paper as a treat or, conversely, as their go-to spot for waste disposal. Roaches are drawn to envelope glue and virtually any kind of paper due to its scent and texture.

Cardboard piles or boxes from food and drinks make for perfect hiding spots for cockroaches, where they can eat and leave behind waste trails, whether it be feces or bacteria picked up on their tiny feet and sticky bellies.

Not only do cockroaches roll in and munch on paper and cardboard, but they also ruin it with oils and acids that break down the fibers and leave behind a highly unpleasant odor.

Store paper stacks in tightly sealed cabinets, and try sorting mail rather than letting it pile up. Also, dispose of cardboard outside the home, but not too close, once the boxes are emptied. Sprinkling boric acid powder in recycling bins is another good measure.

6. Appliances

Unfortunately, cockroaches make themselves at home in our appliances both during the day and at night. Stoves and refrigerators have hidden corners and, in some cases, warm running motors that provide shelter during the day and opportunities for foraging after dark.

Water heaters are like a paradise for cockroaches, offering a perfect blend of warmth and moisture, often tucked away in secluded areas that are off-limits to human traffic.

Countertop appliances are another draw for cockroaches and other insects, thanks to the potential for leftover food crumbs and lingering moisture. Common hideouts include spaces beneath or behind coffee makers, microwaves, toasters, and blenders.

5. Kitchens

Cockroaches are not limited to hiding just in the kitchen; they tend to spread out because of the abundance of food and moisture. Sinks, dishwashers, and even countertop dish mats are highly attractive to them, as well as any spots on floors, cabinets, appliance surfaces, and furniture with leftover food crumbs.

Usually, cockroaches prefer to stay out of sight and only venture out after dark. However, some brave species won't hesitate to scurry across your path even during daylight hours. Roaches hiding in drawers are particularly troubling, as they leave behind bacteria on utensils and silverware.

Treating storage areas before you start using them, and continuing to do so periodically, can help manage or completely eliminate the issue. In many cases, mixing roach-killing powders into cleaning solutions used for floors and appliances can be very effective.

However, it's crucial to exercise caution and ensure that any insecticide poisons are kept well away from your dishes and utensils.

4. Bathrooms

Bathrooms, like kitchens, offer plenty of plumbing and moisture that cockroaches love. However, unlike kitchens, bathrooms don’t have food but do have residues from soaps, grooming products, discarded tissues, and shedded skin and hair, all of which attract the pests.

The good news about cockroaches in bathrooms and kitchens is that many species prefer not to go beyond these rooms. These areas provide everything they need, so they typically avoid bedrooms and higher floors of the house.

German cockroaches, the most widespread and reproductive species, are an exception. They will venture anywhere, though they particularly favor sinks, bathtubs, toilet areas, and any surface with water or humidity traces.

In bathrooms, you’ll need to pull out the heavy-duty treatments and traps, and do so frequently. While sprays are known to be the least effective, powders and traps tend to yield better results.

3. Cupboards, Closets and Cabinets

Anyone who has ever discovered cockroaches in a bowl, pan, or cereal box knows that these pests invade every inch of kitchen cabinets. They also take refuge in closets and often lay eggs in linen storage areas.

Cockroaches have a particular fondness for the upper inside corners of cupboards and cabinets, where they often hang upside down. To keep them away, it’s essential to store all food in tightly sealed containers. This isn't just about the gross factor—roaches can carry foodborne illnesses and bacteria.

Light dustings of boric acid powder and well-placed traps can help control roaches in areas like closets, linen storage, bathroom medicine cabinets, and the space behind them.

2. Baseboards and Trim

Crown molding and classic wood baseboards not only enhance a room's aesthetic but also provide ample hiding spots for cockroaches.

At first, it might seem like a thread or a hair dangling from the decorative trim, but it’s more likely the antenna of a cockroach, hidden in plain sight.

Narrow, dark gaps beneath door and window trim, as well as the cracks in the corners and base of walls, are prime hiding places for cockroaches. Many of us have witnessed them retreating into the seams between walls and floors.

Inspect areas where woodwork, trim, or molding meet walls and floors. Seal any cracks to reduce the number of hiding spots available to cockroaches.

1. Decor and Electronics

Encountering a cockroach from a distance is unsettling enough, but sometimes they're much closer, lurking until they suddenly appear. They may jump out from behind books, within electronics and light fixtures, or from atop knick-knacks and candles.

Roaches enjoy blending in with decor, hiding in items we often touch, dust, and move. Picture frames and mirrors, both mounted or freestanding, are common hiding spots as well. In short, they can conceal themselves nearly anywhere!

Maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment is one of the best ways to uncover hidden cockroaches. With persistence and proactive measures, you can rid your home of both the roaches and their eggs.

Tips for Getting Rid of a Cockroach Infestation

To successfully tackle a cockroach infestation, it's important to know what draws these pests in and to implement measures that will deter them. Below are some helpful tips.