Steps for cockroaches in a kitchen

Dr. Reid Ipser, Director of Technical Services, Nisus Corp.

Cockroach populations can grow extremely fast in the moist, food-rich environment of a commercial kitchen. If a kitchen has a cockroach issue, something is being ignored — and it’s most likely the sanitation and maintenance program. To make matters worse, if cockroaches have gained a foothold, it’s very likely that other pests are thriving as well.

To get a handle on such a situation, clean, organize and sanitize first, then work in a proper rotation of baits, powders and liquids to knock pest populations down and gain control. For insecticide treatments, borate powders work well against insect species that groom heavily, particularly cockroaches.

Treat drains with properly labeled borate powders and insect growth regulators. Foam drains and voids with an appropriately labeled product to basically turn the hidden food residue into a bait. Use liquid residual insecticides in between appliances and hard-to-reach areas.

It’s critical to educate the customer about sanitation and proper trash removal to prevent future pest pressures. Similarly, homeowners can avoid issues by recognizing when cockroaches are introduced and act quickly to hire a pest management professional.