The $8 bait station blitz that actually works

You will need

• Gel bait (Advion Cockroach Gel or Bayer Maxforce Quantum) · Bunnings or Aussie Pest Control online — about $15–$25 for a tube, worth every cent over sprays
• Combat or Raid bait stations (backup) · Woolies or Bunnings, around $6–$8 for a pack
• Torch or phone light · To spot harbourage zones — you likely already have one
• Disposable gloves · Any supermarket, $3–$5 — cockroaches carry bacteria so keep it clean
• Small piece of cardboard or masking tape · To dab gel onto surfaces without leaving residue, free from around the house

Step 1

Find where they're actually hiding

Cockroaches hide in warm, dark, tight spaces — behind the fridge, under the dishwasher, inside the cupboard hinge line, behind the kickboards under your kitchen cabinets. Shine your torch along these edges at night when they're active. You're looking for droppings (tiny dark specks like pepper), egg cases, or the roaches themselves.

Step 2

Ditch the spray — it makes gel bait fail

Sprays leave a repellent residue that stops cockroaches walking through treated areas to reach your bait. If you've recently sprayed, wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and let them air for 24 hours before placing bait. This single step is why most DIY treatments fail.

Step 3

Place gel bait in tiny dots, not big blobs

Apply a small dot of gel bait (about the size of a pea) every 10–15 cm along hinge lines, the back corners of cupboards, under the sink, and behind appliances. Less is more — cockroaches prefer small fresh dots over big dried-out blobs. Replace any dried bait after about two weeks.

Step 4

Back it up with bait stations in key spots

Tuck a bait station under the fridge, one under the dishwasher, and one inside the under-sink cupboard. These work passively for weeks and are safe around pets and kids when placed out of direct reach. Don't move them once placed — roaches learn routes.

Step 5

Break the cycle with a second round in two weeks

Cockroach eggs hatch about 2 weeks after the adults die, so a single treatment won't finish the job. Refresh your gel dots and replace bait stations at the 2-week mark to catch the hatchlings before they breed again. One extra treatment is usually enough to clear a standard household infestation.

The stop point

If you're seeing roaches during daylight hours, finding them in bedrooms or multiple rooms, or the infestation persists after two full rounds of gel bait — stop DIY treatment and call a licensed pest controller. This signals a large or wall-cavity infestation that needs professional-grade treatment.

Mendy calls tradies for you. Your first booking is free, then $3.50 a booking.

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