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Cockroach Control: A Recent Job & Some Homeowner Tips

Category: Holiday

Published: 01 November, 2026

By Erick, Owner, Pestmaster

What We Walked Into

November is when I start reminding homeowners around Greater San Angelo and Midland that cockroaches don't disappear just because the weather starts cooling down.

In fact, once roaches find a warm place with food, water, and somewhere to hide, they can remain active indoors throughout the colder months.

Earlier this month, I got a call from a homeowner in Midland who had been noticing cockroaches around the laundry room and kitchen.

When I arrived, the house was clean and well maintained. The homeowner was actually a little embarrassed about the situation, but I explained that roaches can become a problem even in homes that are regularly cleaned.

I started checking the laundry room, kitchen, and nearby areas where plumbing entered the walls.

Behind the washing machine, I noticed some moisture around a drain connection. There were also a few droppings near the baseboard and small gaps around the plumbing.

Underneath the kitchen cabinets, I found additional signs of activity.

Nothing was crawling all over the place, but the evidence suggested the roaches had been using those protected areas for a while.

The Problem

Cockroaches are good at finding places where they won't be disturbed.

Behind appliances, underneath cabinets, around plumbing, and inside narrow wall openings are all places where they can stay hidden during the day.

Cockroaches need water, and a small leak or damp area can make a big difference when they're looking for somewhere to settle.

There was also a narrow space beneath the kitchen cabinets where crumbs and debris had collected over time.

It wasn't anything unusual.

Most kitchens have areas that are difficult to clean without moving appliances or getting down on the floor.

But when you combine those food sources with moisture and protected hiding places, roaches have a reason to stay.

The homeowner told me they had started avoiding the laundry room at night because they didn't want to turn on the light and find another cockroach.

That's something people don't always think about until they're dealing with it themselves.

Even a few sightings can make someone uncomfortable in their own home.

The Process

The first thing I wanted to determine was where the cockroach activity was concentrated.

I checked behind the washing machine, around the laundry drain, underneath the kitchen sink, behind appliances, and along the lower cabinets.

With cockroaches, I don't want to rely on spraying whatever happens to be visible.

The important part is finding the places they're hiding and figuring out what's allowing them to remain active.

Once I had a better understanding of the problem, I applied targeted treatments to the areas where activity had been identified.

The homeowner arranged to have the drain connection checked, and we discussed keeping the surrounding area dry once the issue was corrected.

In the kitchen, I recommended cleaning underneath the appliances and removing the debris that had collected along the cabinet edges.

We also went over the openings around the plumbing that could be sealed to reduce hiding places and movement between areas.

At Pestmaster, I try to make sure homeowners understand what we're doing and why.

Treating the active cockroaches is important, but if the moisture, food sources, and hiding places remain, the conditions that support the problem are still there.

The Outcome

Over the following days, the homeowner started noticing less activity around the laundry room and kitchen.

There were a few early sightings after treatment, which can happen while an active cockroach problem is being brought under control.

They had cleaned underneath the kitchen appliances and started checking those areas more regularly.

What stood out to me was how much more comfortable they felt using the laundry room again.

They weren't hesitating before turning on the light or checking the floor every time they walked in.

That's usually what homeowners want more than anything.

They want to be able to go about their normal routine without worrying about pests showing up.

The homeowner also understood what to watch for moving forward, which is an important part of keeping the problem from returning.

DIY Advice

If you're noticing cockroaches around your home this November, there are a few things I recommend checking before the problem becomes more established.

1. Check for moisture around appliances and plumbing. Look underneath sinks, behind washing machines, and around drains for slow leaks or damp areas that may attract cockroaches.

2. Clean underneath kitchen appliances. Food crumbs, grease, and debris can collect behind refrigerators, stoves, and other appliances without being noticed.

3. Keep food properly stored. Use sealed containers for pantry items and pet food, and avoid leaving food scraps or dirty dishes out overnight.

4. Inspect gaps around plumbing and cabinets. Small openings can provide cockroaches with protected spaces to hide or move between different parts of the home.

5. Keep laundry rooms and storage areas organized. Avoid leaving unnecessary cardboard boxes and clutter in damp or undisturbed areas.

These are all fairly simple things homeowners can do.

They won't necessarily eliminate an established infestation, but they can make the house less attractive to cockroaches and help you notice activity earlier.

"It's brighter than before!"

— Megan

Professional Insight

One thing I've learned about cockroaches is that the ones homeowners see are not always the ones they need to be most concerned about.

It's the activity happening out of sight that matters.

A roach running across the laundry room floor might be what gets someone's attention, but the actual problem could be developing behind an appliance, underneath a cabinet, or around a plumbing opening.

Around Greater San Angelo and Midland, I pay close attention to those areas because cockroaches can remain active indoors even when outdoor temperatures begin dropping.

In some cases, repeated spraying can even interfere with other control methods.

A thorough inspection, targeted treatment, and correcting the conditions that support the activity usually provide a better approach than simply treating every roach that appears.

Closing Thoughts

One thing I hear quite often from homeowners around Greater San Angelo and Midland is,

"I keep seeing one every few days, but I can't figure out where they're coming from."

That's usually a good reason to start looking a little closer.

Cockroaches don't need much to settle into a home. A little moisture, some food, and a protected place to hide can be enough.

If you're finding roaches around your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, or other areas of the house, don't ignore those early signs.

Finding where they're hiding and dealing with the conditions that are keeping them around can make a big difference before the activity becomes harder to manage.