Homes & businesses
Cockroaches hide. We find them.
Professional cockroach control for Melbourne homes and businesses. We find where German, American and other common cockroaches are hiding and treat them there, with clear advice to help keep them out.
Same-day service
Available 7 days a week
Free quotes
Upfront, with no hidden fees
Licensed & insured
Family-run and local
01The problem
Cockroaches spend the day tucked into warm, dark gaps behind appliances, under sinks and inside cupboards, then come out at night to feed. You'll often notice what they leave behind before you see the cockroaches themselves.
A single large cockroach may have wandered in from the garden or a drain. Regular sightings, or cockroaches out in daylight, can point to a larger infestation. Getting on top of the problem starts with knowing which cockroaches you're dealing with and where they're sheltering.
German, American, Australian and smokybrown cockroaches are among the most common pest species around Melbourne homes and businesses. Each one shelters and breeds differently, which changes where we look and how we treat.
Small, fast-breeding and almost always found indoors.
The largest common species, often living in drains and voids.
Mostly outdoors, wandering inside in warmer weather.
Strong fliers that shelter in damp, dark places.
Cockroaches rarely harm people directly, but they're more than a nuisance. They move between drains, bins and kitchens, and an infestation can grow quickly, so it's worth dealing with promptly.
Cockroaches feed on almost anything and travel through drains, grease traps and rubbish. They can carry bacteria such as Salmonella on their bodies and in their droppings, contaminating food, benchtops, dishes and utensils.
Their droppings, saliva, shed skins and remains contain proteins that can cause allergic reactions in some people. These allergens can build up in household dust, particularly around kitchens.
Cockroach allergens can trigger asthma symptoms in some people, particularly children. If you're worried about symptoms at home, talk to your GP.
A few sightings can become an established infestation within months. Australian food safety standards also require food businesses to keep pests out and stop them sheltering on the premises.
02Our approach
Cockroaches settle where they find food, water and somewhere to hide. German cockroaches live indoors and build up quickly around kitchens and appliances, while larger species often live in drains, subfloors and roof spaces and wander inside.
So no single treatment suits every cockroach problem. We match the methods to the species, the size of the infestation and your property, and focus on the gaps and voids where cockroaches shelter rather than open surfaces.
Targeted treatments
Aimed at where they hide.
Your home in mind
Clear advice for families and pets.
Practical prevention
Help keep cockroaches out.
Treatment methods
Most cockroach treatments combine more than one method. Which ones suit your property depends on the species, how established they are and where they're sheltering.
Small placements of gel bait go into the cracks, hinges and gaps where cockroaches shelter, rather than across open surfaces. Cockroaches feed on it and return to their hiding places, where the bait can reach others too.
Used forGerman cockroaches in kitchens, bathrooms and around appliances
A residual insecticide applied to selected cracks, crevices, voids and entry points keeps working after it dries, so cockroaches moving through those areas pick it up. Food-preparation surfaces aren't treated.
Used forLarger species around drains, subfloors, wall voids and entry points
Cockroaches often shelter where sprays can't reach: inside wall and roof voids, behind kickboards and in the warm motor housings of fridges and dishwashers. These areas can be treated with a suitable dust or bait instead.
Used forEstablished infestations and cockroaches living in voids
Sticky monitoring traps in likely hiding spots show where activity is concentrated and whether numbers are falling, so any follow-up targets the right areas.
Used forChecking progress, especially with German cockroaches and in food businesses
For established infestations, a follow-up visit lets us check activity, re-treat the areas that need it and reach young cockroaches that hatched after the first treatment.
Used forEstablished infestations, especially German cockroaches
We point out the food, water and gaps that keep cockroaches around, from dripping taps and pet bowls to gaps around pipes, so changes at your property support the treatment.
Used forEvery treatment, for homes and businesses
03Treatment process
Know what to expect at every step, from finding where cockroaches are hiding to practical changes that help keep them away.
We identify the species, find where cockroaches are hiding and feeding, and look for what's drawing them in, from leaks and food sources to gaps around pipes.
We treat the hiding places and entry points that need attention, using methods suited to the species and your property, and explain any precautions before we start.
You'll get practical advice on food, water and gaps, and we'll let you know if a follow-up visit is recommended to finish the job.
Start with a free quote.
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll recommend the next step.
Before your visit
Good preparation helps the treatment reach the places cockroaches hide. What's needed depends on the methods we'll use, so we'll confirm the preparation for your booking before the visit.
If we ask you to, empty the cupboards, pantry shelves and drawers that need treating. Keep food, utensils, dishes and crockery in sealed containers or another room until we tell you they can go back.
Clear benchtops of food, small appliances and dish racks so we can reach the gaps along splashbacks, under benches and behind appliances. Food-preparation surfaces themselves aren't treated.
Make sure we can get under the sink and to the gaps around the fridge, dishwasher, oven and microwave, along with the laundry, bathrooms and any roof or subfloor access. Let us know about built-in appliances or areas that are hard to reach.
Tell us about babies, children, pets, anyone who's pregnant or has asthma or allergies, and any fish tanks or birds. We'll explain whether anyone needs to stay out of particular rooms, and for how long.
Keep people and pets out of treated areas for the time we advise, and don't wipe, mop or spray over bait placements or treated edges. We'll tell you when you can restock cupboards and use each area again.
Preparation and re-entry instructions depend on the products and methods used for your property. Always follow the instructions we give you for your booking.
After your visit
Results depend on the species, how established the infestation is and the methods used. We'll explain what to expect for your property before we leave.
Activity often drops within the first week or two as cockroaches feed on bait and cross treated areas. Larger or long-standing infestations can take longer to clear.
Seeing some cockroaches for a while can be normal. Affected cockroaches often come out of hiding, sometimes during the day, and young ones can hatch from egg cases that were protected during treatment. Others can arrive from neighbouring units, drains or the garden.
German cockroaches can produce several generations a year, and females carry their egg cases until they're about to hatch. A follow-up visit reaches the next generation before it has a chance to breed.
Leave bait placements and treated areas undisturbed, and avoid supermarket sprays, which can drive cockroaches away from baits. Keep food sealed, wipe up crumbs and spills, empty bins regularly, fix dripping taps and don't leave pet food out overnight.
Get in touch if activity hasn't eased within the timeframe we discussed, if cockroaches turn up in new rooms, or if you're unsure about any of the aftercare instructions.
04Homes & businesses
Cockroaches turn up wherever they find food, water and warmth, from family kitchens to busy cafés. The treatment principles are the same, but access, timing and hygiene needs differ.
Houses, townhouses, units and rentals, with treatment focused on the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and anywhere else cockroaches are sheltering.
Cafés and other food businesses, shops, offices and other commercial premises, with a plan that suits your operations, staff and customers.
Local service
We treat cockroaches in homes and businesses across Melbourne's western suburbs, from Footscray, Williamstown and Altona out to Point Cook, Werribee, Caroline Springs and Melton. We also cover the wider Melbourne area.
Cockroach activity tends to pick up in Melbourne's warmer months, when American and smokybrown cockroaches are more likely to wander indoors from drains, gardens and subfloors. German cockroaches can stay active all year in heated homes and businesses.
Looking for local service? Our Caroline Springs pest control page covers the suburb and nearby Taylors Hill, Burnside and Hillside.
05Why choose Babylon
You'll deal with a family-run Melbourne business, from your first call to the follow-up.
Great service, arrived on time, was very honest about my problem and fairly priced. Highly recommended.
06 Common questions
Activity often drops within the first week or two as cockroaches feed on bait and cross treated areas. Established infestations, especially German cockroaches, can take several weeks and a follow-up visit. You may see more cockroaches for a short time as they come out of hiding.
See what to expect after treatment for why some activity can continue and how to help the treatment work.
Often, yes. German cockroaches breed quickly, and their egg cases protect the young inside, so new cockroaches can hatch after the first visit. A follow-up lets us check activity, re-treat where needed and reach the next generation before it breeds. We'll tell you whether a follow-up is recommended for your property.
It depends on the size of the property, the species and how many areas need treating. A treatment focused on a house or unit kitchen is usually quicker than one that includes subfloors, roof voids or commercial kitchen equipment. We'll give you a time estimate when you book.
We'll confirm what's needed for your booking. It usually means clearing benchtops, emptying the cupboards and pantry shelves that need treating, storing food and utensils in sealed containers, and making sure we can get under the sink and behind appliances.
See preparing for cockroach treatment for the full checklist, including pets and re-entry.
We use family-friendly, low-toxicity products applied by licensed technicians, and baits go into cracks and gaps rather than across open surfaces. Tell us about children, pets, anyone with asthma or allergies, and any fish tanks when you book. We'll explain how to prepare, which areas to keep clear and when you can use treated spaces again.
The cost depends on the species, how established the infestation is, the size and layout of the property, which areas need treating and whether follow-up visits are needed. A small German cockroach problem in one kitchen, for example, needs a different treatment from larger cockroaches coming in from a subfloor.
Request a free quote with your suburb, where you're seeing cockroaches and how long you've noticed them. We'll recommend a treatment and give you an upfront price, with no hidden fees.
Not necessarily. A single large cockroach may have wandered in from the garden or a drain. Most cockroaches hide during the day, though, so look for droppings, dark smear marks, shed skins or empty egg cases. Cockroaches out in daylight can point to a larger infestation. Tell us what you've noticed and we'll help you work out the next step.
Sprays mostly reach the cockroaches they touch. Others stay sheltered in cracks, wall voids and behind appliances, along with egg cases the spray can't get into, and activity builds again while food, water and hiding places remain. Some sprays can also drive cockroaches away from baits, so let us know what you've used. We find where the cockroaches are sheltering and what's drawing them in, then recommend a treatment suited to the species.
Cockroaches can return if food, water and shelter remain available, or arrive again in boxes, deliveries or second-hand appliances. Keeping food in sealed containers, emptying bins regularly, fixing leaking taps and pipes, and sealing cracks and gaps can help reduce repeat activity. If you're still seeing cockroaches after treatment, contact us to discuss the next step.
Yes. We help cafés, shops, offices and other businesses, with treatment planned around your trading hours, food preparation areas, staff and customers. See homes and businesses for how a commercial visit differs.
We assess cockroach activity in homes and businesses throughout Melbourne's west and north. Common cockroaches around homes include German, American, Australian and smokybrown cockroaches, along with oriental and brownbanded cockroaches. We identify the cockroaches and recommend treatment for your property.
Can't see your question? Ask us, or call for a quick answer.
Ready to get rid of cockroaches?
Tell us where you're seeing cockroaches and how long it's been happening. We'll recommend the next step for your home or business in Melbourne's west and north.
