Two questions come up on almost every cockroach enquiry we get in Pune: "Can you just do the kitchen?" and "Why do I need a second visit?" Both are fair questions, since nobody wants to pay for more than they need. The short answers: yes, we can treat only the kitchen, but in a lot of homes it doesn't solve the problem, and a heavy infestation needs a second visit because the eggs survive the first one. Here's why.
Cockroaches eat in the kitchen, but they don't only live there
The kitchen is where you see cockroaches because that's where the food is. But during the day they hide in dark, damp places, and most homes have plenty of those outside the kitchen:
- Bathroom floor drains and gullies, and the space under wash basins.
- Drain and sewer pipelines, which in a housing society connect your flat to the flats above and below.
- Wardrobe corners and the backs of cupboards, especially ones holding old papers or cardboard boxes.
- Gaps behind cabinets, under the fridge, and inside electrical boxes, where it stays warm.
When only the kitchen is treated, the cockroaches living in these other spots aren't touched. Some move away from the treated area for a while, and once the effect wears off they come back to the kitchen for food. To the customer it looks like the treatment didn't work, when really it only covered one part of where the cockroaches were living.
When kitchen-only treatment is enough
Kitchen-only treatment, which starts at ₹999, makes sense when you've only ever seen cockroaches in the kitchen, the numbers are small, and the bathrooms and cupboards are clear. If you've also spotted them near bathroom drains, in bedroom cupboards, or coming out of pipes, a full-home treatment is the better choice. When you call us, we'll ask where you've seen them and tell you honestly which one fits before any work starts. The price for a full home depends on its size and is confirmed during the free inspection.
Why a heavy infestation needs a second visit
Cockroaches don't lay loose eggs. A female lays them inside a small, hard, brown capsule called an egg case, about the size of a rice grain or a little bigger, and a single case can hold dozens of eggs. The casing protects the eggs, so gel bait and spray don't reach them. The first treatment kills the cockroaches that are moving around, but the egg cases already hidden in cracks and corners survive and hatch afterward.
Those young cockroaches never touched the first treatment. Left alone, they grow up and start laying egg cases of their own, and the infestation starts again. A second visit 10 to 15 days after the first kills them after they hatch and before they're old enough to breed. That's what finally breaks the cycle.
Light or heavy: why we decide together on the call
Most people can't tell whether their infestation is light or heavy, and that's normal. A few cockroaches seen at night can mean a much bigger population hiding behind cabinets. As a rough guide, cockroaches seen during the daytime, droppings that look like black pepper or coffee grounds inside drawers and cabinets, or a musty smell in the kitchen usually point to a heavier problem. On the call we ask a few simple questions about where and when you've seen them, and the technician confirms during the inspection. For a light infestation, one visit usually does the job. For a heavy one, we'll tell you upfront that it needs a second visit.
Help the treatment work
- Before the visit, put food into sealed packets or airtight containers, and empty kitchen cabinets if you can so the technician can reach the corners.
- After the visit, leave treated cracks and corners unwiped for about 12 hours. Light cleaning elsewhere is fine after 4 to 5 hours.
- Fix dripping taps and leaks under sinks, since water keeps cockroaches going even when food is scarce.
- Don't leave food crumbs or dirty dishes out overnight, and keep the kitchen bin covered.
- If a second visit was recommended, keep that appointment even if you see fewer cockroaches. Fewer cockroaches doesn't mean the eggs are gone.