Quick answer
To get rid of roaches in a NYC apartment, use professional gel bait at the harbourages where roaches hide (under and behind appliances, inside cabinet voids), seal cracks and entry points, eliminate food and moisture sources, and treat adjacent units in multi-family buildings — because store-bought sprays scatter German cockroaches and breed bait-shy survivors, making the problem worse.
The short answer
The single most important thing: don’t spray German cockroaches — bait them. In a NYC apartment, store-bought sprays scatter the population into wall voids and breed bait-shy roaches, making the infestation worse. Professional gel bait placed at harbourages collapses the colony at the source.
Step by step
- Identify the roach — small kitchen roaches (German) vs large drain “water bugs” need different treatment. (Which do I have?)
- Use gel bait, not spray — at harbourages under/behind appliances and in cabinet voids.
- Seal cracks and entry points — limit harbourage and unit-to-unit migration.
- Remove food and moisture — sealed food, no grease/crumbs, fix leaks.
- Treat adjacent units — roaches move through shared walls; involve management.
Why NYC apartments are tough
Pre-war buildings have deep voids, shared walls and old plumbing that let German cockroaches travel between units — so even a spotless apartment can be re-infested from next door. That’s why lasting control treats the building, not just one kitchen. See our cockroach & water bug control, or call for a a prompt inspection.