Hi all,
I had my apartment treated by an exterminator about a week ago, but I’m still seeing roaches — mostly at night, and mostly smaller ones. I was told this could happen, but it’s stressing me out and making me wonder if the treatment even worked.
I’m trying to figure out what’s normal and what’s not.
- Is it expected to still see activity after treatment?
- At what point should numbers clearly drop?
- Do baby roaches showing up mean the infestation is getting worse?
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through this.
I went through the same thing last year. For me, seeing roaches for about 1–2 weeks after treatment was normal. They actually came out more at first because the chemicals flushed them from hiding.
Yeah, the initial spike can be misleading. What matters more is whether you’re seeing fewer each night over time. If it’s the same or worse after 2–3 weeks, that’s when I’d worry.
The small ones don’t necessarily mean it failed. Eggs can hatch after the first treatment, which is why follow-ups are usually needed. Annoying, but pretty standard.
I was told baby roaches showing up is actually part of the process. They hatch, crawl through treated areas, and die. Gross, but effective in the long run.
How clean is the place staying right now? Even after treatment, crumbs or water sources can slow things down a lot.
I freaked out too after my first spray. By week three, sightings dropped to almost zero. It wasn’t instant, but it did work eventually.
@UrbanTenant22 I know it’s stressful, but one week is really early. I didn’t feel confident things were under control until around week four.
Something people don’t mention enough is sealing gaps after treatment. I didn’t do that at first and kept seeing stragglers until I caulked around baseboards.
@GreenTileSue Totally agree on watching the trend, not individual sightings. One roach doesn’t mean failure, ten every night does.
I’d give it another week or two before panicking. If you’re still seeing steady activity after that, push for a follow-up visit. That’s pretty normal in apartments.