What keeps roaches away permanently?

What keeps roaches away permanently requires eliminating entire colonies including nymphs and egg cases and preventing re-entry through integrated pest management that combines sanitation, exclusion, moisture control, and targeted baits, because roaches reproduce quickly and can return from neighboring properties if conditions remain favorable. The most permanent approach starts with thorough sanitation to remove food, water, and shelter, store all food in sealed glass or metal containers, clean crumbs, grease, and spills daily from countertops, floors, and under appliances, take out trash, wash dishes, and remove cardboard and clutter where German cockroaches and American cockroaches hide and breed. Second is moisture control by fixing leaky pipes, dripping faucets, condensation, and drying sinks and pet bowls because roaches need water and typically survive only about a week without it. Third is exclusion by sealing cracks and crevices with caulk around windows, doors, pipes, baseboards, and foundations because roaches enter through gaps as small as 1/16 inch, plus installing door sweeps and screening drains. Fourth is targeted treatment using slow-acting gel baits containing fipronil, hydramethylnon, or indoxacarb such as Advion and Maxforce placed near hiding spots, allowing roaches to eat bait and carry it back through feces to kill entire colony within days to weeks, plus insect growth regulators like Gentrol that prevent reproduction. For long-term permanence, maintain quarterly monitoring with sticky traps, keep home dry with humidity below 50 percent, and for severe cases hire professional pest control costing $150 to $400 with follow-up and warranties that provides commercial-grade products and ongoing prevention.