Your kitchen – A high risk area for pests
Kitchen and pantry pests feed on the same food that you and your family eat. Pests thrive in food preparation areas because they supply both shelter and food. Pests migrate into the kitchen by catching a ride on food such as spices, flour, and dried fruits and from there they migrate to other foods on the shelf.
There are two groups of pests found in food preparation areas; they are the spilled food pests and stored food pests. The Indian Meal Moth, Saw-toothed Grain Beetle, and other larger beetles are attracted to stored foods. By using metal containers, rigid plastic, and airtight glass to store dry food, pests should be prevented from spreading. Plastic and cardboard should not be used because some pests will be able to chew through them.
Spilled foods that get stuck behind drawers, in cracks, or under dishwashers, refrigerators and sinks are attractive to silver fish, cockroaches and ants. Be sure to clean those areas with a vacuum to prevent infestations of pests by taking away their food supply.
Common practices can be enforced to keep pests out of the kitchen. You can do this by checking groceries and deliveries and keeping garbage bins outdoors away from windows and doors. “An effective pest management program depends on good sanitation to eliminate the water, food and home that pests need for survival”.
Frontline Pest Professionals offers the following practical advice.
Don’t give pests water:
- Wipe spills right away.
- Sanitize food preparation areas.
- Thoroughly rinse buckets and mops after each use. Buckets should be dried and mops hung on a rack above the floor drain.
- Tend to leaks and clogs immediately to prevent moisture.
Remove pests home:
- Store cardboard and paper products away from walls and on a shelf in a dry area.
- Use caulk to seal any crevices or cracks.
- Be sure to remove waste and recyclable each week.
- Wipe spills right away.
- Sanitize food preparation areas.
- Thoroughly rinse buckets and mops after each use. Buckets should be dried and mops hung on a rack above the floor drain.
- Tend to leaks and clogs immediately to prevent moisture.
Remove pests home:
- Store cardboard and paper products away from walls and on a shelf in a dry area.
- Use caulk to seal any crevices or cracks.
- Be sure to remove waste and recyclable each week.
Before using any pesticides, read the label for instructions. It is important to remove all food and kitchenware before use. Try to avoid aerosol pesticides for indoor use, as they are inclined to leave behind a residue which can contaminate kitchenware and food.