7 Important Tips to Deal with Pest in the Kitchen
Why do pests invade our homes? There are many reasons. But, it majorly boils down to the warmth, comfort, and food your home provides.
Because pests need food to survive like us, they’ll likely penetrate your home searching for food remnants and other edibles.
And as you know, the kitchen is the primary source of food in the home. Hence, you expect pests to invade your kitchen in search of their daily bread. If they eventually succeed, what do you do? How do you get rid of them to protect your home and family? Here are five tips to consider.
Common pests found in the kitchen
Before you kick start the onslaught against the pests in your kitchen, you must first know what you’ll be dealing with.
What are the common pests found in the kitchen? Some examples are:
- Silverfish
- Cockroaches
- Ants
- Carpet beetles
These pests hide in cracks and crevices behind kitchen appliances, sinks, and cabinets. And from there, they search for their daily bread.
To get rid of these pesky pests before they overrun your kitchen and, eventually, your home, follow these steps.
1. Close all entry points
Pests don’t teleport into your home like the Nightcrawler from the Xmen. They enter through many entry points. If you can identify and block these entry points, you’ll reduce the number of pests roaming around your home.
One of the most common entry points in your kitchen is your windows. But, for ventilation’s sake, we wouldn’t advise you to always lock them. Instead, fix nets on the windows to promote air inflow and block out pests.
In addition to your kitchen windows, keep an eye out for chips and minute cracks. Those broken walls, missing backsplash tiles, broken floor tiling, and missing or weathered roof tiles offer easy access to rodents, roaches, and other little pests. Insects find solace in these gaps, so ensure you identify and fix them ASAP.
2. Cover the garbage and compost bin
There is a possibility that you do this, but if you don’t, here is a clear reminder. Before giving your garbage bag to the municipality the following day, seal it appropriately. Get a heavy-duty airtight plastic or glass container for waste for kitchen use.
Do you compost your waste? If yes, ensure that your compost is stored in an airtight container outside, far from your kitchen, so rodents don’t find their way to it.
3. Contact a pest control
If your pest control issue is getting out of hand. If you have tried all possible means and methods to eliminate the pests in your kitchen, all to no avail, consider contacting pest and control services.
Pest control services for homes and businesses from terminix have what it takes to rid your home of pests, including termites, rodents, bed bugs, cockroaches, etc. They can also offer advice on measures to adopt to prevent further pest infestation. Pest control is your go-to solution for pest issues.
4. Dispose of overripe fruits and veggies
Do you buy fruits and vegetables often? If you do, ensure you store them appropriately. Don’t leave fruits out in the open, especially if they are getting too ripe. If you aren’t eating them, keep them in the fridge, or dispose of them.
Overripe fruits attract insects, especially flies. And if left unchecked, it can result in a permanent infestation problem.
5. Repair the plumbing
Are there any leakages in your home? Fix them.
Leakages cause dampness that damages the cabinetry and acts as a breeding ground for silverfish, small bugs found behind shelves, and other dark areas. These insects often stay and breed in their hiding spots, which could be behind cabinets in kitchens, under kitchen sinks, etc. You can fix the leaks in the kitchen yourself or contact a plumber to get the job done ASAP.
6. Don’t keep pet food and water overnight.
Pets that lurk in the dark, like rats and other rodents, need water and food to survive. And they’ll invade your home searching for them. So always remove pet containers with food before going to bed to discourage pests from entering your home.
7. Clean up
This one is a no-brainer. One of the best and most effective ways to keep pests at bay is cleaning up.
Are there messy or damp areas in your home? Do something about them. Pests love such areas.
Clean kitchen counters, nooks and corners, and other places pests are likely to thrive. After cleaning, disinfect the area. Rub down shelves, appliances, countertops, etc. regularly (every two days). You should also clean your cupboards. And each time you cook, ensure that you tidy up the kitchen immediately after you finish and not later.
Conclusion
The kitchen is a major target for pests due to the abundance of food. Having pests roaming your kitchen can pose health risks from contamination. Ensure you discard all leftovers before going to sleep. And if matters get out of hand, contact pest control.
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