Guest Post: 4 Steps to Keep Pesky Pests Away from Commercial Kitchens

Wouldn’t it be a nightmare to have the food hygiene inspectors find pests like mice, cockroaches, bugs or moths in your kitchen? It can not only lead to disgruntled customers walking out of your hotels and restaurants but also shrink your possibility of doing business. It is natural for food storage and preparation areas to attract pest. They are also known as pantry pests which include a variety of beetles and moths which permeate food such as rice, grain, beans, nuts pulses, dried fruits, meat and cheese in the kitchen and pantries.

A kitchen has all that it takes for the pests to thrive – food, moisture, heat and shelter. If left unchecked they can proliferate without end. If you are trying to save money on pest control measures it can increase the cost of business in the longer run. It will not increase the cost of replacing damaged stock but also lead to the loss of reputation.

4 Steps to Prevent Pest Infestation in Commercial Kitchens.

Step 1 – Restrict Potential Entries for Pests – It is important to seal the cracks and crevices in the kitchen to make sure that there are no openings for pests. Professional advice can always be acquired to know the potential entries and neglected points through which pests can penetrate your kitchen.

Step 2 – Thorough Inspection of the Hotspots – Finding larvae in the stored food or packaging is common. Moths are fond of grain-based products like flour, cereal, and pasta where they can thrive vigorously as it provides them the favorable condition. Larvae tuck itself in the edges of cans and jars, unopened packages and sealed cans. It is better to get rid of infested foods and wiping off the sealed cans with concentrated vinegar. For a safe extermination it is important to hire a commercial pest control service as professionals can increase the effect of a pest control treatment as they are aware of the source of infestation.

Step 3 – Declutter – This is a mandatory procedure to keep your pantry and kitchen free from pests. Vacuum the shelves to get rid of remaining moths and cocoons. A 50-50 solution of white vinegar and warm water can kill the remaining eggs. By adding peppermint oil to vinegar and cleaning the shelves you can prevent the infestations of pantry moths, spiders, cockroaches, mice and ants.

It is unsafe to keep the infested items indoors as it can spread all over the kitchen if left unchecked.

Step 4 – Proper Storage – Use air-tight containers like mason jars and Tupperware because they keep your food fresh and prevents pantry pests from lurking around. Make sure you wash and dry the containers once they are empty before returning them to your clean pantry. This ensures that you are not overlooking any signs of infestation or hidden eggs.

These steps are a great way to prevent pests from taking over your kitchen and pantry. If you find your kitchen infested already you may want to call a pest control professional who will be able to get rid of the infestation and since it is a matter of hygiene of food substances any potential threat of pests should be investigated and taken out. It’s crucial to detect issues early on as it can help save a lot of inconvenience down the road.

Central Restaurant Products carries a variety of products to help with pest control. Browse Central’s selection here.