No one wants to have pests in their house. However, this is often something that isn’t thought about until it’s too late and the evidence of an infestation is already underway. And while you can call a pest control professional to help you get rid of whatever it is that’s plaguing you, it’s often better and easier to just keep these pests away to begin with.
For many people, pests often find a foothold in the house in the kitchen first. Since this area is often rife with delicious foods and smells, it makes sense why it would be the first stop for household pests. So to help you learn how you can avoid this within your own home, here are three tips for keeping pests out of your kitchen cupboard and pantry.
Clean Up After Yourself
Arguably the best way to keep pests from wanting to come into your kitchen is to keep any evidence of food to a minimum. While you’re going to have food in your kitchen, you don’t have to leave this food out in the open where any pest could smell it and come for a taste.
Ideally, you should try to store your food in airtight containers so the smell can’t easily escape and pests can’t easily make their way in. Along with this, if you do happen to spill food while you’re in the kitchen, make sure you clean it up as soon as possible.
Don’t Buy More Food Than You Need
According to the Food Network Kitchen, the longer a food item is allowed to sit on your shelves or in your cupboards without being moved or used, the more likely it is to become a victim to pests. Knowing this, it’s best to not buy more food than you need so you’re not leaving foods to just sit and attract bugs.
To implement this principle in your life, you may want to consider buying food in smaller packages. This will allow you to use what you need without having extra that you’ll then have to store for who-knows how long.
Periodically Check Your Cupboards And Pantry
Even if you’re doing a good job of keeping your kitchen clean and making it an unfriendly place for household pests, bugs could still get into your kitchen through the food and packages you buy and bring home.
To be in the know if this happens to you, Elisa Roland, a contributor to the Reader’s Digest, recommends that you periodically check your cupboards and pantry for any pests. And if you see something, get rid of the food that was near the pests and then thoroughly clean the shelves and containers that were in the vicinity.
If you’re wanting to keep your kitchen as bug-free as possible, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do this within your own home and food storage areas.