How to Maintain a Pest-Free Kitchen

Welcome to the first blog in our series on maintaining a pest-free home! We will be making our way through a typical house and discussing the most efficient ways to prevent pests from invading a specific room, as well as the pests that we see most often in that room. Today, we are exploring the food-centered room that is essential to every home: the kitchen. This room is more than just a place to pack your kids’ school lunches or grab a midnight snack. It is often considered to be the heart of the home, as it is where the designated chefs prepare delicious meals for the whole family to share. It’s because of all these reasons that the kitchen seems like it’s targeted by pests more than any other room. Between the huge food supply and the endless amount of hiding spaces, the kitchen is a very appealing place for many pests. Let’s touch on the four most common kinds of kitchen pests before we dive into the most efficient (and easiest) tasks you can do to prevent pests.

Common Kitchen Pests

Any wandering pest can make its way into the kitchen, but there are some that actively seek out this room in particular. Pests, like any living creature, require three things in life: food, water, and shelter. The kitchen provides these in spades for any creepy-crawlies that make their way inside the home. There are four common pests that are attracted to the kitchen more than the other rooms, and they will not leave willingly once they get a taste for the delicious food that is stored in this space. 

• Ants: Possibly the most notorious food-attracted pests, ants have made their presence known in kitchens across the country. The worker ants are in charge of foraging for food that will sustain their ever-growing colony. They travel from their hidden nests under the foundation or in the dirt into the home, where they leave a trail of pheromones (invisible chemicals) that their fellow workers can follow straight to the food source. Ants love anything heavy in protein or sugar, but they will eat just about anything. 
• Roaches: These insects are essentially the garbage disposals of the pest world. Roaches will eat anything they can get their grubby little hands on, which means that they also collect bacteria and diseases from every disgusting place that they visit, such as sewers and garbage dumps. These diseases can be transmitted to humans who eat anything touched by roaches. The nocturnal pests like to stay in damp and dark places as much as possible, and they can quickly scamper back to the darkness after eating enough food. Roaches often get into homes by either hitchhiking on cardboard boxes (they love cardboard) or by entering through the openings of leaky pipes. 
• Rodents: Rats and mice are also nocturnal, disease-infested creatures that cause problems wherever they go. They prefer to keep their families hidden in wall voids and other isolated places, so they will scavenge for food at night and bring it back to their hidden nests as soon as possible. Rodents can squeeze through holes that seem far too small for them, and they often enter kitchens under the sink or through the back of a cabinet. They also like to use paper scraps and shredded fabric for their nests, so they can steal some food packaging for their home improvement projects at the same time. Rodents eat anything they can find, but they especially prefer seeds, nuts, grains, and proteins.
• Pantry Pests: Based on the name, it’s fairly obvious that these insects are extremely frequent kitchen pests. This title applies to tiny insects, many of which have wings, that invade packages of food that are kept in the pantry or cabinets. Some of the most common ones include Indian meal moths, sawtoothed grain beetles, and rice weevils. They can all complete their entire life cycles in the containers of food, so it’s possible to find eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults all in one place. Although they don’t spread diseases or bite us, pantry pests contaminate every box of pasta or bag of flour that they invade, solely because they are a bunch of insects touching our food. 

Now that we know the frequent kitchen pests, it’s time to learn how to keep them out of our kitchens as much as possible. Most (if not all) of these tasks are likely already part of your daily chores, so you don’t have to worry about adding a bunch of unnecessary activities to your busy day. The most important idea to keep in mind when it comes to preventing kitchen pests is to keep a tidy space. If your counters are constantly littered with crumbs and your non-refrigerated food items aren’t sealed very well, there is more of a chance of you attracting the attention of some frustrating pests — and we’re not talking about your nosy neighbors.  

Clean Any Spills

This, like most of the items on this list, is a pretty obvious way to prevent pests, but that just makes it worth mentioning even more. Any spillage on the countertops, floors, stovetop, cabinets, and appliances have the potential to attract the attention of some hungry pests if it sits for too long. Clean up all crumbs, spills, and sticky residue as soon as possible before they stain. An easy way to ensure that you got it all is to first wipe up the area with a paper towel or rag with water, then use an antibacterial wipe or spray to sanitize the spot. 

Wash The Dishes

This may be one of the most tedious and unlikeable chores, but it is an important one for a few reasons. The first (and probably most important) is that it leaves you with clean dishes! Secondly, it prevents pests from being attracted to the food residue and remnants that are stuck to the dishes like glue. The longer that dirty dishes are allowed to marinate, the more likely they are to attract some kind of annoying pest. You don’t have to rush to the sink as soon as you finish a meal, but it is helpful to at least rinse them off before leaving them to soak for a while. The ideal time frame to wash dishes or load them into the dishwasher is within 24 hours, but just do what you can.

Store Food Properly

One of the most underrated ways to prevent pests, proper food storage is essential to any home. Some pests are able to chew through cardboard, paper, and plastic, which means that most food packaging is vulnerable to the appetites of invasive pests. The most dangerous pests in this regard are roaches, silverfish, rats, and mice. There are plenty of reusable containers available on the market today, both practical and aesthetically-pleasing, that come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose whichever brands and styles fit your needs, but the most important factor is that the container is airtight and has a lid with a tight seal. It’s a great idea to put any non-refrigerated food items (and dry pet food) in these because they are impenetrable to pests, and even keep your food fresh for longer as a bonus. 

Check Expired Food

No one wants to eat food that is well past its “best by” date — that is, except for pests. Produce, baked goods, and dairy products that are expired will draw the attention of some insatiable pests, especially if the food items are left out and are completely unsealed. Fruit flies and ants in particular love any kind of soft, overripe fruit or vegetable that is sitting out on the counter. The key here is to not allow expired food to get worse, whether it’s a bowl of apples or a pressurized can of olives. Make sure to eat or cook any foods before they go bad. If you don’t use it in time, throw it away in a covered garbage can. 

Run The Garbage Disposal

If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, then you likely already know the importance of running it often. All of the food scraps that rinse off the dishes and go down the drain just sit there until they are torn up by the garbage disposal. A good habit to get into is running the garbage disposal after you’re finished washing the last dishes of the day. That way, you prevent the disgusting scraps of food from piling up and smelling, which will then attract pests. If you notice that your garbage disposal gives off an unpleasant odor, there are plenty of cleaning products available that will leave it smelling and looking fresh. Drain flies are a particularly annoying disposal pest and they prefer drains that have a lot of buildup. The easiest way to handle them is to pour boiling water down the drain once in a while or when you notice them flying around. 

Inspect For & Repair Leaks

The kitchen sink is possibly the most used sink in the home, so it’s not unheard of to experience a leaking pipe. If a leak goes unfixed in the cabinet under the sink, it can cause the area to become musty and eventually develop mold. Some pests, like roaches and earwigs, love moisture and would be drawn to the ideal combination of dampness and a concealed space. Refrigerators and dishwashers can also start leaking for various reasons, so these appliances have the potential to attract moisture-loving pests to the area as well. Damp floors and walls make it easier for pests to invade because the materials are softened. To check for leaks, look in the area under the sink for any small puddles or a steady drip of water. If an appliance is leaking, there will be water seeping out from the base. Make sure to repair any leaks that you do find as soon as possible, as it’s much more affordable to fix a leak than to fix a leak and eliminate a pest infestation. 

Check Screens

There’s nothing like enjoying the flow of fresh air while you are hard at work in the kitchen. Spring and autumn are the most popular seasons in which to open up the windows and sliding doors of the house, but if the screens are not hole-free, it could mean that you are literally opening up your home to any nearby pests. Insects and spiders are small enough to crawl through tiny rips and holes in a screen, and they may not travel alone. Before opening any windows or sliders in the kitchen, briefly inspect the screens for any holes, gaps, tears, rips, or gashes. You can easily patch small imperfections with extra screen material, but if the whole screen looks worse for wear, it may be better to just replace it with a fresh one. There are many online tutorials on how to easily accomplish either of these tasks.

Keep Cabinets Clean

The kitchen cabinets and pantry are the perfect storage spaces for food, cooking equipment, dishes, and those random holiday platters that you swear you’ll finally use this year. However, the amount of objects you can fit into a given cabinet can backfire if any food items spill. A leaking bag of brown sugar is pretty obvious when it’s on the counter, but hidden in the back of the pantry? That’s a different story, and one that could end in a horde of sugar-crazed pests (like ants) being attracted to the spillage. If you find any loose crumbs or an unknown spill in the cabinets or pantry, clean it up and disinfect the area. Try to find the source of the spill if you haven’t already, and either throw it away or transfer it to an airtight container. If you keep your food storage as tidy as possible, there is less of a chance of a food spill going unnoticed by you and becoming very noticed by pests.

Clean The Floors

As in any room of the home, keeping the kitchen floor clean is an important step in preventing pests from taking over. Whether you have hardwood or tile, the floors need to be cleaned beyond just spot-treating when there is a spill. There is an unsettling amount of debris that can accumulate on the floor, including dust, crumbs, drink spills, dirt, loose spices, pet dander, and hair. Everyone has their own favorite cleaning methods for the floor, so the specific products and routine that you do is completely up to you! Mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, and scrubbing are all efficient ways to keep the floor free of dust and debris. If you need additional inspiration, just think of how much pests love an untidy floor for the sheer amount of food sources and nesting materials it provides. Talk about some cleaning motivation!

Use Proper Trash Management

We’re finally at the least appealing task of them all: trash management. Taking out the trash is not a fun chore (or maybe it is for you; we don’t judge), but it is crucial in maintaining a pest-free kitchen. Think of all the pests that we know love garbage: ants, rodents, roaches, flies, gnats, yellow jackets, and so on. An open trash can that is filled to the brim with food scraps and trimmings is a pest’s paradise. Taking the trash out when it’s full is an easy way to eliminate a major attraction for pests, as preventing the can from overflowing is the best act you can do for your kitchen. Your trash can should ideally have a lid or at least be contained under the sink or in a designated cabinet, as this puts yet another barrier between pests and your garbage. Finally, if any food has spilled onto the side of the can or on the surrounding area, clean it up as soon as possible. A pest-free kitchen is a happy kitchen — and who could ask for a better place in which to enjoy some delicious food in the comfort of your home?

Green Safely Keeps Your Kitchen Pest-Free

All of these tasks help to keep your kitchen free of invasive pests on a daily basis, but the best way to ensure that your pest worries are completely gone is to receive preventative treatments from Green Pest Services. Our team is fully trained and experienced in handling even the toughest of pest problems, and we do not leave any pest issues unsolved. We provide both preventative and responsive services in order to keep you completely pest-free. Since all of our treatments are completely safe for both people and pets, you never have to worry about toxic chemicals contaminating your kitchen after the service ends. You deserve to cook and eat in your own kitchen without any pests bugging you and making a mess of everything. Contact us today for more information on our efficient services and to learn how Green will kick the pests out of your kitchen! 

Citations

Abramson, A. (2023, April 8). 7 easy ways to keep pests out of your kitchen (without chemicals). The Kitchn. Available at https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-prevent-pests-in-kitchen-23519065 (Accessed September 5, 2023).

Common kitchen bugs & insects. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved September 5, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/pest-in-the-house/kitchen/ 

Keeping kitchens pest-free. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved September 5, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/keeping-kitchens-pest-free/