For a large variety of common household pests, the kitchen is the number one destination the pests choose to infest. This area of the home is constantly stocked with food and moisture due to kitchen sinks and dishwashers. Pest control professionals will typically spend large amounts of time in kitchens during pest treatments since this is where the most activity occurs, especially for ants and cockroaches. Although spot treatment is certainly unavoidable when you see pests crawling in your kitchen, the best action you can take is to immediately consult Exterminator Oakville to start the process towards pest elimination. In the meantime, there are a few measures you can take to prevent pests from infesting a kitchen.
Pests gravitate towards kitchens for food and moisture; therefore, the first precautionary measure that should be taken is the storage of food. Never leave food products such as fruits on the counter as this will attract ants, cockroaches, and flies from potential miles away. Immediately after food prep, clean and sanitize all kitchen surfaces to prevent the spread of pests. Pests will also mostly choose to infest dark and moist areas of a kitchen. Cockroaches have been known to infest household appliances in addition to preferred areas such as behind and underneath refrigerators and stoves, as well as underneath and behind sinks and dishwashers.
Keep all perishable food in the refrigerator or freezer and only store foods in sealed packages and jars in cabinets. Cockroaches, ants, and rodents frequently enter homes through cracks and crevices in a home’s plumbing. Take measures to ensure that all piping is caulked and sealed to the best of your ability to prevent entryways for pests. Although you should always consult with a pest control professional beforehand, the usage of diatomaceous earth has worked wonders against preventing pest infestations for years. Many pest control professionals swear by the substance, but caution should be exercised during the application of this substance due to potential respiratory ailments associated with the dust. Also, if you have any leaks around the plumbing in your kitchen, you will want to immediately have the issues with problems fixed to prevent the leakage of moisture.
Keeping a kitchen pest-free may seem like a daunting task, but the process is actually a lot easier than commonly thought if perseverance is applied. Keeping a kitchen as dry as possible will eliminate infestations from ants, cockroaches, and even rodents. Ensuring that all food is kept sealed and inside of refrigerators and freezers is also paramount to prevent pest infestations. It is also important to keep the kitchen as clean as possible since many pests gravitate towards unsanitary kitchens since food residue is easier to come by. Attention should also be given to outside the home, especially where plumbing enters the house to the kitchen piping. Vegetation should be kept trim and any cracks and crevices should be sealed and caulked. By following these steps frequently, your kitchen will remain pest-free year-round.