Schedule a Free Consultation: (910) 356-8441
Remember, it's better to prevent pests in the kitchen pantry than it is to battle an infestation. The only thing worse than seeing bugs in your food at a restaurant is seeing them in your own home. Knowing how to avoid seeing critters in your kitchen is important.
First, you need to familiarize yourself with the following:
- Commonly Found Pantry Pests
- Preventative Measures
Read on for more helpful tips that will discourage pests of all kinds from visiting your kitchen pantry.
Commonly Found Pests in the Kitchen Pantry
In many instances, pests venture into homes and pantry areas by way of expired food. While weather, cracks in your home’s foundation, or infestations from other items could also be to blame, most times the bugs in your pantry were in your food before you ever ventured to the grocery store.
Before you figure out how to get rid of these pests, it’s important to understand the types you may be dealing with.
Ants
It’s next to impossible to find a home that hasn’t had its share of ant problems. Ant infestations can get bad quickly so it’s important to know how to stop them in their tracks. A “Queen Ant” typically sends her colony’s “scout ants” out to find food and bring it back to her. Once a scout ant has found food and reported back to the queen, all the other scouts will follow suit.
If ants keep showing up repeatedly in droves, look to make sure a colony isn’t being built right outside your kitchen window or wall. Ants are also typically attracted to sweet foods, so make sure that any bottles of honey, packets of sugar, cookies, & syrup are tightly sealed!
Fruit Flies
More annoying than anything else are fruit flies. Fruit flies are small in size and attracted to fermented and raw fruits and vegetables. They can enter through any tiny little crevice or directly from the produce section of the grocery store.
The biggest issue with fruit flies is that they reproduce quickly, with their life cycle at just eight days. The other issue is that they don't necessarily need fruits or vegetables to continue to live. Thus, even when you think you figured out the source, you could still be dealing with them for some time.
Indian Meal Moths
Another common pest you might find in your pantry is an Indian Meal Moth. According to Planet Natural Resource Center, these moths can enter your home through grains, cereals, or nut-based foods; or simply by flying in through a window or door. One other quick tidbit to note is that they are also attracted to light.
Flour Beetles
Flour beetles usually get inside packages at grocery stores & warehouses and can then be brought back into your home. Flour beetles are attracted to flour, grain, cereal, and pasta. These insects can also contribute to the growth of mold in food, and if they manage to grow to adult size, can even make their way into sealed packages.
Preventative Measures for Pests
While the thought of finding bugs in your pantry is a little unsettling, there are many preventative measures that can be taken to make pesky pests turn away.
Clean Regularly
It’s totally normal to have a pantry that isn't spotless all of the time - food crumbs fall from boxes, honey drips onto the shelf, it happens! However, it’s important to make sure your pantry is cleaned & organized regularly to avoid crumbs and drips from attracting pests.
While you’re cleaning out your pantry, be sure to also check the expiration dates of items. Besides the fact that you don’t want expired products taking up space, such items can act as a breeding ground for pests.
If you spot any sort of bugs, it’s always a smart idea to empty your entire pantry, do a deep clean, and check those expiration dates. When you do this, you may find that there isn’t just one source attracting bugs, but many sources - in many forms.
Get Rid of Regular Packaging
Another simple way to prevent pantry pests is by switching from boxes and bags to airtight storage. No matter how well you think you closed the cereal box or clipped the bag of chips, there’s always a little tiny spot for bugs to make their way in. Airtight storage containers not only keep your food fresh and your pantry organized, but they are way more difficult for bugs to infiltrate.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are a more natural way of preventing pests. There are a number of oils that deter bugs. Peppermint, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, and citronella are among the top natural bug repellents.
To utilize this method within your home, put a few drops of your selected oil on cotton balls and keep them in the corners of your pantry. You can also choose to mix the oil with water & create a spray. Periodically, spray the shelves to further discourage pests.
Exterminators
If you have a serious infestation that is beyond your control, seek out help. Then, decide the best way to rid your pantry and home of these unwanted guests.
Conclusion
Unless pantry pests are going to start paying rent, they do not belong in your home. For the times they try to mooch off of you anyway, be sure to figure out the main attraction and how to end their vacation. It could be as simple as cleaning or transferring your food supply into airtight containers. Taking a few steps to prevent pests in the kitchen pantry will pay off in the long run!