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Who Else Might Be Eating Your Cereal? (Pantry Pests Prevention)

There is nothing worse than discovering you are sharing your cereal with pests. The problem with them sharing your cereal, is they share by contaminating your foods. Pests in your pantry are not limited to mice, you could also be sharing your food with moths, ants, beetles, and other species who enjoy the taste of your cereal. While this thought is disturbing, there are steps you can take to prevent these visitors from sharing your pantry and the food inside.

Buy Smaller Quantities

When items sit in your cupboard for extended amounts of time, it is more likely they will encourage pests to come and enjoy them. By buying smaller quantities, you will be able to consume them faster and not allow them to send signals (smells or scents) to pantry pests. Foods that you buy once a year or other specialty foods should be checked for expiration dates, as out-dated foods may send out stronger signals to pests.

Check Storage Methods

How you store foods in your pantry could be a great preventive measure in keeping pests out of your pantry. By using airtight containers, such as glass, plastic, or mason jars with well-sealed tops are your best choice for keeping pests out of your foods.

Preventing Pantry Pests Starts in the Grocery Store

A lot of the pests that find their way into your home have hitched a ride from the grocery store. When you purchase food items, you should always check for signs of damage on the packages. Look for tears or rips that small critters could have used to enter the item before you leave the store with it. This rule doesn’t just apply to foods that go into your pantry, you should also check your dog treats, birdseed, or any other products that pests find tempting to share.

Keep All Food Areas Clean

If crumbs fall out of your packages or from your foods, you should wipe them up immediately, so pests are not encouraged to come for a free lunch. It doesn’t take harsh chemicals to keep them away, you can use warm water and dish soap to wipe away the smell and crumbs.

What to do If You See an Infestation of Pantry Pests

If you see an infestation of pantry pests, you want to start disposal measures immediately. Throw away any items that have been infested, and clean the area with soap and water. After you’ve cleaned the area, throw away the cleaning materials and infested food inside a tightly sealed garbage bag.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you see adult bugs in your pantry, chances are there are eggs hidden somewhere inside. If you have other foods not inside of airtight containers, the best idea would be to throw away these items. This preventive measure could keep your cupboards pest-free.

What to do When You Find Pantry Pests

Even if you take all the above preventive measures, pests can still find their way into your cupboards. It takes experience and knowledge to fight these pests and Pest-Away Exterminators are the professionals you need to protect even the most aggressive infestation. We can protect your home all year round with custom treatments to adapt to the different seasons.

 

Tags: ants, beetles, infestation, mice, moths