Spring is here at last, while for some of us summer is almost upon us. We’ve said goodbye to the snow and the frost, and welcome the daffodils and watching the kids as they run around outside in the lovely warm sunshine. But with the arrival of the warmer weather, it normally means the arrival of some spring pests too. And the one place you don’t want pests is? In your kitchen!
As well as having a feast on your food, spring pests can spread diseases and breed in your home, causing a major infestation. None of us want our children exposed to stings, bites, bacteria, food poisoning or allergic reactions, and we’ve taken that to heart. According to London based pest control specialists Empire Ltd, these are the top 4 most common pests types people are likely to spot in their kitchens almost anywhere in the world this spring…
- Cockroaches – Discovering a cockroach inside your home is terrifying, but seeing one in your kitchen is gross enough to make you not want to cook in there for a year! As well as worsening breathing problems due to allergens, they can give your family a nasty rash. Cockroaches are also riddled with germs that spread illnesses and diseases really quickly.
- Rodents – Rodents also carry lots of harmful bacteria and diseases. Your electrical cables are also at risk of being chewed, causing serious fire hazards. Not to mention structural damage from gnawing on timbers and droppings in your water tank. Keeping your young family safe from mice and rats is a greater imperative than it seems at first glance.
- Flies – Once one fly gets the whiff of a great food source in your kitchen, they will invite their friends and cause a real fly control problem. Flies can get into your home through the tiniest cracks and holes in your walls or around your doors. Nothing will stop them from getting to your food unless you put a rigorous and determined prevention program into practice.
- Ants – The sweet and sugary yummy things kids love that are stored in your kitchen are a real draw for food pests like ants. They also will be attracted to old pet food. Ants can spread quickly as they live in huge numbers, and cause a real nuisance for a lot of homeowners.
Preventing Kitchen Pests This Spring
When looking at any type of pest problem, the key to an efficient program consists of pest identification, sanitation, eradication and pest proofing by a professional bug exterminator. The success of the pest control solely depends on each of these steps being completed correctly.
- Keep your kitchen as clean as possible. This means wiping up spills and sweeping away crumbs every day. These do come into the class of food sources, so they need to be cleaned up as soon as they happen.
- Store as much of your food as is feasible in airtight containers, and keep items in the fridge. And make sure you empty the kitchen bin on a regular basis.
- If you like to keep a bowl of fresh food out, check it often for any signs of decay and over-ripening. A fly will love this and can lay over 500 eggs on the surface of rotting fruit. That’s why it’s best to get rid of it straight away into an outdoor bin to prevent the eggs hatching inside your home.
- Outdoor bins should never be overfilled, and the lid should be tightly fitted and sealed so no pests can access it.
- Don’t leave your dirty dishes out on the side. Wash them as soon as possible. This is another available food source for pests so it’s important to keep things clean and food free.
- Avoid leaving pet food and water bowls sitting out for long periods of time. Once they’ve finished, clear it away. Food and water sources are the main things that make pests set up shop in people’s homes.
- Eliminate moisture sites around your kitchen, such as leaking taps and pipes.
- Check your kitchen for signs of damage. This could be natural wear and tear, but any cracks and crevices make the perfect pest entry point. Fill these holes and seal them off with the appropriate materials.
- Vacuum and wipe the kitchen floor daily if possible. Even the smallest bits in the corners of your kitchen floor are a feast for insects and rodents.
