Pest Behavior
THE KITCHEN AND the dining area are two of the most visited areas during the holidays. And if you don’t always go by the clean-as-you-go mantra, then you probably would agree that it’s time to get on top of the situation. Like, right now. If you’ve started organizing your pantry, it’s time to keep those pesky pests away.
Food Preparation
Pests love areas where we prepare our food – it provides them the perfect condition to feed and hence, breed. Small scraps of food that fall on countertops or on the floor are attractive to pests.
What to do? Wash countertops or food preparation areas before and after preparing food. Clean
and disinfect liquid stains and food particles with soap or dishwashing liquid and water, or vinegar
and water. Kitchen floors must also be kept clean by sweeping and mopping it regularly.
Food Storage
Ants, mice, and cockroaches are common food storage culprits. The cupboard or pantry is an easy target for these pests, where plastic containers, condiment bottles, canned goods, or noodle packets may be found.
What to do? Get organized. Before storing food in the cupboard, transfer goods such as cereals, noodles, rice, or any plastic- or box-packed food in airtight containers such as bottles, mason jars, or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Keep food storage areas sparklingly clean by checking them regularly. Make sure, too, that catsup bottles are properly and tightly sealed and side drips are cleaned. Even the food you store on kitchen worktops should also be covered at all times.
Food Disposal
Scraps found in the rubbish bin attract not only pests but small animals as well.
What to do? Separate your garbage. Food scraps should be put away along with the biodegradables. Garbage bin should be lined with plastic liners or trash bags for easy hauling and to avoid messy garbage leaks. See to it that trash bins are covered tightly and weighted to keep rats, cats, or dogs from going through them or knocking them over. Always put all the waste in an outside garbage bin or in a decomposing bin or pit at the end of the day. Keep a schedule of when is garbage collecting day
to prevent accumulated trash.
- Rica Fernandez
