No one hopes to open the flour, cereal, rice, or any other container and see pests inside. There are few things more disgusting than pantry pests, but they’re tough to prevent and even more difficult to deal with. From the cigarette beetle to the grain moth to the rice weevil, there are all sorts of potential problems lurking in your pantry now, but there are things you can do to keep them from infesting your home. Take a look.
- Keep your cabinets and pantry clean. Wipe your storage areas down as frequently as possible. You’ll want to vacuum your shelves and wash everything with warm, soapy water. If you happen to notice any cracks, be sure to caulk them right away. Pantry pests would love nothing more than to hide in those tiny cracks, and loose material on the shelves can mean you’re spreading the infestation almost everywhere.
- Keep Things Sealed: If you’re using the packages you brought home from the store, you may want to think again. Putting your groceries in sealed containers can help immensely with a variety of pest control efforts, including your efforts to keep pantry pests out of your home. Just make certain your containers have a tight seal on them.
- Overlook Nothing: Keep in mind that pantry pests are hardly limited to your pantry. If you keep dog or cat food in your home, bird seed, or even some fish food, you could still suffer from pantry pests. Keeping these materials sealed as well as you seal the food items in your pantry, though, can go a long way toward control.
Pantry pests are common throughout Florida and the U.S. as a whole. Once you’re infested, they’re difficult to get rid of, so make certain you contact a pest control professional immediately for help.