The Intrigue of PestsThe Intrigue of Pests

It's frustrating to see insect pests in your cupboards, especially if they've invaded boxes and sacks of food. If the infestation is heavy, you may need to throw out most of the food in your pantry that's not sealed in cans, jars, or plastic containers. Here are some tips for getting rid of pantry pests and preventing their return.

Keep The Cupboards Clean

Wipe up spills in the cabinets right away so the food doesn't attract pests. It doesn't take much-spilled flour or other dry food to draw the interest of insects, so try to keep your cupboards tidy. You may want to develop the habit of wiping off jars before you put them back in the cupboard too. Sweet syrup dripping down the side of a bottle might attract ants or fatty peanut butter left along the rim of the lid can attract roaches.

In addition to cleaning as you go, remove everything from your cupboard on a regular schedule so you can deep clean the cabinets. Use a vacuum wand to pull out dust and crumbs, and then wash down the insides to eliminate odors and food stains.

Transfer Food To Sealed Containers

Pests get a start in your pantry when you carry them home from the grocery store. Give food boxes a quick look before tossing them in your shopping cart to make sure they are free from bugs.

Once you get the food home, transfer anything that doesn't seal tightly to plastic containers with lids that snap shut, glass jars with lids, or other containers that seal. Rolling down open bags and clipping them closed won't do much to keep out bugs, so get in the habit of keeping food sealed and safe from pests.

Try Using Bay Leaves

Bay leaves have a reputation for repelling pantry bugs. They may not be effective on an infestation that's already established, but bay leaves might help prevent an infestation. You can place individual leaves in flour canisters or just place the leaves in your cabinets so the odor can discourage pests from settling in.

Get Help With A Pantry Pest Problem

When pantry pests waste your food, you want to eliminate the insects before you bring more food home. You also need to be careful about using pesticides in your cabinets where you store food, so consider calling a pest control company for help eliminating roaches, ants, moths, beetles, or any other pests that find their way in your cabinets and contaminate your food.