By Jennifer Noonan
If you want a pest-free kitchen, the name of the game is CLEAN. You’ll be more successful in deterring bugs if you keep crumbs and food waste to a minimum. So, to keep insects out of your kitchen, don’t make these careless mistakes.
Dishwasher not being used on a regular basis
Even if you rinse dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, there is bound to be food residue left behind that will be a beacon to bugs. Sure, dishwashers are well sealed to keep water from coming out, but it’s no problem for little six-legged critters to find their way in.
Leaving Out Leftovers
Put away any leftover food as soon as the meal is over. If you don’t, you’re just inviting bugs to set up camp.
Leaving Dishes in the Sink
A sink of dirty dishes is like a smorgasbord for bugs. Don’t put off doing the dishes. Wash all your plates, pots, and pans immediately after each meal if you want to avoid attracting an army of insects to the kitchen.
Using Cardboard Boxes for Storage
Cardboard boxes are good for deliveries, but they’re not the kind of thing you should rely on for storage purposes. Because they’re corrugated, they provide lots of lovely little spaces where cockroaches and other insects can lay their eggs. When those eggs hatch in your home, you’ve got a heap of trouble—and plenty more bugs! Put cardboard boxes in the recycling bin as soon as you finish unloading them.
Leaving Crumbs on the Table
After clearing all the dishes and loading them into the dishwasher, thoroughly wipe down the tables. Any crumbs left on the table could be a feeding source for a variety of bugs.
Not Sealing Food Tightly
Open containers of cereals, crackers, pasta, rice, and even bagged flour and sugar are major bug-attractors. At the very least, roll the interior bag down a few folds before clipping it closed with a clothespin or chip clip. It’s best to keep loose grains, flour, and sugars in airtight canisters or containers, or at the very least to seal an opened bag in a large zip-lock.
Not Taking Out the Trash
Just as you shouldn’t leave dirty dishes in the sink, you should not let the trash can get too full. It’s best to seal it tightly and take it out at the end of every day.
Not Sweeping Regularly
Crumbs and stray pieces of food are bound to go wayward during meal prep, and some of them will inevitably end up on the floor. After you wipe down the counters, do a quick sweep of the kitchen floor at the end of the day. That will go a long way toward reducing the food supply for any unwanted critters.
Not Wiping Down Bottles
If you don’t wipe down bottles, particularly syrup bottles, before you put them back into the pantry, you’re making a big mistake. Any sticky residue left behind on bottles and containers can be a food source for bugs.
Ignoring Your Appliances
Don’t leave for work before emptying out the grounds from your coffee maker. While you wouldn’t think old coffee grounds would be a desirable food source, plenty of bugs would be happy to take up residence in there and chow down.
Not Rinsing Recyclables
Those last few sugary drops left in a soda bottle can make a scrumptious meal for insects. Do yourself a favor and rinse your recyclables out before putting them in the recycling bin. Not only will you discourage bugs, but you’ll tamp down odors too.
