Pantry Pest Prevention
Like most middle-class families from Ohio, I spent a good chunk of my childhood summers vacationing in Myrtle Beach, SC. My grandparents had a trailer near the beach in the area, and we would go just about every other summer. I have fond memories of the beach, the boardwalk, and the dilligent food storage routines.
I was not familiar with bugs invaiding a home. In Cleveland, the bugs just aren’t that bad. But my family became experts once they reached south of the Mason/Dixon Line, and for good reason. The bugs were everywhere, and anything other than storage containers would attract them to our summer retreat to ruin our vacation.
When I made my move out of Ohio to the South as an adult, I knew the first thing to invest in would be storage containers. If you’re having bug problems in your pantry, containers, and a few other measures will go a long way to keep the bugs at bay.
What kind of storage container will keep the bugs out of your pantry? Make sure they are good quality, and air tight. I love the dollar store for storage containers for leftover food that goes into the freezer, but opt for higher quality plastic containers when I’m storing food in the pantry. Make sure the lid is durable, and air tight. Glass containers, including mason jars are other great options. If you don’t want to mess with containers, think about storing more foods in the fridge. I used to put open boxes of cereal in the fridge and never had a quality problem. Just avoid storing things like peanut butter in the fridge. It will become rock solid and hard to stir.
There are a number of other things to keep in mind to keep the bugs out of your pantry. Check the dates on all your food in the pantry, and discard any items that are expired. Stale and expired food kept in the pantry are very attractive to bugs, and if you’ve been ignoring the items, can become comfortable breeding grounds. Clean out the pantry and cupboards on occasion to remove any crumbs that might accumulate. If you spill something, clean it right away. Lastly, you should inspect groceries that come into the home. The easiest way for bugs to enter the pantry is if you give them a free ride into the home.
Look for the bugs most likely to cause problems in the pantry. The most common bugs to enter the pantry are moths, beetles, and ants. Meal moths are about 1/2 inch long and like to hover around the kitchen. Rice weevils are another common pantry pest, usually brown to dark brown in color. Rice weevils are smaller, usually only about 2-3 mm in length.
If you’re struggling with bugs in your pantry, or anywhere in your home, contact Earthwise today for a free inspection! We’ll gladly work with you to treat your home to keep your family and pets safe from unwanted pests.
