Tips on Keeping Your Kitchen Safe and Clean

The kitchen is the heart of the home where delicious food is stored and cooked. This also means that it is vulnerable to pest infestation when food is not stored properly, or the area is not cleaned well.

Here are 8 critical hotspots in your kitchen you should be aware of

Kitchen Pantry

The kitchen pantry provides warmth, shelter and a ready food supply for pests. It is a high-risk area that attracts cockroaches, ants, moths, weevils and mice. These pests can contaminate cooking and baking ingredients which in turn, creates severe health risks such as E. coli and salmonella.

Tip: Store dry food and ingredients in airtight containers to keep them fresh and pest-free.

Cupboards

Similar to the kitchen pantry, cabinets and cupboards in the kitchen provide pests with plenty of hiding spots. Crockery and dining ware with food remnants or exposed food crumbs can attract cockroaches and ants.

Tip Keep cupboards clean and organised. Wash and dry your bowls and cutlery properly before storing.

Kitchen Drains and Pipes

Often overlooked, the floor and kitchen drains are other potential pest hotspots. Meant to capture food and debris so that your pipes don’t get clogged, drains can also become breeding grounds for cockroaches, drain beetles and fruit flies.

Tip: Prevent clogging and debris build up in the pipes by using a drain strainer or grate to block non-liquids and other larger debris.

Open Cracks, Gaps and Holes

Did you know? A mouse can squeeze through a hole that is a mere 1 centimeter in diameter. Cracks and gaps from the wall, floor and ceiling allow rodents to gain access into your kitchen and contaminate food. Read more on how agile rats are.

Tip: The best preventive measure is to seal up all holes and gaps, and clean up spills immediately.

Kitchen Appliances

The oven, microwave and dishwasher bring great convenience in food preparation and cleaning. However, cockroaches can also hide inside, behind or underneath these appliances where food remnants can be found.

Tip: Be sure to clean these kitchen appliances immediately after use.

Food remnants attract all types of pests to feed! Leave none behind, start cleaning up.

Refrigerator

Not many people know that the condensation trays, or drip pans, found at the bottom of your fridge are hotspots for pests to hide – particularly for cockroaches. The drip pan collects water from condensation, and this moist, concealed environment makes it the perfect breeding ground for these pests.

Tip: Make it a point to remove the drip pans regularly for cleaning and be sure to keep the fridge door shut firmly after use.

Electrical Outlets

Another lesser known pest hideout, electrical outlets provide ants and beetles an ideal environment to breed. They can often be found hiding within the electrical outlet, or voids behind the outlet plate — especially near appliances with food contact.

Tip: Make it a point to wipe cooking and food preparation surfaces clean after cooking.

Rubbish Chute

Some apartments have rubbish chutes installed within or behind the kitchen. Since cockroaches can fit through incredibly tight spaces, these pests can enter your home through these rubbish chutes if they are not closed properly, or have exposed crevices.

Tip: Seal off these gaps — especially before fumigation — and see a repair technician if the rubbish chute door cannot close fully.

Pest Control Treatments

When pest infestation get serious despite diligent housekeeping and home maintenance, it does pay off to seek professional pest control help.

Call (65) 6347 8138 for an affordable pest package