5 Easy Things You Can Do in Your Kitchen to Keep Pests Out

Kitchens are a party haven for pests. Bugs and rodents are attracted to food and water, which they need for survival. So, it’s no wonder that the kitchen is a popular warzone for pest control. Luckily, there are a few very simple things you can do in your kitchen to help prevent pests from invading your space. Here are a few tips:

How to Prevent Pests in the Kitchen

1. Keep Your Food Containers Tightly Sealed
2. Keep Your Sink Clean and Empty
3. Eat at the Table
4. Use a Trash Can with a Lid
5. Clean Up Food Right Away

1. Keep Your Food Containers Tightly Sealed

Roaches and other pests love getting into loosely stored food. Many pests can burrow right through a cardboard box, so make sure to use something airtight. If you open a food container, try storing the leftovers in an airtight plastic bag, Mason jar, Tupperware, or other tightly sealed container. Some common food packages that people leave open without properly storing include cereal, chips, cookies, and other snacks you don’t typically eat all in one sitting. Put your leftover food on lockdown, and you’ll keep your space tidy and help prevent bugs from invading your kitchen.

2. Keep Your Sink Clean and Empty

Some people love to let their dishes soak in the sink. But they probably don’t know that standing water can attract all kinds of pests. It may be a little freaky to think about, but many pests are attracted to water and can even swim! Your sink full of water could become a roach pool party if left out too long. Avoid stacking dishes in the sink overnight and be wary of leaving water in the sink. Try to keep your sink as empty and clean as possible, and you’ll help prevent your home from becoming a roach paradise.

3. Eat at the Table

Pests can sniff out your crumbs and food particles from far away. If you eat snacks in your living room, bedroom, or other areas of the house, you’re more likely to attract pests. Eating at a table allows for quick and easy cleanup—and you’ll be keeping your crumbs off the floor and further away from pests. Try to make a habit of only eating at a table or counter in your kitchen, and you’ll avoid sprinkling beacons for pests throughout your home.

4. Use a Trash Can with a Lid

Of course a lot of food particles and waste end up in your trash. Many people store a trash can under their sink, without a lid. We strongly recommend investing in a trash can that can be closed tightly. That way, you’ll make it harder for pests to sniff out your trash can and the food inside. It’s a small thing that can go a long way towards keeping pests out of your kitchen.

5. Clean Up Food Right Away

With our busy lives—and especially if you have kids or groups of people over for parties—it can be tricky to always clean up spilled food right away. But spilled food can attract pests more quickly than you’d think. Next time a guest, child, or pet accidentally spills food or drink, thoroughly clean up right away. You’ll keep armies of pests at bay if you do this routinely. Pests love leftover food and crumbs.

So, keeping your food properly stored, cleaning up food, and avoiding standing water will go a long way toward keeping pests out of your kitchen. For more preventative tips on how you can keep pests out of your home, see our other resources.