If you don’t want uninvited guests in your home, then it’s best to keep it clean. This goes for your entire property, but above all for your kitchen.
A messy cooking space is not only attractive to ants, rodents, and roaches, but if they have access to a constant food supply, they might even try to settle in more permanently there, which nobody wants.
Let’s explore how regular home cleaning keeps your home safe from pests and protects your health.
How a Clean Kitchen Prevents Most Pests
Keeping your kitchen tidy is super important to keep uninvited visitors away. Not only are pests gross, but they can also make you sick. So, if you don’t want to learn all those weird diseases whose names you’d rather not know, it’s best to keep things clean.
Simple habits like sweeping crumbs and keeping counters neat can make a big difference. Just try to stick to a regular cleaning routine. Something along the lines of deep cleaning once a week, and wiping counters after cooking, is sufficient.
Daily Cleaning Tasks
Pests, like us, love food and having shelter, so your kitchen can easily become their hangout spot if you neglect to clean it properly. Here’s what you need to do to prevent this:
Simple Habits
After eating, quickly wipe down your counters and kitchen table. That gets rid of food bits that ants and cockroaches love.
Also, wash the dishes right away so there aren’t any leftovers to tempt pests. Most have a keen sense of smell and will be attracted to the leftovers. A quick sweep of the floor helps, too, clearing up crumbs that could draw in mice.
Consistent Routine
Once a week, vacuum everything thoroughly. Pay attention to the areas around the stove and the fridge, too. Wiping cooking oils from the oven surface, and even around the tiles if there are any, is also required.
Sticking to these simple habits makes your kitchen a no-go zone for pests. To keep up with it, you could set reminders on your phone or make a checklist.
By sticking to this routine, you’ll not only keep the pests out but also enjoy a cleaner and healthier kitchen.
Deep Cleaning Kitchen Appliances
Ovens, fridges, and microwaves can get dirty with spills and crumbs, which pests love. Here’s a simple way to keep them clean:
- Ovens. First, unplug your oven and take out the racks. Soak them in soapy water. Use a gentle cleaner to wipe down the inside, especially the corners where dirt hides.
- Refrigerators. Unplug your fridge and take out all the shelves and drawers. Clean them separately to make sure there’s no leftover food. Remember to clean the drip pan underneath, too.
- Microwaves. Mix water and vinegar in a bowl, pop it in the microwave, and heat it for a few minutes. This loosens up the dirt, so it’s easier to wipe off.
Try to give these appliances a deep clean at least once a month to keep pests away. If it feels like too much work or the dirt’s really stubborn, consider hiring a professional cleaner to help keep your kitchen spotless.
Proper Food Storage
Leaving food in the open is a huge no-no. Bugs and mice are always hunting for easy snacks, so you’ve got to make sure your food’s out of their reach. Airtight containers are great for keeping food fresh and hiding any tempting smells.
Also, pop your food in cupboards or on shelves, not on the floor, so pests can’t get to it easily. For a tidier kitchen and to waste less food, try labelling your containers and washing them before refilling to eliminate any leftover odours.
These easy steps can make your kitchen way less inviting for pests and help keep your home clean and safe.
Take Out Your Garbage Regularly
Keeping your kitchen free from pests requires a bit of strategy, starting with how you handle your rubbish.
A bin with a tight lid is your first line of defence, keeping smells sealed in and pests firmly out. Position these bins in convenient spots, perhaps under the sink or in a cupboard, where they’re easy to access but also out of sight.
Also, don’t wait for the bin to overflow before emptying it. That’s just asking for trouble in the form of unpleasant smells and a pest invasion.
Don’t forget about the bins themselves. A quick wash with some soap and water every now and then can do wonders to deter pests. Even a small spill can lead to a stink that calls uninvited visitors from afar.
Checking and Sealing Gaps in the Kitchen
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to protect your home. How else would pests gain entrance if there isn’t one?
That’s why it’s really important to check and seal any spots they might sneak in. Have a look around your windows, doors, and where the plumbing is. Seal off any little gaps or cracks that you find, for these tiny openings are like open invitations for pests.
You might wanna use caulk to seal the small gaps, and weatherstripping for the bigger ones. If mice are a problem, stuffing holes with steel wool works really well as a defence.
Keep an eye on these areas and seal them up regularly. It’ll help keep pests away and make your kitchen cleaner and safer.
Natural Pest Deterrents
That’s a great way to skip the nasty chemicals and their adverse health effects in your kitchen. Using essential oils like peppermint and tea tree works really well, for example. Not only do they smell nice, but they also keep ants, cockroaches, and mice at bay.
Just add these oils to your cleaning routine, and you’ll have a pest-free kitchen without any safety worries.
DIY Pest-Repellent Spray
Making your own pest-repellent spray is really easy and cheap. Mix a cup of water with 10-15 drops of peppermint oil.
For extra oomph, toss in a tablespoon of white vinegar. Pour it into a spray bottle, give it a good shake, and spritz it on places like counters and cabinets where pests hang out.
This natural spray not only kicks those pests out but also makes your kitchen smell fresh.
Advantages of Natural Deterrents
Going for this kind of pest control is best because they’re good for the environment and safe to use around the kitchen and the entire home. Unlike chemicals, they don’t leave behind nasty residues, which is great if you’ve got kids or pets.
So, always try to opt for natural deterrents, if you can.
Conclusion
Having a clean kitchen is probably one of the best things you can do to deter pests from your home. Remember that sealing off any cracks and gaps is also mandatory, so they don’t gain entrance.
If you stick to these habits, you’ll likely not have to worry about the creepy crawlies and all the other pests. Just remember, being consistent with your cleaning is a must, so the uninvited guests don’t stand a chance!