Bug Man Exterminating

Protect Your Pantry: How to Pest-Proof Your Cupboards

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If not properly protected, pantries can be a pest buffet. Pests love the easily accessible, dark environment that your pantries provide. 

To help you keep pests from stealing all of your snacks, we’ve rounded up our best easy-to-follow, eco-friendly pest control tactics. From organization to safe storage, keep reading to learn how to keep your pantry a pest-free zone.

Common Pantry Pests to Watch Out For

Some of the most common pantry pests, like mice or rats, can be destructive to your pantry. They can render all of your snacks and dry goods inedible by leaving droppings in or around them. It’s an expensive and health-hazardous problem. In addition to rodents, pantries are vulnerable to both imported and local invaders.

Pests that can be hiding in your shelf staples include:

  • Indian meal moths 
  • Weevils 
  • Flour beetles 

Invaders from lurking outside your home: 

If you notice any signs of infestation in or around food, you should throw it out to avoid contamination or sickness. Signs of infestation include: 

  • Holes in packaging 
  • Webbing or larvae 
  • Droppings or chew marks 

How Pests Get into Your Cupboards

It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your cupboards. A good rule of thumb is to keep your pantry clean and tightly sealed to prevent attracting pests. Some of the most common ways pests get into your pantry include: 

  • Contaminated groceries brought home from the store 
  • Cracks, gaps, or poorly sealed doors and windows 
  • Shared walls in townhomes or apartments 
  • Spills, crumbs, and pet food that attract pests overnight 

Practical Ways to Pest-Proof Your Pantry

There are some easy DIY ways to pest proof your food storage that serve as your first defense against pantry pest problems.

  • Vacuum seal your snacks to keep mice and ants from smelling your food.
  • Keep all areas clean. If you accidentally spill something, clean it up right away to prevent attracting mice.  
  • Seal all entry points using caulk or expandable foam. This prevents pests from wiggling through the cracks. 
  • Rotate and organize food regularly to assess if a pest has infiltrated a certain snack. If so, you can promptly throw it out. 

When To Call a Professional

Get help from a professional if the issue gets out of control. Professional exterminators solve the problem instead of masking it. Call a professional Roanoke exterminator if you notice the following issues: 

  • Persistent infestations despite cleaning 
  • Repeated sightings of the same pest  
  • Risk of contamination or property damage 

How a Professional Can Help

Bug Man Exterminating practices eco-friendly pest control methods, preventing pests and protecting the environment simultaneously. Our extermination professionals remove pests from your home using the following tactics: 

Get a pest-free pantry and the peace of mind that comes with it. Schedule a free Inspection with Bug Man Exterminating, your local exterminator in Roanoke.