Keeping the (Real) Pests Out of Your Kitchen

Frustrated when a co-worker leaves dirty dishes in the community kitchen sink? What about team lunches? Somehow no one manages to clean up the leftovers. Maintaining a clean office environment is everyone’s responsibility, especially if you don’t want pests to make your space their new home. 

“Ants, cockroaches, house flies, rodents and many other pests are attracted to offices for the easy access to food, water and shelter,” says Dr. Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., entomologist with pest control company Orkin. “Pests are often initially drawn to a building because of food odors, which may be undetectable to humans.” 

Instead of simply hoping that you never see a pest, help prevent their arrival altogether in just a few extra minutes a day. Orkin recommends these simple steps for reducing pest “hot spots” in your office:

* Put away food and clean dirty dishes – even food that has been sitting out for a few hours can attract pests. 
* Wipe down counters and other surface areas in the kitchen daily. 
* Clean any spills immediately, even if it is just water. 
* Remove trash daily – what is trash to us could be a gourmet meal to a pest! 
* Line all trashcans tightly with trash bags. 
* Clean refrigerators weekly and dispose of old food. 
* Contain office snacks properly. Don’t leave snacks at your desk that aren’t properly sealed. 

Following these simple steps can help keep pests far from your office building. Your messy co-workers? That’s another story. For more tips on pest prevention in your home or business, visit orkin.com.