How to Keep Pests out of Your Restaurant

Whether it's fly activity in the front or back of the house or rodents in your food storage areas, pests within a restaurant and retail food setting are a major problem. Pest infestations not only destroy valuable inventory, but also can do serious damage to the reputation of your establishment.

Even a minor pest problem can turn a reputable and profitable facility upside down. Therefore, keeping pests out of your restaurant and away from your patrons is of utmost importance. How can you keep pests out of your restaurant? Along with a professional pest management program in place, you can work with your employees to make sure the basics are being covered on a daily basis:

Pests will often hitch a ride into your kitchen via supply boxes. Before you let any incoming shipments into your restaurant, be sure to carefully inspect the shipment. Using a black light will illuminate any signs of pest infestation, including pest waste and bite marks. If signs of pest activity are present, make sure to keep the box far away from your facility and contact the vendor to inform them of your findings.

Store food properly

Make sure you store and stack food packages and containers appropriately. Always keep items about 16 inches from the nearest wall, and make sure to inspect stored food on a daily basis for any signs of infestation. Catching signs of pests early and getting rid of infested food will help you minimize the scope of the infestation.

Practice FIFO

A first in, first out strategy, or FIFO, can help prevent pest infestations. Food in storage is particularly vulnerable to pest infestation, and the FIFO strategy minimizes the amount of time food stays in storage. You will want to date every food package and item, and always take the oldest (the package that arrived and was stored first) out first before it expires or grows more susceptible to infestation.

Make sure you have routine cleaning policies in place

Remember, all it takes is a small amount of biological residue on your floors, in your drains, or on your counters to attract pests. Regular cleaning policies are crucial to keeping your restaurant clean. Your daily cleaning routine should include:

• Sweep and mop floors — Traces of food left on floors and tables, either by your staff or customers, is a magnet for pests. Sweep and mop daily to get rid of any residue. However, after mopping, you will want to make sure that floors are properly dried. Floors that are left wet for too long can serve as a water source for thirsty pests, attracting as opposed to repelling them.
• Disinfect counters and all kitchen items — Clean and disinfect all kitchen counters, as well as items used in food preparation, including cutting boards, blenders, grills, etc.
• Clean and maintain drains — Pests, particularly flies, are often attracted to the organic matter that gets trapped in drains in restaurant sinks and floors. Make sure these drains are cleaned at least once a day. Ideally, you will want to use a drain trap to ensure that organic waste doesn’t get trapped in the pipes and start to rot.
• Line all trashcans and regularly remove waste — Any trash cans inside of your restaurant should always be lined and kept covered. Trash should be emptied regularly, typically several times a day. You will also want to remove liners and clean trash cans on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of organic residue that can attract pests. Any dumpsters should be kept at least 15 feet away from the building, and you should empty and power wash all dumpsters and the ground around them a minimum of once a week.

JP Pest Services is dedicated to solving your commercial pest problems. Our pest control professionals understand the regulations and requirements of many different industries, including restaurants and retail food establishments. Request your free consultation today for a thorough examination of your business location and a pest control program tailored to yoru specific needs.