How to Get Rid of Bugs in the Kitchen?

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The kitchen can be considered the biggest attraction for bugs of all kinds.

The aromas of delicious foods attract pests from outside. Pests that are attracted to the kitchen include cockroaches, ants, house flies, and rodents.

Kitchen pests can cause various types of illnesses. Getting rid of these pests is important to ensure the health and safety of the inhabitants of the house. Here are some tips that can help you eliminate pests from the kitchen.

Use Natural Baits and Traps

Consider placing natural baits to get rid of pests from the kitchen. You can use various types of commercial baits to get the job done.

Diatomaceous earth or boric acid is effective in eliminating ants and roaches from the kitchen.

These can be effective for at least two to three weeks after which you need to sprinkle the pesticide again.

You can also use homemade bait for eliminating pests from the kitchen.

Squeeze lemon drops over the kitchen sink and window. Ants are repelled by the smell of lemon juice. Another additional benefit of using lemon is that your kitchen will also smell refreshing.

Ants also hate the smell of cinnamon and coffee grounds.

You can sprinkle baking soda on the kitchen counter and cabinets as they are poisonous to ants. Also, white vinegar is effective in getting rid of ant trails.

A diluted solution of ammonia is also natural bait for pests in the kitchen. The solution is particularly effective against cockroaches. You can also use fabric softener to get rid of the pests from your kitchen.

Use Black Pepper for Wheat Weevils

A common kitchen pest that is a big nuisance is the wheat weevil. The identifying feature of the pest is an elongated snout and reddish-brown skin.

You can use black pepper to get rid of these pests from the kitchen. This kitchen pest can feed on any processed food but prefers wheat, seeds, and beans.

Wheat weevils can chew right through plastic and paper wrappings. So, you should consider storing food items in air-tight glass, metal, or hard plastic containers.

Also, you should thoroughly wash vegetables before placing them in said containers.

Use Fly Repellents

Flies are pestering pests that also pose a health risk. They dive-bomb on the food while you are preparing or eating food in the kitchen. These pests can dine on vegetables and fruits on the kitchen counter.

Fruit flies can carry many harmful germs with them.

They can contaminate the food with bacteria such as E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. The good news is that you can use fly repellents to get rid of these bothersome pests from the kitchen.

Eucalyptus essential oil, lemongrass, and lavender act as a natural repellant for these flies. Consider putting out a bowl containing apple cider and a few drops of dish soap.

The fruity aroma will attract the flies while the ingredient of the dish wash soap will trap and kill them. Using the bug sprays will also keep roaches out of the kitchen.

Use Mosquito Repellent

Mosquitos are also a household pest that can be a health hazard.

They can cause malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, Zika virus, and a host of other deadly diseases. They are sneaky pests that appear out of nowhere at night and then disappear during the day.

These blood-sucking pests can come inside with you as you open the front door.

They can also slip inside through the window screen. The sneaky behavior of these pests makes it difficult to get rid of them from the kitchen.

You can keep them out of the kitchen using mosquito repellents. Consider using mint, cloves, and rosemary sprays to get rid of these pests from the kitchen.

You can also use a bug spray made of essential oils to eliminate mosquitos from the kitchen.

Use Boric Acid to Get Rid of Silverfish

Silverfish is an alien-looking pest that can invade the kitchen.

The pests have a long antenna that they wiggle as they move around. The bizarre behavior of the pest along with the strange appearance increases the creep factor.

While silverfish don’t spread disease, they can multiply quickly making them a nuisance in the kitchen. The insects prefer to spend time in damp areas.

They are attracted to sugar, starches, and grain in the kitchen.

You must put food in an air-tight container to prevent contamination of food. To get rid of these pests from the kitchen, you can use natural insecticides such as baking soda, boric acid, and diatomaceous earth.

These are also effective in getting rid of ants and cockroaches from the kitchen.

Use Essential Oil to Repel Spiders

Spiders give the creep to many people. Many find the appearance of the arachnid to be scary. While you can get rid of the pesky creature by swapping them, it is not practical for killing dozens of spiders.

A more effective technique is to use natural repellents made of essential oils.

Getting rid of crawling pests from the kitchen may not be easy. They quickly dart to their hiding places when frightened. Killing them is difficult since they hide in hard-to-reach areas.

You should exploit their repulsion of peppermint and essential oils to keep them from becoming a pest in the kitchen.

Get Rid of Spider Mites

Spider mites are tiny pests that are found in herbs and plants that you grow in the kitchen. These pests are not easily visible making them a nuisance around the house.

They are easy to miss when you pluck herbs from the garden to use as an ingredient.

Although spider mites don’t spread diseases, they are a nuisance in the kitchen. You can accidentally eat them as you swallow the herbs taken from the kitchen plant.

An effective way to get rid of spiders from your kitchen is to use a DIY spider mite spray. You can create a solution containing essential oils. Most insects can’t stand the smell of eucalyptus oil including spider mites.

Consider spraying them on herbs growing in the kitchen to get rid of these pesky pests.

You can also create a homemade solution consisting of neem and rosemary oil. These oils will effectively kill spider mites. Moreover, you can use rubbing alcohol to get rid of the bugs in your kitchen.

A mixture of water and dish wash liquid is also effective in getting rid of these bugs from the kitchen.

Eliminate Grain Beetles

Grain beetles generally attack cake mixes, macaroni, cereals, chocolate, and cookies.

The dark brown beetles have saw-like teeth on each side of the body. To get rid of grain beetles from the house, you must add a bay leaf to the containers containing dry food items.

The pungent smell will deter the beetles from attacking your food items.

Prevent Pest Infestation in the Kitchen

An effective way to avoid pest infestation is to prevent their entry into the kitchen. Here are some effective tips to prevent pest infestation in your kitchen.

Seal Openings

You should fill crevices and cracks of the home to prevent pesky pests from invading your kitchen. Consider sealing the openings of water pipes and stoves. These areas serve as a hiding place for the pests.

Experts also recommend door sweeps installed on exterior doors to prevent bugs from entering the kitchen. Moreover, you should get damaged doors repaired to prevent nasty pests from entering the house.

Trim Tree Branches

Insects tend to crawl inside the house through tree branches.

The branches near the kitchen window are a common mode of entry for the pests.

Trimming the exterior tree limbs will also keep insects from crawling inside the house.

Check Food Items

You should check food items before bringing them to your house.

Check the vegetables and fruits thoroughly before purchasing them. Make sure that no pests are crawling over them.

Always wash the food items bought from the store before preparation.

This will wash away the pests, preventing them from hiding in a safe spot in your kitchen.

Keep Your Kitchen Clean

Moreover, you should keep the kitchen clean and dry. Moisture is important for the pests to thrive in the kitchen. A wet kitchen simply invites pests inside. You should take care of leaking pipes.

Also, call a plumber to get clogged drains repaired as soon as possible.

Avoid letting dirty dishes accumulate in the kitchen sink.

You should also wipe clean counters using a good cleaning product. You will have to spend some time cleaning the kitchen. But the effort will definitely be worth it as it will prevent a pest infestation in your kitchen.

Final Remarks

Kitchen insects are gross and nasty. They also harbor bacteria and viruses and can spread diseases. You need to avoid having pests in the area where you prepare or eat food.

Most pests are small in size due to which an infestation is not always apparent. You need to take extra precautions by calling a pest removal expert to identify and remove pests from the kitchen.

Whether your kitchen is infected with fruit flies, cockroaches, ants, or rodents, an exterminator will quickly get rid of pesky pests from your kitchen.

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