If your business has a breakroom, this is one of the prime culprits for pest problems. Employees often eat in the breakroom, so it has to be cleaned regularly in order to keep it free from food particles and waste. Otherwise, ants, cockroaches and mice will be happy to come clean it up for you.
All leftover food should be stored immediately, either in the refrigerator or in airtight containers. Additionally, all tabletops, counters and cooking apparatuses (microwaves, toaster ovens) need to be wiped down on a daily basis, and the floor should be swept and mopped regularly.
Cockroaches absolutely love garbage, so make sure trash cans are emptied nightly. If you can’t afford a custodian for your business, you’ll have to do it yourself or ask employees to empty out trash cans. It may be a hassle – but pest problems are an even bigger hassle.
If you have a storage area in your business with a lot of boxes, this is the perfect hiding spot for pests. Anywhere with a lot of clutter can provide shelter for pests, so make sure to keep things organized and off the ground if possible.
Pests don’t just spontaneously appear inside your business – they have to find a way in. Plants, bushes and grass that are very close to your exterior walls provide a means of entry for pests. You should have a buffer of at least a few feet between your building and any plant life.
If you had pest issues before and dealt with them yourself, you may not have stopped the problem permanently. After centuries of evolution, today’s pests have become very elusive and persistent (hence why we call them “pests”). And with certain pests, you only get hints of their real numbers: for every cockroach you actually see, there are dozens more hidden out of sight.
To get a more detailed look at this topic, download our free eBook: