It’s no surprise that restaurants are a magnet for pests. Whether it’s a five-star restaurant or an inexpensive fast food joint, all restaurants provide pests with food, water and shelter. Pests are just as much of a concern for New Jersey restaurant owners and operators as they are for customers. Pests can quickly contaminate food, cause the health department to issue fines and damage the business’ reputation. If you are a restaurant owner or operator, the best step you can take to prevent pest infestations is to work with a licensed pest control professional. This professional will conduct regular inspections to identify potential areas of pest activity. If a problem is found, it can be treated on the spot with safe, effective chemicals that won’t harm your food.
Below we share some of our best advice for helping restaurant owners and operators in New Jersey avoid pest problems in their facilities:
- Follow A Fly Control Program: Flies are dirty, and people understandably don’t want to eat at a restaurant where flies are the norm. Flies don’t just look dirty; they can contaminate food and spread disease. Unfortunately, a clean kitchen isn’t always enough to keep out these annoying insects. You may need the addition of light traps and the minimization of breeding sites.
- Keep Pests From Coming In (Exclusion): Pests can enter your restaurant in many ways, including pipes, vents, doors, windows and holes in the walls and floors. With exclusion services, your pest control professional will identify entry points and find a solution for closing them up. This may include adding door sweeps, installing air curtains and applying water-resistant sealants to pipes.
- Declutter Storage Spaces: Decluttering your restaurant reduces the risk for pest infestations and also makes your kitchen staff more productive. If you have a lot of clutter, you’re giving pests more places to hide without being detected. They can easily breed in these conditions, as they’re out of sight and have access to food, water and warmth. Take time to declutter closets, cabinets, pantries and other storage areas.
- Take Care Of Trash And Garbage: Food scraps and leftovers are attractive to rodents, flies and roaches, so be diligent about taking care of all trash and garbage. Remove food scraps from your restaurant quickly, empty out trash cans throughout the day and keep all outdoor dumpsters secure. Also, keep your dumpster a safe distance from your restaurant.
- Keep Food And Water Secure: When possible, keep food and drinks covered at all times. Usually, you can keep food covered until you are ready to serve it. If there are spills, clean them up immediately. Be sure to wipe down countertops and sweep floors regularly to remove crumbs and food scraps.
These are some of the best things you can do to prevent pests from getting in and raiding your restaurant. When you work with a pest management company like Heritage Pest Control, you will get an individualized pest control plan that addresses your restaurant’s unique needs and keeps your reputation intact.