Finding bugs hanging out in your kitchen cabinets or pantry is likely to ruin your appetite. Pantry pests can infest dried goods in the store or in your home. They live, breed, and feed on pantry items like grains, flour, and rice. Once established in your home, these pests will multiply, so it’s important to act quickly. We’ve gathered information to help you get rid of pantry pests.
How to Get Rid of Pantry Pests
If bugs have taken over your pantry, there are things you can do to get rid of them. Check out a few tips to help control a pantry pest infestation.
Throw Away Infested Food
One of the first things you will want to do is throw away any infested food. This will remove the source of the problem, making it easier to control an infestation. Look for bugs in your pantry items and in cabinets. Inspect each item closely for visible bugs, larvae, silk webbing, or small holes in packaging. If you aren’t sure if an item is infested, place it in a clear bag. Pests will begin to accumulate, so you will know if you need to discard the food.
Clean Cabinets & Pantry
After removing infested items, you’ll want to clean your pantry. Remove everything in your cabinets and then vacuum the space. Make sure to vacuum the cracks and crevices where pests like to hide. Empty the contents of the vacuum into a sealed bag and place the bag in an outdoor trash can. You’ll also want to wipe down shelves with warm, soapy water. Before placing any cans or jars back in the cabinet, wipe them down.
Transfer Food to Containers
Any food that bugs left untouched will need to be transferred to sealed containers. Pantry pests can easily slip into open packages or chew their way into packages. Placing your items in plastic, glass, or metal containers with tight-fitting lids can help to keep pests out of them. To prevent pantry pests, it’s best to transfer food to containers right after bringing it home from the store.
Use an Insecticide Dust
To help control pantry pests, you can treat the cabinet with a plant-based insecticide dust. Our Spider & Insect Dust kills and repels common pantry pests. The dust can be applied to the cracks and crevices of cabinets and drawers. A small paint brush will make it easier to brush the dust along the edges and into cracks. A light dusting is all that is needed and will remain effective for up to 6 months when undisturbed.
Use a Pantry Moth Trap
If you’re dealing with pantry moths, our Pantry Moth Trap can help. The trap attracts and kills moths and larvae using a natural pheromone. You can place the trap on a flat surface in areas where you have seen moths including in cabinets, pantries, and around food. It is best to replace the trap every three months or when it is full of moths.
How to Prevent Pantry Pest Infestations
Dealing with pantry pests can be frustrating, which is why it’s best to take steps to prevent an infestation. We’ve made a list of tips to help prevent pantry pests.
- Inspect Packages: Before purchasing your groceries, examine the packages for signs of pests. You’ll want to leave the item at the store if you notice holes or scratches on the package.
- Buy What Can Be Used: The longer an item sits in your pantry, the more likely it can become infested. It’s best to only purchase items that you know will be used. When pulling items out of your pantry, make sure to use older items first.
- Store Food Properly: As soon as you bring your groceries home, take the time to transfer items into sealed containers. This will help to keep pests from sneaking into your food.
- Regularly Clean Your Pantry: Regularly cleaning your food storage areas can help to minimize the chance of an infestation. Wipe down the shelves, cleaning up crumbs and spills. Don’t forget to vacuum the space too.
- Create a Protective Barrier: To help keep pantry pests and other bugs out of your home, you can use a plant-based insecticide spray. Our Home Bug Spray can be applied near entry points to help deter pests from entering your home.
Unfortunately, your pantry is the perfect hiding spot for hungry bugs. If these pests invade your space, it’s important to quickly take steps to eliminate an infestation. Removing the source of the problem and using pest control products can help to kick these pests out of your home. If you’re dealing with pantry pests, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.