The food storage areas of your home are ideal for pests. They are often dark, warm, filled with food and out of sight from the homeowner for a majority of the day. That is why you need to pay special attention to your pantry and implement the following tips to keep pests away! Proper Storage The number one reason that pests come to your pantry is because that’s where all the food is! But that’s your food, you paid for it and you worked for it, so there will be no mooching here today. For all of your flour, sugar, rice and other items that might shake loose from a bag, buy mason jars or containers with a lid. This will prevent spilling and help keep the pantry pest-free. Smart Shopping Some of the pests that make it into your home were brought there after a trip to the grocery store. Sometimes, items are damaged or opened before they are bought, and this is an attractive thing for pests. So be sure to double check all of the items you put into your cart before purchasing. Expiration Awareness You should remember to clean out your pantry once every 3 months, or 4 times a year. When you do this cleaning, be sure to remove all the items and discard any that might be expired. Rotting food gives off a strong scent that can attract pests from miles away. Pro Tip Bay leaves are great in tea, but they also serve as a powerful pest repellent. Take a few and coat the bottom of your pantry with them on your next cleaning. The scent, plus the implementation of the other tips, should be enough to drive away pantry pests for good. If you live in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or the surrounding areas and are in need of fast, efficient and affordable pest management solutions, give Pest Control Unlimited a call. Our skilled technicians are constantly attending training seminars and re-certification classes, making them some of the most knowledgeable in the industry — and the perfect pros for the job! For more information about our pest control services, call 888-649-9919 today.