Don’t Let Pantry Pests Ruin Your Holiday Baking

The holiday season is here, which means you may be doing a lot more baking. The aroma of freshly-baked cookies and pies can bring out everyone’s holiday spirit, but not properly storing your goods and ingredients can quickly turn your holiday sour.

There are tiny pests that love sugar, flour, baking soda, and all other staples used to bake. These pests are called pantry pests, and they include Indian meal moths, saw-toothed grain beetles, confused beetles, and rice weevils to name a few.

At United Pest Solutions, we want you to have a safe and pest-free holiday, so we’re offering tips to help keep pantry pests out of your home.

Inspect Food

When grocery shopping, inspect the packaging before placing it in your cart. Only purchase products that have sealed packaging, with no damage. This includes pet food. While pantry pests can gain access to your home through cracks, they commonly find their way into homes after infesting products at the grocery store or manufacturing plant.

Store Food Properly

Store food products in plastic, airtight containers. When refilling the container, wash it in between uses. These storage containers will keep your pantry organized, keep pests out (including rodents), and keep your food fresh.

Practice Good Cleanliness

Immediately clean up spills and wipe up crumbs from pantry shelves, floors, and countertops. Toss out garbage in a timely manner. Also, repair any leaky pipes and clogged drains to reduce moisture.

Check Product Dates

Some ingredients like baking soda, brown sugar, and flour may not get used as often as other ingredients. While they may last for quite a while, you’ll want to toss out any expired products and products that have been open and uncovered.

Do You Have Pantry Pests?

Your holiday baking should be fun and stress-free, don’t let pests put a damper on things. If you’re dealing with pantry pests, contact us. We’ve been providing safe and effective pest control since 1960. With our experience and ongoing training, you can feel confident we’ll take care of your pest problem for good!