When running a restaurant, business owners need to pay special attention to health, hygiene, and safety. Both the employees of the food establishment, as well as guests who visit it on a regular basis, need to feel safe. Imagine a restaurant that has pest infestations and how it is going to put the health and safety of the workers and the public at risk. If you operate a restaurant, you should definitely make sure the kitchen and the entire space are free from pests.
Different types of pests carry harmful bacteria and germs, which can contaminate food items and make visitors sick as a result. Whether it is packed food items or the eatables that are frequently delivered at the restaurant, each consumable item must be kept and stored in a proper manner. Compromising the health and safety of people does not reflect badly on the business, but it can lead to the closure of the entire business altogether. If you plan to run your business without any problem or hassle, you should seek help from a pest control company, which specializes in the removal and prevention of different types of rodents and insects.
Common Pests Founds in a Restaurant
Being a restaurant owner, you should stay well-informed of the types of pests that can enter a kitchen and contaminate food items. The consequences of pest sightings inside the kitchen or anywhere in the restaurant can be dangerous and lead to penalties from the regulating authorities. To effectively deal with any such pest, you should first know what they are and how they do harm.
Some of the most common types of pests that can enter and attack the restaurant space are as follows:
Rodents:
The restaurant atmosphere is ideal for rodents to come in and take shelter. Mice and rats like to live where there is the easy availability of food and water. A food establishment does not just provide them to eat, but it also gives them a warm and cozy place where they live and breed.
Rodents will contaminate all consumables, packaged food, and other products and even cause damage to the cooking equipment. Rats and mice also carry with them harmful germs and bacteria, which can be transferred through contact, contamination, and droppings. All of these will lead to severe health and safety risks, both for the kitchen workers and the visitors.
Cockroaches:
These pests create a scary feeling in people. The problem with roaches is that they can grow and multiply very quickly. If you ignore cockroach sightings, you will invite trouble for your employees and guests. If not prevented in time, a minor infestation of these pests can turn into a major one, causing potential health and safety risks for people. Cockroaches can contaminate food as well as pollute the atmosphere inside the restaurant.
If you spot the presence of even a single cockroach inside the kitchen or the restaurant, you should immediately take the steps to get rid of them or call in professionals to deal with the problem effectively.
Flies:
Food orders emanating from the kitchen can attract different species of flies and wasps. The buzzing sound of flies does irritate people, but that is not all. Flies can spread many types of illnesses through food contamination. Fruit flies and drain flies are some of the most common pests found in restaurants. However, you need to control the entry of flies and take appropriate measures to keep them out at all times. Before you are able to successfully get rid of flies, you first need to identify the species of flies that have attacked your restaurant.
Ants:
These are tiny pests, but their presence in the restaurant will reflect really badly on your business. It is also easy for ants to enter the kitchen through small cracks and gaps in doors, windows, and walls.
Just imagine how your customers feel when they spot ants crawling on the walls or on the tables. This is a surefire recipe to turn them away. If you do not control the infestation of ants, you will lose business gradually. That is why it is extremely important to first find out what types of ants they are and then apply the most effective treatment for their quick removal. If you are unable to deal with the problem on your own, you should head straight to a pest management company in or near your location. If your restaurant is located in Riverside or Moreno Valley, CA, you should call in pest control experts from the Final Exterminators.
A restaurant can be attacked by many other types of pests. Even if you don’t have a problem in the kitchen, many pests and insects can enter your kitchen through the food items and consumables delivered at the restaurant. Whether it is rats, mice, roaches, flies, stinging pests, and any other insects, you should keep an eye out and take action as soon as you spot any.
Identification of Pests in the Kitchen
Before you can take removal or preventive action, you should look out for the early signs of the specific pest infestation.
Signs of Rodent Infestation:
If rats and mice have entered your kitchen, you will see chew and gnawing marks on food items and other objects. Rodents often leave pellet-like droppings behind. This is a sure sign of the presence of rats and mice on your premises. Other signs include a musky odor, rotting odor (in case a rat or mice has died), and tracks made by them.
Signs of Cockroach Infestation:
Smear marks and droppings should tell you that you have a pest problem. You can also identify the presence of roaches in the kitchen by their shed skins and egg capsules.
Signs of Fly Infestation:
You will easily identify flies by their buzzing sound. Usually, you will find flies around the dustbins and waste containers. If they increase in number, you will find them flying around inside the kitchen. Maggots (the larval stage) are also a tell-tale sign you have an infestation.
Signs of Ant Infestation:
If you have spotted a large number of live ants crawling on the kitchen counter or in the sink, you have a pest problem. Ant trails and ant nests (looks like a small pile of dirt) are other signs that you should look out for if you suspect there is an ant infestation.
Likewise, every pest leaves some signs through which you can identify where you have a pest problem in your restaurant. It is crucial to detect the early signs of infestation so that the infestation can be brought under control and the pests can be effectively removed before they breed and multiply.
How to Get Rid of Pests in the Restaurant
Pest removal techniques vary depending on the level of infestation and the type of species that you have in the restaurant. To get rid of each specific pest, there are a number of removal techniques. It is important to select the most ideal method for the removal of pests in an effective manner.
Rodent Removal:
To get rid of rats and mice, you should first seal all the gaps and holes from where they enter your restaurant or kitchen. Using rat traps or pesticides are other methods you can use to eliminate rodents. If the infestation doesn’t go away, you should seek the help of a pest control expert. A professional will apply the right methods to remove rodents as well as recheck the entire building for proper cleaning and making sure the pests do not return.
Cockroach Removal:
Roaches enter a building or restaurant through drains and pipes. That is why you need to disinfect these access areas with a solution of hot water and white vinegar. Make sure you stir the mixture in a proper manner before application. Keep the rubbish bans covered at all times. Seal and clean all cracks, crevices, and dark corners in the kitchen. Make it a habit to not leave dirty dishes in the sink. Also, apply disinfectants on the kitchen floors.
Fly Removal:
There are multiple methods that you can apply to get rid of flies in the kitchen and the restaurant. But first, you should focus on cleaning the entire area, surfaces, and floors clean. Using fruit traps and pouring diluted bleach down the sink and the tub drain are effective techniques for the removal of flies. For getting rid of a severe infestation, take professional help.
Ant Removal:
Check the edges of doors, windows, and cupboards for small cracks and holes. Fill out all such gaps properly with sealants. Empty the bins outside on a regular basis. Keep the kitchen counter clean and do not leave food crumbs anywhere in the kitchen for a long time. If you have an infestation of ants, their colonies might be located somewhere close. To permanently remove these pests, you need to find their colonies and destroy them with hot boiling water.
When trying to remove pests, it is crucial to choose and apply the most ideal elimination techniques. Various methods are used to deal with moderate and severe pest attacks, as per the need of the situation. A pest management company has expertise in the proper identification of various pest species and they come up with a highly effective program to remove and keep them out.
Do You Need Restaurant Pest Control?
Keeping your restaurant pest-free builds you a good business reputation and helps you stay compliant with the health and safety regulatory guidelines. Most of all, it eliminates the risk of business loss or closure. If you have a pest infestation in your kitchen or restaurant, you should head straight to Final Exterminators, a reputed pest control and management company in Moreno Valley, CA. Since our professionals have extensive experience, you can fully rely on us for the removal of rodents, flies, and insects from the restaurant using the right techniques.
For your free pest control consultation, visit our office or give us a phone call. You can fill out the form explaining the type of pests that have infested your building and then find out how we can assist you.
