Pest Control Management for Restaurants During COVID-19

How should restaurants do pest control during COVID-19?

1. Invest in large-sized dumpsters
2. Always throw out the trash
3. Mop kitchen floors
4. Don’t leave dishes in the sink
5. Sanitize reception counters
6. Seal cracks
7. Store food containers properly

 

Restaurants should always be kept clean, irrespective of the situation at hand. Unprecedented circumstances, however, like the proliferation of the COVID-19 virus has led to increasing demand in implementing stricter measures in keeping places clean and sanitary. Restaurant pest control during COVID-19 is not something that should be taken lightly, despite the unavailability of dine-in options around this time. After all, people are still relying on the products and services of restaurants, albeit in a modified form.

Restaurants during this time are solely relying on food delivery and take-out as ways by which they can keep afloat during this unpredictable time. As such, they need to keep up to speed with effective restaurant pest control to avoid the arrival of pests which may contaminate and reduce the quality of their food. Continue reading to learn more.

 

Invest in large-sized dumpsters

Investing in large-sized dumpsters should be one of the main priorities even before starting out a restaurant business. These will serve as the main receptacle for large volumes of trash which need to be located away from the kitchen space.

It’s a common occurrence for restaurant managers to conduct some cost-cutting on some of their expenses, leading to them purchasing dumpsters that cannot fit their trash. Not only is this unsightly, but it also becomes a hub for attracting flies, mosquitos, and other kinds of insects. These insects can easily fly inside the building and may carry diseases with them that result in food contamination. Avoid them by knowing the importance of adequate garbage dump space.

 

Always throw out the trash

In conjunction with the first tip above, a simple way of keeping pests out of your restaurant is by making it a habit of throwing out the trash before you close the shop for the day.

If trash is left inside the kitchen, don’t be surprised when this area turns into a breeding ground for maggots, cockroaches, or rats. As much as possible, don’t leave out the trash for a long period of time. This creates a foul odor inside the cooking area and is definitely unsanitary.

 

Mop kitchen floors

Restaurant cooking areas are constantly handling different kinds of ingredients, sauces, meat, and other types of food. Especially in such a high-paced environment, where orders need to be fulfilled in the shortest time possible, it’s not uncommon for food spillages to occur.

If left to dry out for a long time, these spills might attract ants – which can be difficult to eradicate, especially if the source is not located. In order to prevent this situation, it’s advised that restaurant floors be cleaned, or mopped properly as soon as possible. Using kitchen-grade cleaning agents, getting rid of nasty and stubborn stains without compromising the quality of food preparation.

 

Don’t leave dishes in the sink

It need not be said, but if you want to attract flies, cockroaches, and vermin to your kitchen, leaving your dishes lying around overnight is the best way to go about it.

Food preparation zones make use of a wide array of cooking tools. Because of the fast-paced environment in these kinds of spaces, there’s a tendency for cooks, to just throw these kitchen utensils, pots, and pans, into the sink. People responsible for cleaning these objects need to ensure that they don’t leave out any dish. This measure is once again, to prevent the attraction of the usual suspects – flies, rats, ants, and cockroaches, just to name a few.

 

Sanitize reception counters

Restaurant reception counters during COVID-19 have become to be deemed as high contact surfaces – even more so now, compared to before. Customers and representatives from food delivery services will be the ones frequenting these spaces. Sanitizing your reception counters is imperative so that anyone receiving food items won’t have to worry about potentially contracting diseases from pests or any kind of contamination whatsoever.

On the side of the customer, this ensures that the food product they receive is free from any pests which may be possible carriers of sicknesses.

 

Seal cracks

Cracks and holes can be the number one source for vermin and cockroaches. Like a thief in the night, these pests come out to feed on virtually any edible food residue or crumb that they may find.

Knowing this, you have to ensure that all possible entry and exit points of these pests have been properly sealed off in your restaurant. Targeting the source of the problem is often better than trying to mitigate the spread of these pests (because in the latter situation, you may find that they become more difficult to contain).

 

Store food containers properly

If you’re managing a pizza place, then you’re also storing a large volume of cardboard boxes that serve as containers for the food. Your restaurant may be receiving a higher volume of deliveries during this time because of the unavailability of dine-in options.

A professional pest control service like Topbest can easily get rid of any problems caused by termites. These pests typically feed on cardboard – it’s both non-hygienic and unappealing for your customers to receive their pizza inside a partly-eaten container. However, you can do simple measures such as keeping these boxes away from any source of moisture.

 

Key Takeaway

Restaurant pest control during COVID-19 shouldn’t only rely on time-trusted methods. Instead, these measures should be enhanced, keeping in mind that great attention to cleanliness and hygiene should belong to the fore.

Through simple strategies such as religiously washing dishes, taking out the trash every time, investing in a larger garbage bin, and storing food containers properly, evading a potential pest infestation can be made possible.