Chances are, you’ve seen it before. A resident lets dirty dishes or smelly trash pile up for way too long, and suddenly, there’s a pest crisis on the premises.
But let’s be real. Residents don’t bear the costs for inviting pests in—you do. That means there are a lot of opportunities for you to be left on the hook for thousands of dollars in treatment and clean-up.
Pest prevention in multi-family residences is a shared responsibility. One compromised kitchen is all it takes for an introduction to become a full infestation. And what’s more, this transition can happen astonishingly quickly, with bugs or rats taking up residence and multiplying before you even know they’ve arrived.
That’s why it’s important to educate residents on how to prevent these unwanted visitors early and often, before you end up with a major problem. If left unchecked, you could have multiple units brimming with ants, house flies, rodents, cockroaches and other crawling critters—none of which are pleasant roommates.
Prevention Tips
To help prevent regular calls and complaints, encourage your residents to stop pest activity in the first place. Share these simple steps for reducing pest “hot spots”:
- Put Food Away and Clean Dirty Dishes: Even food that has been sitting out for just a few hours can attract pests.
- Wipe Down Counters and Surface Areas: Clean these areas daily.
- Clean Any Spills Immediately: Even if it’s just water.
- Line All Trash Cans and Remove Trash Regularly: What is trash to us could be a gourmet meal to a pest!
- Clean Refrigerators Weekly: Dispose of old food.
- Keep Non-Perishables Tightly Sealed: Especially sugar, flour, and other items that may not close well in their original packaging.
- Regularly Vacuum or Sweep: Clean the spaces next to refrigerators and in any cracks and crevices to clean crumbs that may attract pests. Vacuuming can also eliminate pest allergens and even pests themselves.
Residents who follow these simple steps can help make your building a safer and healthier place to live for everyone. Plus, each of these actions only takes a few extra minutes during their day. It’s a small price to pay compared to dealing with a swarm of pesky intruders.
Want more details about how to keep your residents in the know? Download “7 Ways to Keep Pests Out of the Kitchen” to learn more kitchen-specific pest prevention in multi-family units.
You may also like
Birds: Don’t Egg Them On
Birds may make nice additions to some landscapes, but when it comes to your property, these feathery fiends are a no-go. Not only can birds create extra noise, but they are also very unsanitary and can be a nuisance to anyone who walks by.
Mosquito 101
Do mosquitoes get under your skin? Not only are these bloodsuckers a nuisance to your home, but they have painful bites that can leave you and your guests itching for hours – or sometimes days – at a time. Eliminate the itch by knowing how to identify mosquito bites and get rid of mosquitoes from the source.
Sniff Out Pests: Effective Odour Control Tips
Unpleasant scents can originate from many sources, some of which are outside your control. And eliminating the stench can be tough, as odours with an organic base are persistent and can linger long after the source is removed. In fact, 79% of cleaning professionals say removing odour is their biggest challenge!
What the Buzz is All About: A Breakdown of Common Bees
It’s easy to think of bees as aggressive or harmful, but the truth is, they’re quite beneficial. Bees are pollinators, which means they help plant populations bloom and thrive. So, while they may annoy you at a backyard cookout—or potentially cause an allergic reaction when they sting—bees are also essential stewards of the environment.
Remove pests from your business, and stop them from coming back
We work hard to listen, understand and assess your unique situation. Request a free, no-obligation consultation today for a customized pest program that fits your needs.
Request a Free Business ConsultationRequest a Free Home Estimate