A Step-By-Step Guide for Eliminating Pantry Pests

No one wants to find bugs inside their house, especially not in the kitchen pantry – or worse, in your food. But, the truth is, no home is perfect. It’s not a knock against your housekeeping skills. Bugs can infiltrate your kitchen pantry without your knowledge by hitching a ride in your groceries or sneaking in through cracks in the windows or walls.

Keep reading to learn more about the annoying intruders trying to take up residence in your pantry and what you need to do to get rid of them right now and keep them from coming back.

As the name suggests, pantry pests are insects commonly found in kitchen pantries. They are attracted to the items most commonly stored there, namely flour, grains, cereals, cookies, crackers, and even candy.

The most common pantry pests are the Merchant Grain Beetle and the Indian Meal Moth, in addition to ever-annoying ants. (They’re a pest at picnics and in your pantry!) Less common, but much more concerning because of the bacteria and diseases they can spread, are cockroaches and rodents.

The best way to keep pantry pests at bay is to keep your storage area clean. The key to maintaining a clean pantry is to make sure that it is organized. If everything is in its proper place, it’s easier to spot and clean up any messes. If you do notice any spills or crumbs, be sure to wipe them up immediately before they attract ants or other insects.

Periodically, you will want to give your kitchen pantry a deep clean. Start by taking everything out and emptying all of the shelves and pull-out drawers. Don’t forget to remove anything that is sitting on the floor as well. If your pantry is a walk-in or closet, the next step is to sweep and/or vacuum. Be sure to reach all the way to the back to remove any debris hiding in the corners. 

Once that’s done, thoroughly wipe down all of the shelves from top to bottom. A soapy water mixture should be sufficient, but you could use diluted white vinegar as well. You definitely do not want to apply bleach or any chemical-based cleaners. Your cleaning products should be food-safe and non-toxic.

Cleaning also means getting rid of clutter. Do not store used paper grocery bags or cardboard boxes in your pantry. These items have been known to attract cockroaches. You should also empty your trash can frequently. The food packaging you throw away could contain pests. Plus, you don’t want your food scraps to attract unwelcome visitors.

Once your pantry is clean and dry, you can start putting everything away. Before you shove stuff back onto the shelves, take the time to inspect all packages for insect infiltration. Look for signs of damage or small tears, especially along the seams.

An opening as small as a pinhole is large enough to let in pests and many of them gain entrance while at the grocery store or during shipping. It’s not a bad idea to get in the habit of inspecting packages while still at the store to make sure you don’t accidentally bring pests into your home.

Now is also a good time to check the expiration dates and throw out anything that has expired. If you find any products that your family no longer eats, but have not expired, consider donating them to a food bank or homeless shelter. These agencies are in dire need of non-perishable items, especially proteins such as peanut butter, tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, and canned pasta like SpaghettiOs.

This is a good place to explain what to do if you actually find evidence of pests in some of your food products. Obviously, if you see insects in your food items, throw them away outside of the kitchen to ensure that the bugs don’t make their way into anything else. Next, check the nearby packages.

One of the best ways to ensure that you are not accidentally introducing pantry pests into your home is to transfer food items into resealable, airtight plastic or glass containers. You should do this with flour, grains, cereals, and snack foods, which pests seem to enjoy eating just as much as you do. After transferring these foods, be sure to get rid of the original cardboard boxes and paper packaging which could have been transporting these nasty guests.

While the shelves at your favorite home goods store are stacked with a wide variety of airtight containers, you don’t need to spend money for storage. You can use mason jars or even upcycle glass pasta jars, just as long as you wash them out well first. You wouldn’t want the garlic scent to permeate your oatmeal.

Last but not least, you want to do all that you can to prevent pests from taking hold in your home. Maintaining a clean kitchen is obviously the best place to start. You should also seal gaps around the windows, doors, and even electrical sockets to keep insects from entering from the outside. Another great tip is to fix leaky faucets, thereby eliminating the water source that bugs need to survive.

Because this is your kitchen pantry, the last thing you want to do is introduce toxic pesticides. The safest way to deter pests is with herbs and essential oils. Bugs can’t stand the scent of bay leaves, so you might want to place a few in the back corners of your pantry – or even tape some under the shelves – to keep ants and other bugs at bay.

The Grit mentions cinnamon as another common spice that insects avoid. You can sprinkle ground cinnamon in a few spots in your pantry or place some in a shallow bowl, but if you’re concerned about a potential mess, setting a few cinnamon sticks on a shelf will work just as well.

Even the most organized kitchen pantry is not immune to insects. Pantry pests can show up in your house without you knowing, usually sneaking in along with the food you buy at the grocery store. Fortunately, stopping an insect infiltration is easy if you follow a few simple steps, starting with a thorough cleaning and inspection. Then, take away any temptations and put down a few precautions and your kitchen pantry should stay pest-free.