When you walk into a restaurant, the last thing that you want to see is bugs taking up residence near the food, drinks, or anything else in the restaurant. Customers are reluctant to return to a restaurant where they’ve seen flies, cockroaches, and other creepy crawlies. Plus, they’ll probably call the health department.
Bugs are attracted to your place because there is food, water, and a shelter. What are some of the things that you can do control the bug population or simply keep the little nasties out?
Break down and recycle all boxes
Roaches LOVE cardboard. They love how it smells, they love how it tastes, they love making nests in it, they love it when it’s wet… well, you get the picture. If you have a huge box pile in the back of your house, that’s an invitation for the roaches to move right in.
Store your food in airtight containers
Make sure that the containers in which you’re storing your food are airtight and appropriate for storing food. Leaving your containers open is an invitation to bacteria and smaller flying creatures. Don’t forget to label all of your food storage containers so you can throw out spoiled food. Food gone too long could cause mold and bacteria colonies in your storage spaces.
Use fly strips in the back of house
You don’t want the customers to see that you’ve got fly strips, but these are perfect for having in the back of the house. Those strips can act as a line of defense between your exquisite meals and the bugs who would love to eat them.
Sanitize as often as you can
Not only do you have to worry about the creepy crawlies like roaches and flies, but you should be aware of the bacteria that’s passed on through cross contamination. Your patrons are likely to tell folks if they get sick, so sanitize what you can as often as you can.
Don’t be shy about cleaning
Cleaning is the watchword when it comes to preventing infestations. When you eliminate the sources of food for the bugs, they will usually give up and go somewhere else. Remember that they want to go for the easiest food that they can find. Clean everything thoroughly and make it hard on them.
Now, we’re not shy when it comes to cleaning because we know that cleaning also plays into the customer’s first impression of a place. Think of that as a healthy, wonderful side benefit.
Special thanks go out to Siamesepuppy on Flickr for the Creative Commons use of the photo
