Just like us, bugs need water to survive. They are naturally drawn to moisture which means they are always looking for a source and may end up in your home to find one.
Under-sink cabinets are a common place to find nightmare-inducing bugs like spiders, roaches, and ants. Kitchen sink cabinets are especially vulnerable because of their proximity to food sources. The combination of dirty dishes, crumbs, and moisture are compelling reasons for pests to take up residence in your house.
Cleaning, organizing, and maintaining the cabinets under your sinks can help discourage pests from hanging out there.
Getting Started
You will need a few supplies to bug poof your under-sink cabinets:
- All-purpose cleaning spray
- Microfiber cloths or paper towels
- Baskets, bins, or tiered racks to organize your kitchen/bathroom/laundry room supplies
Declutter
Pests love having places to hide, which means they love clutter! Try to have a minimalistic attitude when storing your belongings under a sink. That way, you’re doing what you can to avoid attracting pests as well as protecting your things if there is a leak.
We know those cabinets can get overwhelming, but it is best to pull every item out of the cabinet and sort through it all at one time. Anything you can store somewhere else, try to.
Combine where you can. If you have multiple bottles of the same product, try to combine them. Once completed, it will help make the next step easier
Deep Clean
Once your cabinet is empty, you can check for signs of a leak or gaps around your pipes. Leaks, even small ones, can attract pests, so have a plumber check it out if you find one (Or DIY if you’re handy). Fixing a leak can also prevent drain flies which are also attracted to moisture.
For gaps around your pipes, we recommend using spray foam to seal them. These gaps make it extremely easy for bugs to get into your home. These gaps supply direct access to pests looking for water.
Now, you can use your all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloths or paper towels to give those cabinets a good scrub. It’s beneficial to pull everything out and repeat this process once or twice a year to check for leaks, gaps, and spills.
Organize
Deliberate organization will keep everything from being shoved to the back of your cabinets. It reduces clutter and prevents having to search through everything to find what you need.
We recommend putting a liner down to protect your cabinets in case one of your cleaning supplies leaks.
The space under the sink is usually awkward. The pipes are in the way and make it cramped. You can use baskets, bins, or tiered racks to arrange things in a more efficient way. You can also use a Lazy Susan, pull out drawers, and a cabinet door organizer to make the most of your space.
The important thing is that items are easy to grab. Consider placing most used items up front.
*Do not use cardboard boxes for this project. Cardboard is a source of food for roaches, silverfish, and even crickets.
If you do see a roach, spider, or ant scurrying across the floor, it doesn’t always mean that your home is dirty. It could mean that you have excess moisture from a leaky pipe or faucet. Pests can also sneak in through an open door or window. A neighboring house may have an infestation, and those pests could make their way over to you.
Whatever the case, the best way to keep pests out of your home all year is to set up a treatment plan with an experienced pest control technician. If you would like to see what our team can do for you, contact us here.
Recent Comments