Cockroaches in the Restaurant: What to Do When They Invade
If you own a restaurant and have issues with cockroaches, this blog post is for you. Cockroaches are disgusting creatures that can make people feel very uncomfortable. Not only do they ruin food, but they also carry bacteria on their body that could potentially make customers sick. This article will discuss the most common causes of cockroach infestation in restaurants and how to get rid of them once and for all!
1. Why cockroaches do they invade restaurants
It is possible that cockroaches are attracted to the food from restaurants. Cockroaches can be anywhere in a restaurant and they have been seen around kitchens, bathrooms, and even behind refrigerators.
It is not uncommon for roach droppings or feces to be found near kitchen appliances as well.
Many people think that because these pests stay out of sight, roaches are not an issue. But the truth is that they can be found in any part of a restaurant, especially when it comes to finding them near food prep areas.
The reason that you can find roaches in a restaurant is because of their keen sense of smell. Cockroaches are attracted to the food from restaurants and as such, they will be around it more often than not.
2. Signs of a cockroach invasion in your restaurant
The signs that you have a cockroach problem are easily recognizable. Cockroaches will leave droppings, shed skins and “cockroach eggs” around their food sources or nesting areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and pantries. Cockroaches can spread disease as they walk and crawl around the restaurant.
Maintaining a clean, tidy kitchen is not enough to keep cockroaches from invading your establishment. Cockroach droppings are extremely hardy – so once you have spotted them in your restaurant, it’s time for an immediate evacuation plan!
3. How to get rid of cockroaches for good
There are few options for getting rid of cockroaches
- Vacuum them up
- Put a trap out to catch the ones you can’t see/find with your vacuum
- Douse them in soapy water or borax and make sure they don’t find their way back
If any of these doesn’t work, contact a pest control expert. This is because they’ll have the resources to find all of them. Also, you can check out this article for the latest tips for restaurant owners on pest control.
4. Prevention tactics to keep cockroaches out of your restaurant
It is better to prevent cockroaches than to have to deal with the aftermath of an infestation.
- Cockroach prevention starts in the kitchen, where food and drink spills can attract roaches at any time. Keep all surfaces clean: wash your dishes by hand instead of putting them through a dishwasher; store pans upside down on shelves so that they dry and don’t collect food scraps or water, and put leftovers in airtight containers.
- Make sure that your kitchen is clean: sweep up crumbs, take out the trash, keep floors swept and mopped to remove any spills or drips from leaky pipes, etc.; inspect shelves for cracks or gaps where roaches could squeeze through; and use a roach bait in the kitchen and near any water pipes to keep cockroaches away.
- Keep your restaurant clean: don’t let dirty dishes stack up; take out trash regularly; vacuum frequently; and wipe down counters with a disinfectant after every shift as well as during service hours, especially if you are serving raw meat or fish.
- Dispose of all food waste: make sure you have a plan in place to get rid of your leftover and spoiled food, as these are often the main attractants for roaches.
It’s a fact of life that some restaurant infestations will happen. But it doesn’t need to be a disaster for your business when you know what to do. When dealing with an invasion, the key is to act quickly and decisively so they don’t spread any further than necessary. With our help, we can make sure your pest control experts are on standby waiting for instructions from you in case this happens again! So whether cockroaches invade or not, let us provide peace of mind by helping you take care of them before they become problems! What tips have helped you deal with roach invasions? Let us know in the comments below.