Deciding that you don’t want pests in your restaurant is easy. Pests may be disgusting to customers, trigger negative online reviews, violate health codes, annoy workers, contaminate food products and eat into profits. Deciding how to curtail pests may not be as simple, however.
DIY pest control may be tempting, but it can also be time consuming, frustrating and often ineffective. Also, in some states, you may not even be allowed to do your own pest control as a restaurant owner. There are better pest control solutions for restaurants, including an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
What Is Integrated Pest Management?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, while traditional pest control involves the routine application of pesticides, IPM focuses on pest prevention and uses pesticides only as needed which provides a more effective and environmentally sensitive approach.
How Terminix® Commercial Delivers Integrated Pest Management
Terminix Commercial offers an effective IPM program that addresses the reasons why pests may be present in the first place while helping prevent future infestations. The IPM techniques employed by Terminix Commercial are proven to be highly effective in long-term pest control. Terminix Commercial IPM includes:
- Inspection of your restaurant’s interior and exterior
- Identification of pests and analysis of activity
- Treatment of affected areas and implementation of methods for controlling pests
- Recommendations for limiting and preventing pest activity
- Continuous evaluation of treatment effectiveness and any necessary modifications
- Upon request, education of your restaurant’s staff to address actions and conditions that can affect pest activity.
Related: What is Wildlife Exclusion?
Integrated Pest Management in Restaurants
In many ways, restaurants have the perfect cocktail for pest attraction. They offer readily available food supplies, moisture, shelter and frequently opened doors with lots of people coming in and out. This combination means that pests pose an ongoing threat for food service businesses, and one-time treatment approaches likely won’t cut it. A more long-term approach, like IPM, usually offers better, more sustainable results for pest control in food businesses.
For restaurants, it’s usually easier to avoid pest problems than to correct them. That’s why an IPM approach, like the one Terminix Commercial uses, includes educating restaurant staff and management on ways to help prevent pest activity before it starts. Preventive measures may include such simple strategies as removing trash on a daily basis, cleaning areas where organic matter builds up (such as drains) and properly storing food. Proactive prevention and monitoring strategies can help avoid pest problems and help keep restaurants in health code and regulatory compliance. And, because some pests can cause equipment and structural damage, a preventive approach may help restaurants avoid costly repairs and service interruptions.
To find out more about the menu of services offered by Terminix Commercial for restaurant pest control, including Integrated Pest Management, request a free estimate for your property today.
