The kitchen is considered the heart of many homes. It is a place for friends and family to gather, prepare and enjoy scrumptious meals. Unfortunately not only friends and family members are attracted to this warm, inviting place. It can be very welcoming to flies, cockroaches, ants and other unwanted guests.

There are easy ways to keep these unwanted visitors away and these do not necessarily have to involve the use of toxic chemicals, says Deena Govender of expert pest control company Rentokil.

Prevention is your first line of defence. Remember that pests are attracted by food, so your aim should be to prevent access to any food or drink.

Here are some tips to keep pests out of your kitchen:

• Store food in tightly sealed containers
• Clean up spilled food and drinks immediately
• Wash cool drink bottles with soapy water
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink
• Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances
• Make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids and keep the area around your kitchen bin clean
• Clear away your pets’ food immediately once they have finished eating. Putting your pets’ bowls on a tray or mat will make cleaning up easier.
• Seal openings around windows and doors and fix cracks in walls to keep pests out
• Fix dripping taps to prevent the constant source of water from attracting cockroaches
• Refrigerate or compost overly ripe fruit

An at-home mixture of dishwashing liquid and water may kill ants or other bugs, but it will not get rid of the source of your problem. Most over-the- counter pesticides are generally safe for home use, but it is vital that you read the label carefully and only use them for their intended purpose.

For persistent pest problems it is best to get the help of a professional pest control operator. For more advice or to find a professional pest controller in your area, visit www.rentokil.co.za