When you think about pest control, you likely associate the business with homes and families who have discovered insects in the bedrooms or squirrels in the attic. However, as the vice president of Viking Pest Control, Dan Bradbury, explains, commercial and retail spaces have to remain actively aware of the possibility that they will have pest problems as well.
Bradbury credits restaurants as the most likely industry to have rodents and bugs in the facility. Because of the amount of moisture, grease and, of course, food and garbage that a restaurant acquires during the day, a restaurant is like a pest’s paradise once the servers and customers go home for the night. But, because most companies are not as diligent with upkeep as a homeowner would be, Bradbury says that cockroaches, mice and flies all tend to be more common concerns for commercial spaces in comparison to homes. That’s why he suggests that these commercial businesses set up a routine pest inspection with a local company. Food processing or restaurant-type businesses should be on a recurring monthly schedule with their own pest control service, while other companies that do not have a large abundance of food on site can be a little less diligent and limit their inspections to a few times a year.
It’s also a wise idea, he continues, to have a wall plaque visibly hanging which says that a pest control service comes to the business every month or every few months. Not only does this let your employees know that you are serious about keeping a sanitary work environment, but it also reassures customers that your facility is clean. And remember, says Bradbury, the health department can inspect your building at anytime.
In between inspections, he recommends that you and your employees clean up after yourselves every day. This includes cleaning up spills and crumbs, vacuuming, mopping and throwing out the trash. This is especially important if your business is closed overnight (as most tend to be). After hours is the ideal time for pests to emerge from their nests and feast until you return the next morning.
If you don’t already have a set schedule with a pest control agency, contact a Viking Pest Control location or other similar service in your area. Once the specialists have come to your business and completed their first inspection, not only will they be able to exterminate any current issues, but they can also offer advice specific to your industry and location for keeping your commercial space pest free.
