A Pest Control Checklist for Cafeterias: Best Practices for Controlling Pests

Adding pest control duties to your maintenance schedule can go a long way toward maintaining safe and sanitary conditions in a cafeteria, not to mention keeping you compliant with local regulations and ensuring a positive dining experience. The following pest control checklist for cafeterias can be your guide.

Cafeteria pest control checklist

Whether you manage a dining space in a hospital, school, or residential living facility, effective food service pest control requires ongoing effort. Follow this pest control checklist to reduce the risk of ant, rodent, cockroach, and other pest infestations in your cafeteria.

Daily

• Remove food waste from kitchen and storage areas.
• Sweep the floor in storage and food prep areas to eliminate dirt and dust.
• Wipe down cabinets, display cases, service lines, refrigerators, and storage areas.
• Ensure you store all foods off the floor.
• Store bulk dry goods in tight-sealing containers rather than the original packaging.
• Wash and dry all dishes before closing.
• Use indoor trash cans with lids.
• Take out the trash at least once, closing the dumpster lid after disposal.
• Throw away empty boxes and unused equipment.
• Inspect cabinets, storage areas, and areas around appliances and plumbing fixtures for pest droppings, chew marks, cockroach casings, and other signs of pests.
• Wipe down dining tables, food trays, food service counters, and cash register areas.
• Keep food displays and garnishes covered.
• Wipe up spills properly, leaving behind no residue.
• Cover kitchen drains with overturned glasses before you leave for the night.
• Ensure that interior doors stay closed when not in use.
• Wipe out ice bins and towel dry.

Weekly

• Inspect incoming shipments for signs of pests.
• Remove food from damaged packaging, and place it in airtight containers.
• Wash out trash cans and dumpsters.
• Place new sticky bait traps in storage and kitchen areas..
• Check sinks and other plumbing fixtures for leaks.
• Wipe down condiment bottles, salt and pepper shakers, and other items in front of the house.
• Deep clean self-service soda and juice machines.
• Turn off the lights at night, and use a flashlight to look for pests.

Monthly 

• Walk the cafeteria’s perimeter on the inside and the building area where the cafeteria is located on the outside, looking for cracks, holes, and gaps. Repair any damage.
• Check seals around windows and doors, replacing them when you see signs of wear and tear.
• Clean grease traps thoroughly.
• Do a deep clean in out-of-the-way areas, such as under grills, around shelving units, and beneath prep tables.
• Deep clean P-traps in floor drains.
• Hold a team meeting to discuss the importance of pest control.
• Have staff thoroughly clean out their lockers or personal storage areas.

Yearly / as needed

• Train all new hires on the importance of pest control.
• Create pest control policies, such as not allowing personal food and drink to be stored in lockers or office areas.
• Inspect appliances for any gaps or leaks, and clean refrigerator drip pans.

What attracts pests to cafeterias? 

Cafeterias have three things pests need: food, water, and shelter. Pests can take advantage of gaps, cracks, vents, plumbing, and open doors and windows and head right inside. Entry points don’t have to be large; for instance, rodents can squeeze through spaces as small as a quarter.

Things like improperly stored foods, crumbs and debris, and leaky plumbing fixtures can supply pests with what they need. If they find something to eat or drink, they may choose to stay and attract more pests. For example, ants release pheromones that draw in other ants. Following the steps above can help minimize how attractive your cafeteria is to pests of all kinds. 

Premium pest control services 

When you spot signs of an infestation, Hawx Pest Control can work quickly to address the problem. As experts in food service pest control, we know how to treat infestations safely, and we have state-of-the-art technologies and tools at our disposal to get the job done. We can perform preventative treatments in your space and by condusting routine pest control inspections, potentially catching infestations in their early phases when they are easier to address.