Keep Pests Away

Tips to keep pests away

You can help to keep pests away and make any treatment effective by following the simple advice below.

Pests love kitchen and food preparation areas - they provide ideal conditions for them to get food and breed. And if they can get to food, they won't eat any baits that are used.

In the kitchen

The smallest scraps of food or liquid are attractive to pests looking for food.

• Wash kitchen surfaces before and after preparing food and clean up any left-over mess
• Sweep and mop all food and liquids from the floor regularly
  
  

Food storage

Mice and insects are usually attracted to cupboards where spilt food, open jars and open packaging are present.

• Store all loose food in containers with lids, in the fridge or closed cupboards
• Clean food cupboards regularly
• Clean jam jars and other sweet food containers regularly
• Cover any food stored on kitchen worktops
  
  

Cookers and microwave ovens

Some pests are attracted to the heat and condensation of cookers and ovens.

• Clean cooker tops, interiors, and wipe down microwave ovens regularly
• Clean all spillages, splashes and overflows from pans
  
  

Food disposal

Pests are attracted to scraps found in your rubbish.

• Remove all waste after eating or preparing food by wrapping and disposing in a dustbin. Dustbins should have bin liners or bags
• All waste should be put outside the property, into dustbins with lids, paladins or the refuse chute, as soon as possible
• Never leave refuse bags in estate corridors landings or gangways - this can attract pests
  
  

Other useful tips

• Do not leave uncovered drinks, food or plates and cups on the floor overnight
• Check for any obvious access points for pest for example, through holes around pipework or gaps around window frames
• Seek medical advice if you think you have been bitten, poisoned or infected by a pest such as a rat, mouse or insect
  
  

The information above is also available on audio cassette or in large print. Contact the Pest Control team on the details below for more details.

Council tenants can ring us direct for an appointment. We offer a professional service for issues concerning rats, mice, cockroaches, Pharoah ants, bedbugs, fleas and wasps.

Unfortunately we do not offer treatment to other residents or businesses, but we can offer further advice and we do have a series of comprehensive advice leaflets.

Insects such as beetles and ants can usually be treated by the occupier using this information. For other pest infestations we recommend professional treatment. Try and get a quote from more than one company, using Yellow Pages or Thomson Directory - look under 'Pest Control'

Council Contact:

Pest Control
E-mail: pest.control@islington.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7527 3231/3190
(Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, answer-phone outside these hours)
Fax: 020 7527 3210