The Best Insecticides for Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens

Restaurants deal with constant insect pressure because they create the perfect environment for pests to survive. Food debris, grease buildup, drains, moisture, dumpsters, and heavy foot traffic all contribute to problems with flies, cockroaches, ants, and other insects throughout the facility. 

While routine cleaning is important, surface cleaning alone often does not eliminate the hidden buildup and nesting areas that allow infestations to continue. That is why many restaurants rely on a combination of preventative maintenance, sanitation practices, and targeted insecticide treatments to help control pest activity before it turns into a larger problem. 

Why Restaurants Commonly Struggle with Insects 

 Restaurants are a treasure trove for insects, as there is bound to be a plentiful amount of food along with a humid environment where insects such as fruit flies thrive in.

It’s difficult to detect when you have an insect problem, as insects often live in hard-to-reach places.  Commercial kitchens especially struggle with this issue, as the humid environment along with plentiful food sources allows insects to rapidly multiply once they find a nesting location.

 Another problem is that these insects have their own habits and preferred nesting areas, meaning that restaurant owners need the skillset to identify and find solutions for each kind of critter that can appear in their business.  

The Most Common Insects Found in Restaurants 

There are many different kinds of pests that can nest depending on your area. Drain flies are incredibly common in warmer seasons and will navigate plumbing and sewage lines to begin nesting. Along with drain flies, cockroaches, ants, and spiders can also begin cropping up.  

To help with common fly problems, you’ll need a food-safe, fly insecticide such as Zero In™ Food Service Flying Insect Killer to counter common nesting spots. 

Occasionally, there will be other insects such as cockroaches and ants that will attempt to inhabit your kitchen area. These guys can cause numerous problems in your restaurant if they begin infiltrating the customer dining area. Unlike drain flies, ants and cockroaches will find entry points through cracks in walls, siding, and open windows or doors.  

A cockroach or ant insecticide such as Zero In™ Roach & Ant Killer can provide spot-solution in these small, hard to reach areas. It’s highly recommended to spray directly into the cracks where entry points are located, to stop any insects from getting through to the dining area. This way, you can remove problem areas without comprising the safety of both guests and staff.  

Why Cleaning Alone Doesn’t Stop Insects 

 Even with strong general cleaning practices, insects can still find a way into your restaurant through those hard-to-reach spots. Pests can live off the moisture that cleaning products provide, and unless the eggs are properly dealt, then they will keep coming back for more. 

Biofilm buildup in drains can give an insect nest a strong source of food, even without considering food residue left near food prep stations.  A drain line maintainer such as Grease-B-Gone® works wonders on clearing out insect nests and biofilm inside drains, while simultaneously providing a fresh scent.  

If you are seeing drain flies around your drain, you may also be at a high risk of a drain blockage, as their nests can clog your drainage pipes. These nests can crop up fast, as it only takes 24-48 hours for a drain fly egg to hatch, given the right conditions. This is why despite having a cleaning process in place, it alone won’t be able to stop a drain fly or insect infestation. 

Where Insecticides Make the Biggest Impact in Restaurants 

Insecticides do a great job in areas where food residue, grime, and grease buildup. Along with your kitchen drains, soft drink dispensers can prove attractive to fruit flies, as the syrup buildup can cause the flies to swarm the area.  

A fly deterrent such as NO Contest™ will clear out flies from your beverage line and kitchen drains, making it a great, versatile resource in specific problem areas. Its gel-like formula will grab onto biofilm, fly eggs, starches, and proteins, quickly clearing through both insects and grime alike. 

Preventing Infestations Before They Start 

An infestation in a restaurant can halt operations, cause health issues for the staff and guests alike, and risk a shutdown for failing to adhere to FDA food safety standards. When searching for solutions to this risk, it’s best to find products that can get the job done right, without the need for shopping around for different products.  

When an infestation has already started, it can take significantly longer to fully remedy the insect issue.  Prevention is the best solution when dealing with pests, as shutdowns can completely halt revenue streams for your business.  State Chemical offers a solution for the constant worry of an infestation through a restaurant insect control program. Our portfolio of products offers preventive solutions to all different kinds of infestations, ensuring that you don’t get any unwanted visitors any time soon. 

Building a Restaurant Insect Control Program 

Insects will take every opportunity they can to infiltrate your restaurant. State Chemical offers restaurant insect control programs that will allow you to be hands-off with your cleaning maintenance, so you won’t have to worry about insects creeping into your kitchen or dining area because of a lack of maintenance. 

State Chemical will provide monthly service calls to check in on your restaurant, ensuring that your insecticide program is working at 100% efficacy. You can customize this program to your liking, adding or removing products as you see fit. 

 The program will take the hassle away from your team by automating the insecticide process. If you don’t want to worry about cockroaches, ants or drain flies, then State Chemical’s insecticide program sounds like a great fit for you. 

If you want to learn more about additional pest problems and ways to solve them, then check out this article on common facility pest problems!