Sanitation
Removing food, water, and harborage opportunities through cleaning, proper food storage, and garbage management to make environments unsuitable for pests.
Detailed Overview
Sanitation eliminates the food and water that sustain pest populations. Key practices include: storing food in sealed containers; cleaning up crumbs and spills immediately; washing dishes promptly; taking out garbage daily in sealed bags; keeping garbage areas clean; fixing leaks; eliminating standing water; removing clutter that provides harborage; and using heavy-duty (1.9 mil+) garbage bags. In multi-family buildings, just one bag of improperly stored food waste can feed hundreds of cockroaches and rodents. Effective sanitation must be maintained by both building management and residents.
When to Use
Sanitation should be a continuous practice, not a one-time event. It is the foundation of IPM and must be in place before other control methods can be fully effective.
Required Skill Level
Can be performed by building staff or residents with basic training
Benefits
- Eliminates pest food and water sources
- Non-chemical prevention method
- Improves overall building quality
- Reduces pest populations over time
- Enhances effectiveness of other treatments
- Promotes resident health and satisfaction
Limitations
- Requires resident cooperation and education
- Must be maintained continuously
- May not eliminate existing infestations alone
- Some sanitation issues may be outside resident control
Related Concepts
Other principles that may be useful
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A prevention-based pest management method that provides long-lasting pest control, improves building conditions, and is less harmful to residents and pets than traditional pest control.
Pest Triangle
The four essential requirements pests need to survive: food, water, shelter, and ways to get around. Eliminating any of these makes an environment inhospitable to pests.
Threshold Levels
The point at which pest populations or damage reaches a level that requires action. IPM uses threshold levels to determine when treatment is necessary rather than treating on a schedule.