Bugs aren’t limited to showing up in your home – they’ll show up in your office as well. And let’s face it – no client or associate wants to do business or work in a place that’s overrun with bugs. 

Bugs are also a potential health risk. So, keeping your office bug-free is incredibly important to making sure you, your associates, and others are happy and healthy.

To help you get rid of bugs and keep them away, we’ve outlined the best bug eliminating tips.

11 Ways to Get Rid of Bugs (and Keep Them Away)

1. Get rid of clutter.

Ask you associates to get rid of unnecessary debris from around the workplace. Reducing clutter in work areas, especially storage areas, means bugs have fewer places to hide.

2. Clean all areas regularly.

Cleaning all areas of your workplace regularly can keep bugs away. Here are five things you need to clean every day.

• Wash dirty dishes every night.
• Make sure your associates don’t leave food at their desks.
• Clean up all food spills and crumbs immediately.
• Vacuum and/or sweeps your floors everyday.
• Empty all trash cans every night.

3. Ensure the exterior of your building is in good shape. 

One of the best ways to keep bugs out of your workplace is to make sure the exterior of your facility is cleaned up and in good shape. 

• Weatherproof your windows and doors to seal up any holes or cracks. These are common entry points for bugs.
• Keep the lids on any outdoor trash cans closed. 
• Make sure your landscaping is maintained and your lawn is always trimmed short. 

4. Inspect any deliveries before they’re brought into your workplace.

When unpacking new inventory or receiving shipments, carefully inspect all items and packaging for signs of bed bugs before bringing them into your facility.

5. Don’t overwater indoor plants.

Gnats are drawn to over-watered plants. These pests won’t just wreak havoc on your plants, but once their eggs hatch they grow wings and spread pollen, which can cause mold and mildew issues.

6. Keep fruit in the refrigerator.

Fruit left sitting out can attract fruit flies. To keep these flies away keep your fruit in the refrigerator. 

7. Fill in any holes, cracks, or crevices around your workplace.

Bugs love to hide in little holes. Fill in in any holes or crevices to ensure they don’t have a place to hide away. 

8. Plant citronella plants outside.

Most bugs hate citronella, so planting this outside your workplace can deter them from entering.

9. Spray vinegar along outdoor pathways.

Vinegar is a natural repellant that will help keep ants, flies, and spiders away. 

10. Use plastic containers instead of cardboard.

When storing items away, use plastic containers instead of cardboard. Paper lice, sometimes known as mites or bookworms, are born in bundles of paper kept in dark, damp conditions. These lice can be a food source for other pests, so eliminating them is vital. Rodents can also burrow in cardboard enclosures. So, if you’re storing anything that a rodent or pest would like to call home, put it in a plastic sealed box or container that they can’t get into.

11. Conduct thorough inspections around your workplace.

Encourage your associates to report any bugs they see and regularly check for bugs in chairs, couches, desks, and areas beneath the floor level.This can help you address any bug issues before they become an infestation. 

Looking for more ways to get rid of bugs? Send a note to helpdesk@unisancolumbus.com or give us a call at 1-800-573-5404. Our associates will work with you to create a customized solution.