Proper Food Storage
Storing food in tightly sealed plastic or glass containers will prevent pests from spoiling your food. Store dry pet food in plastic containers and discard any food past its expiration date or that show signs of pest infestation. Routinely clean out pantries and cabinets, checking in corners for signs of pests.
Ants
The most common household pest, ants are capable of completely dominating your stock pantry. If you have an ant infestation, use chili powder, cinnamon sticks, perfume, or vinegar on the ant's point of entry. All of these household objections will deter then from entering. Once they're inside the pantry, use equal parts of borax and sugar to kill the ant without spraying harmful pesticides.
Cockroaches
Mix equal parts of powdered sugar and baking soda. The powdered sugar will attract the roaches while the baking soda kills them. Placing roach motels around the house will do fair job of riding your pantry of cockroaches. Just remember where you’ve place them so you can discard them later. As a preventive measure, seal off all cracks around pipes, baseboards and other possible entry ways. Screens, steel wool cleaning pads and caulking are good sealant options.
Flies, Moths and Mosquitoes
For inside the pantry, you can try herbal or non-toxic moth ball alternatives.
Rodents
Mouse traps can be quite effective, though take care if placing them within reach of small children or pets. Place a trap inside of a secured cardboard box with holes big enough for the mice, but too small for pets.
For a quieter demise, place instant mashed potato mix in strategic places with a dish of water close by. After having their spuds, the mice drink the water which causes fatal bloating.
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