Keep Rodents from Taking Refuge in Your Restaurant with These 5 Tips

Rats in a kitchen in San Juan PR - Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating

Restaurants are one of the most attractive places for rodents. There is always plenty of food and water around from spills on the floor, trash outside, and leftovers that end up accessible. All of these things are a natural part of the restaurant business, but to rodents, they are an open invitation to explore, eat, and drink—and that is where the problem begins. The first step in rodent control is in your hands—you have to take care of the things you can control to prevent rodents from getting inside or disrupting your business. If you’re looking to get rid of rats and mice in your restaurant in San Juan PR, read on for advice from the rodent exterminators at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating!

Why Do Rats and Mice Infest Restaurants?

Rodents find food processing plants and especially restaurants to be both easy and desirable targets in many cases! This causes headaches for restaurant owners all around San Juan PR. But why is it so easy for rodents to infest restaurants? The answer extends beyond the obvious fact that they’re stocked to the brim with food. Given that restaurants are often in crowded places that have to be open and welcoming to the public, they offer up both blatant and inconspicuous entry points to rats and mice living nearby. What’s more, all of the food waste that’s taken out to the garbage bins provides an incentive for rodents to continue to explore the area. The attractions continue to add up!

5 Tips to Keep Rodents Out of Your Restaurant

In order to keep rodents out of your restaurant, you have to take regular preventative measures in both the interests of general sanitation and focused rodent prevention. Here are our top 5 tips to keep out rats and mice in your restaurant:

  1. Clean up spills promptly: The best thing to do is to make sure every food spill, every water spill, and every grease spill has been completely cleaned up before closing. This is very important because rodents are active at night.
  2. Seal and store food: It’s imperative to ensure that all food is stored in airtight containers and stowed away properly before closing.
  3. Seal garbage: Check your outdoor garbage bins every night to ensure that they are tightly sealed. It is always preferable to use metal lids.
  4. Check for entry points: Doors and windows that leave small gaps could easily let rodents inside. Cracks in your foundation or plumbing fixtures could also attract rodents. Make sure you’re monitoring for entry points and sealing any gaps with silicone-based caulk or steel wool.
  5. Work with an exterminator: Setting up regular appointments with a rodent exterminator will ensure that rodents leave your business alone.

Pro Rodent Control in San Juan PR

To keep rodents out of your restaurant most effectively, call your local pest control company. The rodent exterminators at San Juan PR can remove all active rodents quickly and discreetly to keep your business space and reputation in good shape. Contact us today for a free quote!

How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches Inside Your Home

A German cockroach in San Juan PR - Rentokil, formerly Oliver ExterminatingHave you been dealing with small, pale-brown roaches in your kitchen or bathroom? You probably have a German cockroach infestation on your hands. Although their name might be misleading, German cockroaches are one of the most common kinds of cockroaches here in San Juan PR. We have been removing them from our customers’ homes for as long as we’ve been in business in the area. If you think you have German cockroaches in your home and are looking to get rid of them right away, read on for advice from our team at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating.

What Do German Cockroaches Look Like in San Juan?

Determining what species of cockroach you have in your home will help you figure out where they came from and why they’re sticking around. German cockroaches in San Juan PR will display these qualities:

  • They are pale brown in color with two darker stripes reaching from their head down their backs.
  • Smaller than most cockroaches, they rarely grow longer than 5/8” in length
  • You will usually see them in cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom, or adjacent places

German cockroaches are able to reproduce at astonishing rates—one German cockroach mother and her offspring can yield thousands of eggs per year. It’s important to make plans to eradicate them as soon as you find them in your home.

Best Way to Get Rid of German Cockroaches

Many peoples’ first thought when they find roaches in their house is to find a DIY solution to get rid of them. If you look up DIY roach control, you’ll surely see people mentioning boric acid as a reliable solution. When you spread boric acid in high-activity areas, the roaches will walk through it and groom themselves, causing them to ingest the toxins. While this is effective for small-scale treatments, it rarely wipes out the source of the infestation and can be a dangerous strategy to choose in a house with children or pets.

There’s no better way to get rid of German cockroaches than to hire a professional roach exterminator who has dealt with them many times over.

Professional Cockroach Control in San Juan PR

If you think that you’re currently undergoing an infestation of German cockroaches, get your local pest control company involved right away. At Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating, our roach control team is trained to identify all kinds of cockroach species and infestation sources in San Juan and elect the best extermination strategy accordingly. Contact us today for a free quote!

How to Get Rid of Moths in Your Closet

A clothes moth in San Juan PR - Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating

Have you been noticing moths all over the clothes in your closet? There are many kinds of moths living around San Juan PR, but clothes moths are some of the most annoying of the bunch. They live and breed in our wardrobes and closets, eating away at the fabric of our clothes and causing significant damage before we notice that they’re there. If you’re wondering how to get rid of moths in your closet, read on for expert advice from the technicians at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating.

What Are Clothes Moths?

Clothes moths are a type of moth that live in the dark corners of our closets, wardrobes, attics, and basements, looking to feed on all kinds of fabrics. Here are some features that you can look for to identify them:

  • About ½” in length
  • Narrow, hairy wings
  • Ranging from beige to grey in color with different shades of brown along their backs and the edges of their wings

Pantry moths are another common moth species here in San Juan, but they can be told apart from clothes moths by their appearance and their habits. Pantry moths are darker in color with a distinct dark stripe running horizontally across their wings. They’re also more likely to be found in your kitchen among packaged dry foods.

How to Get Rid of Moths in Your Closet

The best way to avoid a moth infestation in your closet is to take preventative measures to keep them out before any problems start. A good way to start is to store away any clothes that are out of season. Boxing away your winter gear in the summer and vice versa will give clothes moths fewer opportunities to feed. Limiting the amount of time that you keep your windows open around your closet or wardrobe will also cut off their entry points.

If you’re already dealing with an active moth infestation, you might be wondering if mothballs are the best option to get rid of them. While they do release an effective pesticide that will kill moths in your closet, the fumes are also toxic to humans and animals. If you’re looking for a non-toxic moth deterrent, call your local moth exterminator and ask what non-toxic pheromone trap they recommend you use.

Professional Moth Extermination in San Juan PR

If you’ve already tried store-bought moth control products to no avail, reach out to our team of technicians at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating. We can bring in decades of experience and the most updated technology in the pest control industry to wipe out moths safely and effectively. Whether you have clothes moths or pantry moths, contact us today to find out how we can help and receive a free quote!

Are Your Bed Sheets Attracting Bed Bugs?

What bed bugs look like in San Juan PR - Rentokil, formerly Oliver ExterminatingAfter their resurgence in recent decades, bed bugs have once again become a fact of life that many fail to avoid. While there aren’t a whole lot of strategies that you can employ at home to keep bed bugs away, some research points to our bed sheets as a place of possible prevention. Do the color of your sheets affect your likelihood to experience a bed bug infestation? Can the color keep bed bugs around longer? Our expert technicians at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating, are here to answer these questions and more about preventing bed bugs in San Juan PR.

Do Bed Bugs Like Certain Colors?

In a study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, researchers found that bed bugs tend to gravitate toward red and black-colored objects and avoid white, green, and yellow shades. This discovery aligns with what we do know about bed bugs: they are nocturnal pests that rely on their ability to move discreetly to survive.

If you have red, black, or other dark-colored bed sheets, bed bugs might have a better chance of going undetected for longer. That said, though, a hungry bed bug will hide wherever necessary to find a way to a meal. Given that bed bug infestations start with someone accidentally bringing them into the home in luggage, furniture, or otherwise, bed bugs are forced to adapt to whatever situation they are introduced to. Having lighter-colored sheets will not decrease your chances of bringing home bed bugs.

How to Prevent Bed Bug Infestations

If you want to be proactive about bed bug prevention, you have to do more than switch out your sheets. Here are our technicians’ top tips for avoiding a bed bug infestation in your home in San Juan PR:

  1. Be careful when traveling: Whether you’ve just come back from vacation or you have a student returning for the holidays, be sure to inspect all luggage coming into your home from outside.
  2. Inspect any secondhand items: Thrifting clothes or buying used furniture can quickly start a bed bug infestation in your home. Make sure to double-check that you aren’t purchasing anything with bed bugs living inside in secondhand stores.
  3. Clean and declutter regularly: If you accidentally bring bed bugs inside, you’ll have a better chance of controlling them on your own if your home is clean. Eliminate any hiding places they could take advantage of by clearing out clutter and vacuuming routinely.

Professional Bed Bug Control in San Juan PR

Whether you’re already deep into a bed bug infestation or you’re worried you might have found a few bed bugs, Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating, has a plan for you. With a mixture of heat treatments, spot treatments, and preventative measures, our licensed and certified technicians can develop a bed bug control strategy that suits your needs and gets rid of every last bed bug. For a free quote or more information on our services, reach out to our team today!

Pestfree365 with Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating

Ants collecting by water in San Juan PR - Rentokil, formerly Oliver ExterminatingThere’s a reason that Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating, has been Puerto Rico’s leader in pest control since 1956. Beyond our commitment to staying ahead of the curve in technology, practice, and environmental sensitivity, we also commit to keeping our patrons pest-free all year long. Our Pestfree365 program is a hit among our most loyal customers. Covering dozens of types of pests around San Juan PR, our technicians have an answer for your infestation. Read on to learn more about our services!

What Kinds of Pests in San Juan Are Covered?

Unfortunately, our climate creates perfect breeding grounds and feeding situations for all sorts of regional pests. With many insects and arachnids’ ability to proliferate quickly and spread their populations wide, it’s crucial to stay on top of DIY pest prevention if you aren’t covered routinely by professional exterminators. If you sign up for Pestfree365, the technicians at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating, will be able to handle these pests for you:

What Can You Expect from Pestfree365?

We’ve talked to a few members of our Pestfree365 program about their hesitance to sign up for a year-round prevention program. While this is understandable, this perspective often comes from people who haven’t had to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars repairing damage caused by termites, rodents, and more pests that thrive around San Juan PR. Here are a few of the benefits that you will receive after signing up for Pestfree365:

  1. Limitless service calls: Whenever you’re dealing with a pest problem, no matter how big or small, we will be out to help you. Even if you fear for an upcoming pest season, we can come out to your property to help you prepare your home or business properly!
  2. No contract: You are not paying in advance for a year-long, non-refundable service. We have to continue to earn your business with top-tier work and professionalism with every visit.
  3. Professionalism: Speaking of top-tier, every one of the technicians serving your property will be licensed, certified, and trained to the highest standards of the pest control industry.
  4. Termite and bed bug protection: Some pest control companies avoid dealing with these two pests for the simple fact of how difficult they can be to control. We don’t back down from these destructive insects! You’ll receive an annual termite inspection (WDI report) and any necessary bed bug removal treatments.

Year-Round Pest Control in San Juan

If you’re looking to maintain a pristine property free of pests, your best bet is to work with your local pest experts at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating. Our Pestfree365 service is the best in the business for prevention, exclusion, and control of almost 40 local pest species. Contact us today for a free quote!

Top Tips for a Pest-Free Kitchen

Cockroaches in the kitchen in San Juan PR - Rentokil, formerly Oliver ExterminatingIt’s no wonder that our kitchens in San Juan PR always seem to attract pest problems. A kitchen holds all of the necessities that bugs and rodents need—there’s plentiful food, access to water or moisture, dark and secluded places to hide, and sometimes even easy access back outdoors.

Are you looking to find ways to pest-proof your kitchen? Read on for advice from our team at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating! We’ve put together some information on the reasons for kitchen pest infestations and tips for preventing them.

Why You Might Have Bugs in the Kitchen

There are a number of reasons why bugs or rodents might be in your kitchen. Depending on how they found their way in and what they’re looking for, some pests can stick around for months or even years without you ever noticing that they’re there. These are the top three things that pests are looking for in your kitchen:

  • Food: Whether it be from spilled food, unsealed food products, or dirty dishes, pests can find a source of nourishment almost anywhere in your kitchen.
  • Water: Water that pools up due to leaks under your cupboards or compounds around your sink and counters can create an easily accessible source of hydration for all sorts of thirsty pests.
  • Shelter: With cluttered shelters, dark pantries, and damp cupboards as options, pests have bountiful hiding spaces in most kitchens.

5 Ways to Prevent Pests in the Kitchen

Preventing pests in the kitchen means staying diligent about keeping clean. Here are the top five ways to keep pest infestations from starting in your kitchen:

  1. Clean up spills and wash your dishes when you’re done with your meals.
  2. Keep moisture from building up by sealing any leaky pipes, unclogging any backed up drains, and running your garbage disposal often.
  3. Take out your trash often and use bins with sealing lids if you can.
  4. Check the expiration dates on goods that you purchase at the grocery store. Additionally, check your pantry and refrigerator routinely to make sure that nothing has expired.
  5. Close gaps by your windows and doors by using screens and door sweeps.

Professional Help with Kitchen Pests in San Juan

Are you struggling to keep pests out of your kitchen, even after following all of our advice? Sometimes, the problem is bigger than you can control or invisible to the untrained eye. Our professional pest control technicians at Rentokil, formerly Oliver Exterminating, have years of training and experience in dealing with pests in our customers’ kitchens. We can get rid of all active pests and make sure that new infestations don’t start up again. Contact us today for a free quote!

Seal the Cracks to Keep Pests Out

Sealing window with caulk to keep pests outside in Puerto Rico - Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating

Puerto Rico sure has its fair share of pest problems. From mosquitoes to centipedes to spiders to nuisance wildlife, there are plenty of pests just waiting to climb and crawl into your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to do everything you can to seal off your home to common pests  Cracks in your home’s foundation, in screens, around windows, and in the walls are like welcome mats for insects, bats, and other unwelcome guests. They make it easy for them to enter, make themselves at home, and reproduce.

One of the best things you can do to prevent an infestation spreading throughout your property is to make it an annual event to seal up your property against pests. The experts at Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating are here to help you learn how!

3 Steps to Prevent Pests in Puerto Rico

1) Start with an Inspection

  • The first step to sealing cracks is to find them.Start by methodically making your way around your home—inside and out. On the outside, look for cracks in the foundation, exterior walls, and any utility entry like where electrical or water lines enter your home. Inside, take a close look at all of your window and door screens, window frames, and kick plates attached to doors.
  • If you see any cracks, holes, or openings that are larger than a quarter inch, they need to be sealed. In fact, some insects can get into your home through a crack as narrow as the side of a credit card. So make sure you’re looking closely for cracks during the inspection.
  • You’ll also want to make sure you have some brightly colored tape with you to mark any trouble spots you find. This will make it easier to find them when it’s time to seal them up.

2) Prevent Pests Outdoors

  • After you’ve inspected the walls, windows, screens, doors, and frames, it’s time to look at your roof. Many people overlook their roofs when they’re trying to pest-proof their home, but Puerto Rico pest control experts know that cracks in roofing materials, ventilation fixtures, and areas around pipes provide ample opportunities for pests to make their way into your home.
  • Don’t forget to check the caulking around exhaust vents, around roof-mounted air conditioning units, and under roof overhangs. All of these areas are susceptible to rotting and cracking.

3) Keep Pests Out For Good

  • Now that you know how the pests are getting into your home, it’s time to seal it up. There are many products available to seal the cracks, crevices, and voids through which pests are getting insde.
  • Mesh screen covers work well for sealing exhaust holes under roof overhangs. Torn or ripped window screens will likely need to be replaced. So will cracked, missing, or rotting roof materials.
  • For cracks in plaster, bricks, stonework, or mortar joints, caulk is probably your best bet.

Your Local Pest Prevention Experts

Wildlife is one of the many wonderful things about living in Puerto Rico, but not when it makes its way into your home. And pests will almost always find their way into your home if you don’t take the time to seal the cracks. Sometimes you can do the job yourself. Other times you might need a helping hand. If you need help finding the places through which pests are entering your home, sealing cracks, and keeping your home pest-free, connect with the Puerto Rico pest control experts at Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating Services today!

Why Are Rodents Considered Pests?

Mouse in Puerto Rico home - Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating

The rodent family includes more than just your typical rats and mice—it also includes squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, and more. Some people even own rats and mice as pets. So what makes rats and mice some of the most feared types of pests in the first place? Rodents are considered pests due to the dangers they pose for homes and businesses. With Rodent Awareness Week around the corner here in Puerto Rico, the experts at Rentokil formerly Oliver Exterminating are determined to help our communities understand the potential threats of a rodent infestation this fall and winter. Keep reading to learn more!

Do You Need Pest Control For Rodents?

While many people have pets that are rats and mice, rodent infestations can be dangerous for several reasons. For one, wild rodents can carry and spread many germs and diseases that can lead to contamination and illness. When rodents infest your home, their population can quickly increase and they can create a real mess inside your home or business with their droppings and nesting.

In addition to the mess, rodents can chew on electric wires, which can become a fire hazard. Needless to say, a rodent problem can become a hazard in your home, making it important to enlist the help of a pest control expert.

Dangers of Rats and Mice

One of the main threats of a rodent problem is their ability to chew their way through your home, making quite a mess in their path. Their droppings, in particular, can be very hazardous. In addition to making a mess inside your home, rodents are infamous for spreading disease. Some of the most notable diseases they are capable of spreading include:

  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
  • Leptospirosis or Weil’s Disease
  • Rat-bite fever
  • Salmonellosis
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)
  • Plague

Rodent Season in Puerto Rico

Rodents are one of the most common pest problems for homes and businesses in Puerto Rico. If you are worried about the potential dangers of these pests in your property, contact the experts at Rentokil today! Our rodent exterminators will work to keep you safe from rats and mice all year long.