A 20-Minute Cleaning Routine to Keep Your Pantry Pest-Free — Leave the Outdoors Outside

Did you know that the phrase "Pantry Pests" is actually a real term for bugs that like to feed on packaged goods? The technical term includes all sorts of things like Indian meal moths, sawtooth grain beetles, cigarette beetles, and drugstore beetles. The pros know a ton of things about these pests, but as a homeowner (or renter!), all you really need to know is this: They're going to eat your food.

A little contamination probably won't hurt you, but regular infestations can contribute to food waste and cost you money over time. And the same factors that attract pantry pests can also attract mice. While they're (slightly) cuter, mice pose a serious risk of contaminating your food (because they, to put it delicately, do their business everywhere) and contributing to respiratory issues (because of chemicals in their excrement).

Grossed out yet? Great! Then you'll love this easy, quick checklist to keep your pantry pest-free.

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