8 Tips For Cutting Down On Critter-Attracting Crumbs In Your Kitchen

Reducing the volume of crumbs in your kitchen is key to maintaining a hygienic, pest-free environment. The more you can keep your spaces crumb-free, the less likely you will have a problem. 

Remember, critters love crumbs in the kitchen. High-calorie human food is often just what they’re looking for, even if it has nothing to do with their natural diet. Sometimes, your only option is to call in pest control. 

So, what can you do to cut down on crumbs in your kitchen? And what do pest control experts recommend you do to reduce the risk of an infestation? 

Be Mindful of Where You Eat

First, you’ll want to be careful of where you eat. Sticking to specific spots can often help you reduce crumbs significantly. 

For example, let’s say you have a habit of eating while leaning on the kitchen sideboard. This approach is a bad idea because crumbs can get all over the floor and be dragged around the room on the soles of shoes. 

Instead, stick to benches, tables, and countertops. Make sure you can easily sweep up crumbs from whatever area you want to eat in. 

Wipe Your Counters with a Damp Cloth

You also want to wipe your counters down with a damp cloth whenever you get the chance. Again, this helps to reduce crumb buildup and keeps your kitchen hygienic. 

Sometimes, worktops can be deceptive. Just looking at them, you can’t see anything. But if you crouch down and look across them, you can see all sorts of stains, dirt, debris, and gunk. 

Therefore, wet a sponge regularly and remove this detritus. Make sure you don’t leave any food out that critters can sniff out and gobble up. 

Store Snacks In Bowls

Another tactic that people use to cut down on crumbs in the kitchen is to store snacks in bowls. This approach is usually better than eating straight out of the bag. 

When you think about it, this makes sense. Gobbling snacks from a bowl means that any crumbs can land back in the bowl instead of on your shirt or the floor. 

Keep A Broom Nearby

You can also rig your environment to reduce crumb generation. Keeping a small broom and bin pan nearby lets you sweep the floor and clear away mess at any time. You don’t have to go to the cupboard under the stairs and find a full-sized mop (which requires a lot more effort). 

You could even keep a handheld vacuum in the kitchen. These are handy when children inevitably spill their cornflakes. 

Use A Tablecloth

Another tactic is to go back fifty years and use a tablecloth. These are handy because they let you collect food debris neatly and then shake it outside. 

No, it’s not quite as good as using a vacuum. But many people find it a useful tactic. 

It’s also incredibly simple and protects your tableware from spills. If someone spills their berries, then you can quickly remove it and deal with the problem outside. 

Shake The Toaster Into The Sink

The toaster is the primary crumb-generating device in your kitchen thanks to the nature of toast. It gets everywhere, doesn’t it? 

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution: shaking it out over the sink (or somewhere away from your home). This allows you to collect all the crumbs, reducing the risk of critters entering your kitchen and trying to sniff them out. 

If your toaster has a crumb pan, remove that and shake it into the bin. Make sure you wash it if necessary to remove any remaining toasted particles. 

Slice Over a Plate

You can also try slicing food items over a plate or tray. Again, this helps you contain all the particles. Just make sure the surface can cope with your knife gliding over it.

Slicing on a plate is ideal for messy cooking ingredients, like broccoli, which seem to get everywhere. You can also use this technique while cutting through bread slices. 

Use A Large Chopping Board

Finally, it’s worth investing in a large chopping board for the kitchen. Sometimes sizeable is better able to control debris and makes cleanup easier. 

If you’re feeling like a pro, you can now get chopping boards that fold up into a funnel shape when you finish chopping, making it easier to dispose of crumbs or guide veggies into saucepans.

When choosing a chopping board, select one made from a hygienic material, like reinforced glass or silicone. Avoid materials that could harbor smells and attract critters into your kitchen.