By Briana Hilton, Contributor

As any successful restaurateur knows, your reputation is everything. The reality, however, is that where there are people, there will be pests. And your restaurant being linked to a public pest problem is a recipe for bad reviews and a ruined reputation.

The New York Times reports that areas with old buildings and urban structures are ripe with spots for pests to hide. So how can you ensure that your restaurant avoids becoming a pest hotspot without spending a lot of time and money?

First, is Your Restaurant’s Kitchen a Perfect Pest Destination?

Checking your restaurant kitchen for pests

Commercial kitchens, like in restaurants, are full of delicious food, sources of heat, and moisture. So, it’s no surprise that they provide an environment that pests will naturally gravitate towards. Ants, cockroaches, rats, and flies love damp places, debris, and clutter.

The bad news is once they’re there, they multiply rapidly, becoming a problem that’ll quickly affect your business. The World Health Organization states that over 50% of commercial kitchens experience an issue with cockroaches at some point, for example.

The good news is that you can avoid pests taking hold in the first place by following some simple procedures that’ll take a little time but pay off in the long run.

Check for Signs of Infestation in Your Restaurant

Is your restaurant’s kitchen ripe for pest infestation?

First, check regularly for signs of infestation. Sinks, drains, dishwashers, and pipes are all regular culprits. Look for common signs such as claw marks, gnawing, or feces. At worst, you may even find live pests running around.

Warm, secluded areas around stoves, freezers, and dishwashers are also favored by vermin and insects, and any tucked away areas -- particularly those close to cracks and holes around pipes and in walls -- are prime spots for infiltration.

Rats and mice are known as commensal pests, meaning they depend upon humans creating shared spaces that the rodents can use for survival. They are also one of the biggest problems a restaurant kitchen can face – especially since they are notorious for spreading germs, bacteria, and diseases which can be potentially fatal.

Address Any Infestation Right Away

Work with an exterminator and pest control specialist to address your restaurant’s infestation problem.

As you check your kitchen and food storage areas and you notice cracks and damage, make sure they are repaired immediately by a reputable contractor who’ll do a good job. You can talk to an extermination company about blocking pests from entering your kitchen in the first place, as well as which preventative measures would be most effective for your restaurant given its specific situation and requirements.

Look into this as soon as you spot any sign of any infestation. Fixing the issue early on will save you valuable money in the future and as well as saving your reputation from being considered unclean. A good exterminator will take you through their suggested process, offering ideas and knowledge about sanitization, inspection, and exclusion options that will allow you to banish pests for good.

Build Policies to Pest-Proof Your Restaurant

Pest-proof your restaurant by creating sound policies and procedures for dealing with food waste.

Restaurant operators and managers should also consider what their business does with food scraps, waste, packaging, and other garbage. Follow best practice procedures for waste disposal, segregating waste as far away from your premises as possible. Restaurants should also invest in airtight storage for any food that awaits preparation, too.

The US Environmental Protection Agency suggests carrying out a waste assessment to identify areas where you could reduce, refuse, and flag any opportunities for recycling or reuse. Many areas have food donation projects that'll alleviate hunger and also leave you with fewer enticing edibles lying around.

Restaurants should also clean up after any spills, sanitize surfaces after use, and keep drains clear and functional to avoid attracting unwanted visitors.

Don’t forget about the significance of good ventilation either; a well-ventilated space will be cleaner, with less build-up of dirt and debris that pests will love.

Pests are something that no-one wants to think about, but if you run a kitchen, it’s important that you do. With a bit of understanding and effort, you can save a lot of time and money, ensure a solid reputation, and are able to keep giving your customers the experience they’d expect – a great dining and pest-free environment.