Pests are attracted to unclean environments such as food lying in un-emptied trash cans, dirty dishes left in the sink, and un-rinsed dishes in the dishwasher. Prevention is the best way to avoid pests: keep kitchen and living areas clean; regularly dispose of garbage, and, seal all food in containers or sealable bags so that pests do not have access to food sources. Specifically:

In the Kitchen:

• Do not leave standing water on the kitchen counter top.
• Do not allow dirty dishes to sit out overnight.
• Keep floors free of food or food debris.
• Do not allow the trashcan to become full and overflowing. Remove  contents daily.
• Do not allow open food containers to sit out anddo not store food on the floor.
• Report any leaky faucets.
• Do not keep an excessive amount of loose plastic or paper bags.

In the Bathroom:

• Keep the tub and shower clean.
• Wipe up all water spills.
• Report leaky faucets to be fixed.
  

General Living Space, Storage and Closets:

• Do not leave dirty clothing on the floor.
• Place all clean clothes on hangers or in dresser drawers.
• Do not store food in closets or storage areas.
• Keep floors clean and debris free.

Pest prevention for garbage chutes requires the use of plastic garbage bags when disposing of trash in designated containers.

Pest Treatment

If you have pests in your room and have reported any pest problem on FIXit, the treatment will be more effective if you prepare your living space properly. After you have submitted FIXit request for pest treatment, the following steps should be completed:

1. Kitchen:

• Remove all  items from counter tops and place into sealed containers or sealed plastic bags.
• Remove all items from inside cabinets and place into sealed plastic bags or a sealed container.
• Remove all silverware, dishes, pots or pans and place into sealed plastic bags or a sealed container.
• Make sure that all food items are either in sealed plastic bags or sealed in the refrigerator.
• Clean cabinets and countertops prior to treatment.

2. Floors:

• Make sure that there is one foot of clear space around the entire perimeter of the apratment, so that the basebaords can be treated.
• Mop and clean all floors prior to treatment.
• Remove all items stored under beds.

3. Bathrooms:

• Remove all personal items from the sink top and vanity cabinet, place in sealed container or sealed plastic bag.
  

4. Clothing:

• Properly stored clothing does not needto be remoed or place into plastic bags for protection.
  

After a Pest Control Visit

Once the material applied has dried it is safe to come in contact with treated areas. DO NOT replace any items until all surfaces are completely dry.

Upon returning to your room, unless otherwise directed by the Pest Control Operator, open windows and doors to remove any remaining odor from the room.

It is not required nor recommended to wash walls, carpets or clothing after a treatment has been applied.

If required, after a treatment the Pest Control Operator will leave you specific instructions.  In addition to those instructions, please follow these guidelines:

1. Kitchen:

• Wipe down, using a mild soap and sponge or dishtowel, the counter top, stovetop, tabletop, and refrigerator. The sponge or dishtowel, used to wipe down these areas, should be disposed of after use.
• DO NOT wipe out the cabinet's or silverwar drawer. Clean shelf paper should be placed or replaced in cabinet's containing glasses, bowls plates, etc.

2. Bathroom:

• Wipe down vanity/sink top.

GWU Pest Control Practices

Depending upon the season, common areas of Residence Halls are treated once or twice a month.  These areas include, but are not limited too, hallways, lobbies, boiler rooms, laundry rooms, TV rooms, computer rooms, trash rooms, communal kitchens.

Exteriors of all Residence Hall’s are inspected daily and treated, as necessary, for rodents.

Individual rooms and offices are treated on an on-call basis.

The majority of the material applied in the work of Pest Control contains a residual that is effective for 30 to 60 days after the time of application.  The material has a low toxicity and little to no odor.

All treatments will be applied by the label, NO EXCEPTIONS!

The District of Columbia licenses all University Pest Control Operators.

Inspections of facilities and practices are done annually with an agent of the District of Columbia.