Whether you have given it any thought or not, we can assure you that the last thing you want to see upon opening your shipping container is a bug or mice infestation. Hey, even one of these pesty buggers is a cause for concern because we all know how quickly they reproduce. So whether you are shipping to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or any other country, the first thing you need to do is find a suitable shipping container. And the second thing you should be worried about is pest-proofing a shipping container.
Now, let’s face it – this is not going to be a pleasant task. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do it on your own merits. Just read our tips and follow our guide. Coming up are a few useful ways to prevent pests from reaching your shipping container thus, protecting your items in the process.
Prevention will get half the job done
Once you start looking for shipping containers, you are going to stumble upon a bunch of different companies that rent them. There are a lot of logistics companies in Bahrain and they all offer somewhat different services. Naturally, your first instinct would be to go for the one that offers the lowest prices. While we completely agree that a logistics company of your choosing should be within your price range, we don’t think you should not compromise quality and safety just to find the cheapest one. Especially not if you want to rent a reliable shipping container that will already be pest-free.
Different companies have different policies. Some perform frequent fumigation in order to pest-proof shipping containers while others leave everything to chance. Your job is to ask the company about its rules and regulations on this matter. We here at Four Winds Bahrain suggest you always opt for the one that has a strict policy about this topic, as that will ensure your container is pest-free, to begin with.
Being selective what you ship is one of the best ways of pest-proofing a shipping container
What we are about to say should go without saying. Yet a lot of people make this mistake either due to negligence or due to being misinformed. What are we talking about here? Namely, we are talking about one very simple rule – no food is allowed inside your shipping container. Yes, we know you are probably not negligent enough to put an entire meal inside. But you might fail to notice that some of your kitchen appliances have food residue on them.
Even a couple of crumbs can lead to immense pest problems, so make sure you clean your kitchen appliances thoroughly before placing them inside a container. Also, we suggest you get acquainted with the list of non-storable items in Bahrain. They might not have much to do with your potential pest problem, but they will prevent a lot of troubles as you won’t make a mistake of storing and shipping an item that isn’t allowed.
Using pest deterrents in your shipping container
This really isn’t the most sophisticated way to keep pest away from your shipping container but it will do the trick nonetheless. There are many natural as well as chemical pest deterrents nowadays. If you want to opt for the natural version, we suggest you try soaking cotton balls in peppermint oil or lavender and cedar blocks. And if you are the one to rely on pre-made products, then you can try the conventional bug sprays. Also, you can lay mouse-traps around your container just in case a rodent does manage to find his way inside your unit.
Wrap upholstered furniture for best protection
What exactly are you shipping inside your container? If your answer contains upholstered furniture, then we suggest you approach its packing with additional care. Moths love to destroy fabric which is why your precious items are at a huge risk. In case your items don’t fit inside boxes and they probably won’t considering the fact we are talking about upholstery, you should gear yourself with plastic. Wrap it around every item and ensure it gets the protection it deserves. Feel free to abide by the same rules with your soft items, such as pillows. It would be a shame for moths to destroy the pieces you have spent a lifetime collecting.
Consider using plastic containers instead of boxes
Unfortunately, no matter how quality they are, cardboard boxes aren’t much of a protection against rodents. They can become used by nesting rodents, which is the last thing you want to see upon opening a box. So our suggestion is to use plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes. Even if rodents do find a way inside your container, which we hope won’t happen, they won’t be able to chew through plastic. That means your items will mostly stay safe and you will just have to deal with the unpleasant sight. Besides, plastic containers are more stackable than cardboard boxes and they will make more room inside your shipping container. So there’s another reason for you to use them.
Consult an expert for pest-proofing a shipping container
Finally, if you suspect a problem may have arisen, feel free to call in an expert. A pest professional will assess your problem, suggest a few good solutions for solving it and help you with the treatment. Of course, if you are ready to go to this extent, it’s always better to hire a professional before a problem even occurs. And by pest-proofing a shipping container with professional help you will greatly ensure no problems happen. Thus, this really will be money well-spent as it will keep your items safe and spare you the trouble of dealing with rodents. We think that would be a win-win situation in anyone’s book.