Kitchen cupboard bugs | ExpatWoman.com
 

Kitchen cupboard bugs

574
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 13:12

In recent months we have started to find tiny bugs in our cupboards, as well as larger black bugs that populate flour when it has not been used in a while. I have also had to repeatedly throw away opened rice packets and occasionally pasta.
I have cleared the cupboards from all contaminated food a few times and resorted to keeping both flour and rice in air tight containers or zip-lock bags but somehow still keep on finding some bugs at times in the flour and roaming around the cupboards.
Has anyone else had the same problem? Is there a way to avoid this?
Thanks in advance!

565
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 15:34
These little pests are called weevils. Once you have everything cleared, throw everything out and re-buy! It seems a pain but even one left over can reproduce very quickly. Clean or vacuum all shelves, cabinets with a bleach/water solution or tea tree oil, vinegar, or any disinfectent. and once everything is repurchased and ready to go back into the clean cabinets freeze grains for at least 1 week to kill any eggs and store grains in tightly sealed glass, metal, or sturdy plastic containers (not bags) and purchase only a small, reasonable amount so you don't need to buy giant jars. I've read that bay leaves or small bags of black pepper placed around the pantry may repel weevils in the future. Good luck. It a tedious task but once you get started you're on a grind never to see another weevil again! :) and it'll cause a frenzy of cleaning which is never a bad thing.
1811
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 15:11
I keep everything in jars as some bags seem to ear plastic! Some products are contaminated when you buy them which is a bit of a shock as I've had sealed/unopened packets with bugs in them so the tip about freezing new items is a good one. Except my freezer is always full! On the subject of cupboards, some of you may remember a thread some time back talking about organising cupboards http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/topic206624-how-do-women-fit-it-all-in.aspx After a bit of a delay I've now done a couple of kitchen cupboards for some ladies from the forum! If anyone would like theirs done, please get it touch. arancher @ Hotmail dot co dot uk
431
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 14:52
I am just wondering how come this never happened before? I noticed it too this year. I guess it probably was already contaminated when you bought it. or the weather has something to do with it.
574
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 14:47
Janatks, just seeing your response. Thank you - will try that as we'll as the freezing :)
574
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 14:46
Thank you Heyjude. It makes sense :) It is just go annoying having to forever replace our rice and even in the ziplock bags I found a pack of flour contaminated with the little creatures! I am just wondering how come this never happened before? Many thanks once again!
431
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 14:44
Use cloves as a repellent. You can put them in your containers and under the liners. Dried red chillies also help with flour and rice <em>edited by janatks on 06/10/2013</em>
254
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 October 2013 - 13:21
Every new bag of flour, rice etc that comes into the house, goes into a plastic bag and then into the freezer for a few days. That kills any eggs etc that may be already in the product. Then I transfer to glass jars with the clip down lid and rubber seal. This seems to help, although I still get nasty little weevils on the shelves under the jars, sometimes. At least that is better than in the food.
 
 

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