Flour mites - yuck!!

Countrywife · 28 July 2018 at 8:48PM

We fancied macaroni cheese for tea so took myself off to make it and my food cupboard was covered in flour mites! My fault for not storing in plastic container, but they literally got everywhere so anything unopened had to be chucked. On the plus side I've been able to take stock of my store cupboard ingredients so I won't waste money buying multiples of things anymore - I have five packs of pasta!! I wonder if the heat has caused them to go mad in my cupboard?!

I've deep cleaned the cupboard and disposed of infested food and wiped down all remaining food packets. I've got lots of plastic containers which I plan to use from now on when I restock - I assume that's the best way to prevent spreading.

Just wondered how you all organise your food cupboards? I might as well turn the inconvenience of emptying mine into a worthwhile chore

caronc · 28 July 2018 at 8:58PM

I'd check unopened things too - not everything is as "mite tight" as you might think. Anything you are unsure about either ditch, quarantine or pop in the freezer to kill any mite eggs.....

Countrywife · 28 July 2018 at 9:01PM

Oh no, so it could get worse! :eek:

caronc · 28 July 2018 at 9:13PM

Unfortunately yes ! Cereals & flour etc. seem to be the worst for getting them even when sealed.

PollyWollyDoodle · 29 July 2018 at 8:55AM

I had this a few years ago and the advice I got on another forum was to freeze all flour when you bring it home. The eggs are in the flour when you buy it, they're harmless but hatch out once it's stored. So yes, using plastic containers will stop any getting in if there's an infestation somewhere in your cupboard, but the flour inside your plastic container could already have mites in.

When you buy a bag, stick it in the freezer for 24 hours before decanting it into containers, and that should be enough to kill them. Having said that, I have forgotten to do this recently so I suspect I'll need to do a cupboard clear-out.