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Food cupboard infestation

I have searched this forum and find information relating to flour mites.  Chuck, seal up stuff, freeze when it arrives, vacuum cupboards/crevices.  

I'm staying with a friend in a climate a little warmer than the UK, wondering if there are bigger types of mite out there, as they seem much bigger than the ones I had once.  Is there anything I can wipe with after vacuuming as a deterrent?  
[SIZE=-1]"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"[/SIZE]
Trying not to waste food!:j
ETA Philosophy is wondering whether a Bloody Mary counts as a Smoothie

Comments

  • purpleivy
    purpleivy Posts: 3,632 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    OK, update, done some Googling. Might be weevils rather than mites. 

    [SIZE=-1]"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"[/SIZE]
    Trying not to waste food!:j
    ETA Philosophy is wondering whether a Bloody Mary counts as a Smoothie
  • Skint_yet_Again
    Skint_yet_Again Posts: 8,108 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Hung up my suit! Mortgage-free Glee!
    edited 17 September 2021 at 6:23AM
    There was a thread years ago about flour weevils. I think they are in the flour ? 

    I freeze my flour for 48 hours after buying then keep in the fridge. 

    Edit - found this thread not sure it’s the one I remember but similar ideas there maybe some suggestions that will help you 

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3541423/storing-flour

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/25486957#Comment_25486957
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  • I get larder beetles. You see them as like black hairy caterpillars then as beetles. Im not over run but emptied the drawers, cleaned and used fly spray. Probablynot the best advice but not had another one since. 
  • I had flour weevils a few years ago.

    Empty the cupboards. Throw away anything in a packet (even sealed ones, they can get in - see note below). Take all your tins and jars, write on the top in marker pen what they contain and then wash off the labels (weevils can hide behind the labels.) 

    Wash out and thoroughly clean all the cupboards, hoover the crevices and wipe down with anti-bac wipes. I also got the recommendation to stick cloves around the pantry as weevils hate the odour. I can't blame them, so do I. 

    I did most of that, and an hour after replacing the remaining food, I opened the cupboard for a jar of coffee. Saw one of the little b*startds trundling along the shelf. I sobbed into a tea towel for a minute, then did another round, this time throwing away the last few sealed packets. 

    I've never seen them again. I also freeze my flour and keep it in sealed tubs now. 
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  • purpleivy
    purpleivy Posts: 3,632 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    *Update*.  Took everything out of the cupboard and all stuff in cardboard boxes out of them, either decant or if in celophane inside inspect.  

    It was cleaned several times and sprayed. Then washed down with some vinegar cleaner stuff that you can get in Mallorca.  Left to dry. 

    Over the next few days kept throwing more stuff out and putting what appeared to be OK back again. Read that bay oil was good, so friend put some on her little cedar blocks and we scrounged some bayleaves from her friend. We didnt see anything for about the last week I was there so hoping that's it. 

    Saved a lot of the jars from out of date spoiled food, so she has some to put things in. Purchased a few jars too.  

    Now I'm home and nervous about some of the things I don't have in boxes. I have ordered some more lock and lock.  

    All's well that ends well. She was very pleased to have me there to help sort it out, as she's very squeamish about things like that. Also grateful because I made 2 fritattas, 2 big lasagnes and a pot of chicken curry, portioned in the freezer to take to work for her and her Cuz for lunches. Made baklava for when her friends came for dinner.  Made her denim jacket into a motor bike jacket.  And other stuff.  She let me stay in her flat, so that's what she did for me!

    [SIZE=-1]"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"[/SIZE]
    Trying not to waste food!:j
    ETA Philosophy is wondering whether a Bloody Mary counts as a Smoothie
  • MandM90
    MandM90 Posts: 2,246 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Wow purple fancy a holiday just outside Belfast?!
  • JGB1955
    JGB1955 Posts: 3,729 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I've discovered flour mites a couple of times over the past 45 years, but generally just ignore them and cook them into whatever I'm making. Wouldn't  even think about sanitising/chucking food out...
    #2 Saving for Christmas 2024 - £1 a day challenge. £325 of £366
  • purpleivy said:
    *Update*.  Took everything out of the cupboard and all stuff in cardboard boxes out of them, either decant or if in celophane inside inspect.  

    It was cleaned several times and sprayed. Then washed down with some vinegar cleaner stuff that you can get in Mallorca.  Left to dry. 

    Over the next few days kept throwing more stuff out and putting what appeared to be OK back again. Read that bay oil was good, so friend put some on her little cedar blocks and we scrounged some bayleaves from her friend. We didnt see anything for about the last week I was there so hoping that's it. 

    Saved a lot of the jars from out of date spoiled food, so she has some to put things in. Purchased a few jars too.  

    Now I'm home and nervous about some of the things I don't have in boxes. I have ordered some more lock and lock.  

    All's well that ends well. She was very pleased to have me there to help sort it out, as she's very squeamish about things like that. Also grateful because I made 2 fritattas, 2 big lasagnes and a pot of chicken curry, portioned in the freezer to take to work for her and her Cuz for lunches. Made baklava for when her friends came for dinner.  Made her denim jacket into a motor bike jacket.  And other stuff.  She let me stay in her flat, so that's what she did for me!


    That’s very kind of you, @purpleivy.  I hope you had a good holiday despite the weevils.

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  • purpleivy
    purpleivy Posts: 3,632 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    MandM90 said:
    Wow purple fancy a holiday just outside Belfast?!
    It needs to be September to March and have great light. I have severe Seasonal Affective Disorder, so it's essential in the winter to get the light to keep me off medication. I missed last winter and had a horrible time. So if the light quality is good and I would get more hours daylight than at home.....
    [SIZE=-1]"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"[/SIZE]
    Trying not to waste food!:j
    ETA Philosophy is wondering whether a Bloody Mary counts as a Smoothie
  • purpleivy
    purpleivy Posts: 3,632 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    t me stay in her flat, so that's what she did for me!


    That’s very kind of you, @purpleivy.  I hope you had a good holiday despite the weevils.

    - Pip
    It's not a holiday as such....just doing normal stuff in a different place. If I'm cooking for myself and others I struggle to call it a holiday. I have a sewing machine there too, so busy doing those tasks too. As I do alterations for a living, that makes it a bit of a busman's!  But she's a great friend and we had many happy hours. She was quiet at work, so did spend more time together than usual.  
    [SIZE=-1]"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"[/SIZE]
    Trying not to waste food!:j
    ETA Philosophy is wondering whether a Bloody Mary counts as a Smoothie
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