Pest Control: A Comprehensive Guide To Preventing Or Ridding Your Pantry Of Moths

With this guide, you don't have to use pesticides, which may pose harm to you and your family through contamination. All you need are everyday cleaning items and, of course, the proper know-how.

First and foremost, here's a list of the four essentials that you'll need for the process:

• A vacuum cleaner
• Vinegar
• Soap and water
• A mop

1. Inspect the food items in your pantry carefully

The first step is to check your pantry for tell-tale signs of infestation like larvae and webs inside and outside food containers. It is imperative that you especially pay attention to food items in grainy forms as they attract moths.

This includes flour, cereal, pasta, baking mixes, nuts, and sweets. Overall, keep your eye out for dark crevices where moths hide or have hidden their eggs and larvae.

Every infested item should be washed or wiped down with vinegar to kill the larvae. Others should be discarded in an outdoor bin.

2. Clean the pantry thoroughly

Next, give your store a thorough cleaning. Make sure you get at every shelf, floor, walls ensuring that you don't miss any crevice. Vacuum the shelves, paying particular attention to the corners, undersides, and shelf brackets.

Also, wipe down the shelves with hot, soapy water or vinegar; and mop the floor. After cleaning, remember to dispose of the trash collected in an outdoor bin. Also, clean out the vacuum to prevent harboring moth larvae.

3. Decongest the pantry to limit further contamination

Your next aim is to reduce the number of items you have in your store to aid ventilation and limit the infestation chances. If stored correctly in a sealed container, grain food items like grains and nuts can be kept in the freezer.

This can wait in the freezer just until you are sure that the moths are entirely gone. This way, you eradicate their means of sustenance, hiding their eggs and larvae to ensure continued infestation.

4. Do a last-minute check

If you still see moths even after the extensive cleaning, you may want to do a thorough search and make a checklist of spots that you may have missed. Then go back to give them a thorough cleaning.

5. Restock your pantry

When there are no more signs of moths, you can restock your pantry again! However, consistently conduct a check for any sign of infestation to check for moth activity.

Make the eradication of moths and, in fact, any such pest, permanent by:

• Storing your grain-based food items in the freezer. You can also freeze them for a week to kill any existing larvae before moving them to your pantry.
• Storing your grains in tightly-sealed containers.
• Keeping bay leaves, lavender, cedar, and mint in the store. These are effective moth repellants.Quickly cleaning up any food mess in the pantry as well as a regular scrub. Continually checking for moth activity.

Good luck!