Whether you’ve already got ‘em or you’re trying to avoid ‘em in the first place, we’ve got six hot tips for flour bug prevention.
Six natural tips to keep flour bugs away:
1. Deep clean
Remove everything from your pantry, and toss any open containers and items that have been infested. Vacuum the shelves, then use an all-purpose pest remedy spray, hot soapy water, or a natural cleaning spray to give it all a good wipe-down before replacing your salvaged dry food.
2. Use proper containers
Storing your flour, sugar, cereals, and other grains in proper storage containers helps keep the flour bugs at bay. Choose airtight containers and jars for the best results.
3. Freeze
If your flour hasn’t been taken over by fully-grown bugs, stick it in the freezer for four days. Freezing kills off eggs and larvae, preventing them from turning into a full-blown army. Freezing any dry foods after bringing them home from the market is a good preventative measure to get in the habit of.
4. Use an insecticide.
Non-toxic insecticides are available specifically for pantry bugs. They do emit fumes, so it’s important to keep children and pets away until the odor dissipates.
5. Natural deterrents.
Garlic cloves and bay leaves are natural alternatives to keep the weevils away. Place cloves of garlic and dried bay leaves on your freshly-cleaned shelves to deter these nasty bugs.
6. Call the professionals.
If your flour bug infestation is really bad or you’re not entirely sure it’s weevils that you’re dealing with, call a pest control specialist to come check it out.