Tuxedo Mom

Yes, this does work - very well, too! I just put a large bag of pancake flour in my freezer yesterday. And I have bay leaves in my pantry to keep the little buggers out of everything else.

coopah

Flour, oatmeal...anything like that goes in the freezer. We use those things slowly, so it keeps the eggs from hatching. I remember my Dad telling me when I was way younger how much rat poop was allowed in flour. EEEUUUWWW!!!
Sorry you had the problem...very aggravating!

shihtzulover

DOUBLEMINT GUM also works fantastic. I buy it when it's on sale and my cabinets always have gum laying around. I also put a stick or two in my flour container and also oatmeal container.

Krystyna

Ugh! Pantry moths! HATE them! In our last house they came in with some baby clothes from my neighbor. And then the battle was on -- for YEARS. Don't think that baggies will help. They chew right through them. Doesn't matter if the food is organic or not. Anything made with any sort of grain goes directly into the freezer for three days, comes out for a day, and goes back for another day. That way if anything survived the cold enough to hatch, it's finished. Bay leaves are good and I've used them, but they aren't fool proof. My best suggestion are either sprigs of rosemary or dried rosemary in little bags. I've also hung rosemary branches around the house and that seemed to help. But once you have them, it's awfully hard to get rid of them. We're buying a new home and I will be certain that every square inch is scrubbed down with bleach before we get in.

Snooze2978

I don't think these are the bugs you're talking about but I found some little black ant like bugs crawling in my pantry every since my mother came to live with me. Think it might have come with her pantry stuff. They seem to like the same stuff as mentioned here.......flour, sugar, cereal and even pudding items. I put my pasta in the fridge or freezer when it comes home from the store as well as my sugar and flour. Haven't had problems during the winter but just found a few the other day so they're back. Will try the bay leaf suggestion as I'm always looking for non-toxic ways as I have kitties and one is my problem child.............always into stuff she shouldn't be.

Suz

I prepare for these "visitors" in the spring before the hot weather by putting all of my flour, etc. items into plastic bags. You only have to have this problem once before learning to prepare. I found that I could not return my goods to the pantry for several days, as these pests seem to find a spot to hide. I had to have a whole day w/o their appearance before I felt it was safe to restock.

junipergal

Oh My!! Between this blog and the wive's tale blog - what a great way to start the day!!
Thanks to everyone for taking the time for comments!

Sdwill

The last time I had them, it was the Jiffy Corn muffin mix. A few months ago DH and I were grocery shopping and I needed some flour. i went to pick some up and there were weevils crawling all over the outsides of the flour bags. I told DH we were going to have to go shopping at another store. I reported it to a store manager on my way out the door but it took me months before I would shop there again.

janjj

I do believe the bay leaves work. My sister bought enough whole wheat flour for 2 batches of her bread. Put the last 1/2 of the buy in tupperware. 2 weeks later she went to use the remainder and her tupperware container was like a sieve. The buggers had found their way out!
For the tiny grease ants that sometime I find under the kitchen sink. I put some whole cloves down and have never had any problem with them since.
Regular ants - I sprinkle baby powder and they disappear you can also use diametatious earth (sp) That is also safe for a person to eat and it will kill parisites you have. Pretty amazing.

quilter68

Had these critters once. Just had moved to another house, not an old house. But an old lady lived there and took in borders. Oh well. Threw out every thing including the spices. Little, little bugs come in spices too. Then I vacuummed the cabinets. Never had any bugs again. I do keep most of my dry goods in the fridge or freezer. This was in 1973, a long time ago.
I still think I will put bay leaves in the cabinets now because I am in an end unit townhouse. There are 5 houses on this block. Who knows? I lived on a farm so a mouse now and then does not bother me. If I ever see a roach I will sell and build new.