Maybe you have noticed some insects in your pantry, trying to invade those jars and bottles of spices that you have. Well, it is undeniable, if there is food, you will likely see critters whether these are moths, bugs, ants, or even small beetles. Spices in your pantry are prone to such pests, and if this happens, they can contaminate them and even result in food spoilage and degradation. As a household owner, you do not want this to happen, so here are some tips on you can prevent these from happening:
Inspect Before Buying
Before you add that to your shopping cart, check on the packaging itself. Make sure that the product is sealed tightly and that there are no holes caused by insects or inappropriate sealing of the product from the factory itself. It should be free from any damages.
Store in the Freezer
Put your spices in the freezer, it can also add up to their shelf life. Put the spices that are newly bought in your freezer for 4 to 5 days, then you may bring it out and place it in your pantry. Exposing it in a cold temperature can kill whatever is in there due to the extreme temperature inside your fridge.
Use Clove
Clove is a known herb for its therapeutic effects, but aside from this, it has also been proven to act as an insecticide for pests like ants, fleas, and roaches. Because of its fungicidal and herbicidal properties, clove oil is used in insect repellants. You can put a little amount inside your spice cabinets and it will drive away these pests.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another remedy that is easy to make is the use of apple cider vinegar. It has been known to be an effective repellant for fleas. You can make a fly catch if you want to get rid of gnats by using a deep container, put an amount of your apple cider vinegar, and see no flies in your pantry. If you do not have an apple cider, then you can prepare vinegar with cubed apples and put them together in your fly trap container.
Matchbox
If you are using a match, you can actually make use of it to protect your grains from weevils, as they contain sulfur. These pests do not like the sulfur smell so the next time you use a match, keep a few in your spice cabinet.
First in, First out
If you are buying in bulk and you stock up your spices, you keep in mind to follow the first-in, first-out rule. Always use or consume first the old ones and keep them at the rear of your cabinet.
Use Airtight Containers
If your grains, nuts, and dried fruits come in plastic packaging, it will be safer to transfer them into air-tight sealed containers like glass jars or canisters. Do this also with spices or ingredients that come on boxes or foil packs. This is not only preserving opened food but keeping them safe from any foreign object or pests, for this matter.
There are more home remedies you can make to prevent all these pests from your spice cabinets or spice racks. One good advantage of this is once you know what remedy works for a certain type of pests, you can also use it in other areas of your home where you think pests are present. Besides, you are after your family’s health so you do not want these pests in your food in the first place.
