How to Keep Bugs out of Flour

Have you ever opened the flour jar or bag to find little bugs? No matter how tight the seal seems to be on your flour container, these sneaky little insects find a way in. Here's how to rid your flour of these pesky pests once and for all.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Freeze your flour. It sounds weird, but the freezer will not adversely affect it. There is no moisture in the freezer, so there are no clumps.

2. Spread bay leaves around your kitchen. This natural bug repellent is an old wives way of keeping the critters away.

3. Identify your bug. Sometimes it takes a little investigation to rid your flour of bugs. Flour and grain weevils are not harmful; but you can avoid them by making sure you use a container with an airtight seal.

4. Clean out the entire closet, pantry or cupboard when you find moth worms. Make sure to apply a food-safe pesticide after you clean.

5. Discard all products exposed to cockroaches because they carry disease. Check with a pest control company for the best course of action.

6. Make sure that you clean spilled flour and other foods at all times. This can help prevent most bugs. Be sure to clean under the shelf paper when cleaning out pantries.

[desisears]

on 2/28/2009 they are in the flour when you buy it they are eggs and hatch with time. it is gross but freeze it when you buy it asap. and sift your flour. the eggs are smaller then the grain of flour. so this is why you dont see it.sift it bag it in a zip lock and freeze it as soon as you get it. it can get in cereal and oat meal. any grain. best of luck

[MagickMomma]

on 11/21/2008 Never thought to freeze my flour, but thanks! And I will try the bay leaves, too. Also, I have a book called "Grandma's Critter Ridder", it may have more info, too.