How to Get Rid Of Pantry Moths (Indian Meal Moths)

Pantry Moths (also known as Indian Meal Moths) are incredibly disgusting creatures. They get into your household pantry, and propagate in all of your food. Their larva will hatch in the food sitting on your shelves, and the larva worms will inch their way into many other food sources.

They are incredibly hard to get rid of when you do not know what you are doing. I hope my horrible experience with these creatures will help you get rid of pantry moths quick.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time
• General Cleaners

1. First the gross part. Kill all the living moths you see. They have really charcoal colored "guts" so do not smash them against your walls. If you do, just wipe the guts off. A great strategy is to have a small piece of toilet paper or tissue, and quickly "pinch" them off your walls and ceilings.

2. Next is the food check. Every single package that is not INCREDIBLY sealed must be checked. Bags of noodles, grains, flower, corn meal, beans, popcorn, chocolate, chocolate chips.... Everything. Canned goods are pretty much the only safe thing.
   
   Many things that are not even opened these bugs can get in to. Leave nothing unchecked.

3. Use a flash light when checking. Look in the bags thoroughly for any signs of either worms, moths, or tiny webs. If you see anything that looks like a tiny web holding up a few specks of grain/flower etc. in the bag, THROW IT AWAY! It's a terrible waste sometimes.

4. If you find items that you determine as "clean" put them in a container that is air tight. A bucket, space bags etc. Again, canned goods are almost always safe. Do not leave any item unchecked. This step is so you can quarantine certain items in case you happen to miss a clue that it is infested. These bugs are VERY tricky.

5. Remove all things from your pantry shelves. Wash and clean the sides of each can, and use environmentally safe cleaner on all shelves. Replace all cans back on the shelves.

6. Keep all open items, grains, starches, flour, corn meal, chocolate of any type in quarantine for as long as you can stand it. Keep them air tight and sealed. Sometimes the moths go to other parts of your home, and try to return at night. Give them no place to re-propagate themselves!
   
   Good luck! These bugs are annoying!

Tips & Warnings

• Remember your food ends up in your pantry. Use a safe non harsh cleaner. Steam the shelves if possible.
• These bugs tend to "hatch" in offset times. So you may think you are out of the woods when you don't spot one, then a week later you may see one. They can survive on very little. Be sure to keep your things in quarantine & sealed before getting tricked!