How to Get Rid of Weevils From Kitchen Cupboards
Weevils, a type of beetle, live on grain plants such as wheat, rice, and corn or maize. The weevil's life cycle makes it difficult for humans to detect an infestation in a bag of "clean-looking" grain, as weevils not only eat grain but also use it as a breeding ground---laying eggs inside of individual grains for offspring to eat after birth and during development. As a result, even without detecting adult weevils, you can still have an active infestation in your home. Do not despair---with the right cleaning supplies and storage containers you can easily get rid of weevils and stop future infestations. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White plastic bags
- Scissors
- Vacuum cleaner
- Mask (dust reduction style)
- Gloves
- Disinfecting cleaners
- Bucket
- Water
- Sponge
- Cloths
- Paper towels (optional)
- Grain storage containers
Instructions
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Cut two white plastic bags along their sides with the bottom uncut to make two large pieces of white plastic. Place one under your cupboards and one on the floor nearby. The white plastic not only can catch but also easily show any debris and weevils that come out of the cupboards as you clean.
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Put on your mask and gloves, and throw out the infested grain. Vacuum up any loose grain, and also vacuum around all of the remaining foodstuffs in the cupboard.
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Remove all foodstuffs from the cupboard where you found the weevils and from surrounding cupboards. Weevils can move between cupboards through cracks. Check for infestations, then move the non-infested food to an area away from the cupboards.
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Vacuum thoroughly the cupboards once more--especially any cracks or narrow spaces---then immediately get rid of the vacuumed debris by disposing of it in a sealed plastic bag.
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Combine your water and a kitchen-safe bacteria-killing disinfectant, following the manufacturer's instructions. Soak a porous sponge, squeeze out excess water and wipe down all cupboard surfaces, including ceilings, walls and exteriors, as insects such as weevils can leave behind bacteria and feces harmful to humans.
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Wait 10 minutes and wipe again with clean water and a clean sponge to remove any cleaner residue. Air-dry or dry with a clean cloth or paper towels.
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Dispose of the white plastic sheets and sponges in a sealed bag.
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Store the remaining foodstuffs in airtight plastic or glass containers that have rubber or silicone seals, such as those at Lock & Lock or the Kitchen Conservatory. A seal guarantees that weevils born in a bad batch of grain can't contaminate or infest any other cupboard or pantry containers of grain or foodstuffs. In addition, the seal guarantees less work disposing or cleaning up after any future infested batches.
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Tips & Warnings
To prevent future infestations from unseen weevil eggs, check grain before storage and throw away any with tiny holes in individual grains or with sticky grain clumps. A sponge with pores can catch any remaining weevils in the cupboards better than a non-porous one.
Always check your plastic bags for holes or tears before use. Don't use diamond-textured bags to dispose of insects, as the diamond design can contain holes. Never eat infested grain. Weevils carry bacteria harmful to humans that can cause severe illness after ingestion. Never use insecticides in your kitchen unless the infestation has moved into other areas of the house or the walls. Call a professional instead to clean the areas. You can create a health hazard when using or attempting to clean up insecticides without proper training.
