Entries Tagged as 'Pests'

Preventing an Attack of the Cave Crickets

April 26th, 2008 2 Comments

It’s Retro Saturday where we post a blast from the Home Ec 101 past.

Dear Home Ec 101,

I have cave crickets in my house. These things are nasty. Luckily, the cats make sure they are quickly turned into cave cricket carcasses. I’m wondering, though, if this indicates a problem of some kind with the house (gaps that need closing, etc.).

Signed,

Lemony Crickets

stripey-shirt.JPGIvy says:

I had to go look up cave crickets, because I don’t believe I’ve seen them before. Yo, those suckers are nasty. I also read somewhere that they are a good source of protein. Keep that in mind if you are ever starving.

At any rate, they are likely coming into your house through little gaps or cracks somewhere. The most common places pests come into your house is through service conduits like cable, phone, electricity. Check those areas where they come into the house and if there are any gaps there, seal them up with caulking or expanding foam.

Remember to check your dryer vents, and if you have a window air conditioner, check to be sure there are no gaps or cracks. I have read that cave crickets like cool, dark areas like basements. If you have a basement, examine the walls and windows carefully to make sure there aren’t any cracks or spaces where they are coming in.

Finally check the seals on your doors. My back door has a small gap where ants like to come in every now and then. It’s on Mr. Ivy’s honey-do list, but it has low priority, so we will probably move before we get that gap sealed. Hopefully Mr. Crickets will be better at tackling his honey-do list than Mr. Ivy is.

Please submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

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De-Flea

September 27th, 2007 5 Comments

Dear Home-Ec 101,

My boyfriend has recently gotten bug bites, mostly on his right arm but other places as well (legs, etc.). They are small, red, and itchy. Smaller than mosquito bites. I haven’t gotten any. He thinks they happen more on a particular couch, but it’s hard to pinpoint (the bed and a computer chair have also been suspected). He can’t catch them in the act, and we haven’t seen anything.

So we think they’re fleas, but we’re not sure. We don’t have pets or any reason they would be here, but who knows (neighbors have cats, and we live in an apartment building). We’ve read a little about bed bugs but feel like we would see those…

What’s the best way to deal with this? Preferably without having to remove our dishes somewhere while we wait 4 hours? I don’t mind bug bombing, just don’t wanna have to worry about all my plates and stuff…

Anything we can do right away and cheaply to get my boyfriend relief?

I’ve searched the internets so far for help, but it’s confused, usually sponsored by some pest company trying to sell me something I’m not sure I need, and usually pet directed… we have no pets and want to figure out if these bugs are living ON my boyfriend or what?! Eww!

I figure I’m getting bit as well but just don’t have a reaction to it or whatever.

Signed,

Scratchin’ in Scranton

retrochick.JPG Ivy says:

It definitely sounds like you have a flea infestation. The reason your boyfriend has bumps and you don’t is because some people are allergic to flea bites and other people are not. I’m not allergic to them, either. Better them than us, eh? ;)

Since you don’t have pets, flea removal is going to be slightly easier. I have two cats and a dog, and when we got fleas a couple of years ago, I went ahead and went the flea bomb route, because I wanted to knock it out as soon as possible. If you do go the flea bomb route, you’ll need to make sure you are vacuuming really, really well, and make sure you wash everything you possibly can in hot water. Curtains, area rugs, everything.

I don’t think you will have to go the flea bomb route, though. I did a little research and found this nifty contraption on Amazon. It’s a flea trap, and the reviews are largely really good, and it’s priced right, $16.

I’d probably get a flea trap and then vacuum the absolute heck out of everything in my house. Make sure you are taking the vacuum bag (if you have one) entirely out of the house immediately after a vacuuming session. You can even put the bag in a plastic bag and put it in your freezer to kill them all before you take it outside. If you have a bagless vacuum, empty it outside directly into a trash bag. Seal the bag and throw it in your dumpster (if you have one).

Wash everything that can possibly be washed in hot water. Take the sofa cushions out and put them in one of those giant plastic bags and leave it outside in the sun. Then vacuum the entire couch really well again, making sure to follow the bag procedures outlined above.

I think that’ll take care of it! If you do get a flea trap, let us know how well it works, it looks neat. I totally want one, except I don’t have any fleas (knock on wood).

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Gnat Killa

August 28th, 2007 6 Comments

Dear Mavens of Fabulosity,

Our family went on a 3 week vacation only to come home to flock of little tiny gnats in the kitchen. The sink was clean, dishwasher clean and empty, but alas they were there and from where, I don’t know. I cleaned the sink again with Clorox.

We don’t have a disposal, so that was not the culprit, and the garbage was empty. I’m still not sure where they came from. We did the ole’ bait and spray to get ride of them. Placed a bit of ripe banana on a paper plate on the counter and when they came to rest on the banana we fumigated them. We got rid of them all, for about 2 weeks, and now they are back with a vengeance. Suggestions on how to rid my (mainly kitchen) of the little menaces? Thanks!

Signed,

“Gnat” more flies!

Wink Ivy says:

Oooh, I’ve had the same issue before, it sure is annoying. Putting gnat heads on tiny little stakes doesn’t work. I’ve never found stakes small enough for a gnat’s head, that’s part of the problem.

The first thing you need to do is find out where they are coming in from. Check to make sure you don’t have any windows open, then make sure there are no cracks or other ways they could possibly be getting in. If you find nothing, they may be living in your plants. Otherwise, try putting all your fruit except bananas in the refrigerator. Keep bananas in a covered bowl.

There are a couple of ways to kill them. Heather leaves a sink filled with soapy water every night, during gnat season. The gnats are attracted to the soapy water and will drown themselves in there.

I like to leave a bowl of white vinegar out half-covered with plastic wrap. I change out the vinegar every couple of days. Eventually all the gnats should die. Just make sure you keep places they can come inside closed, otherwise they will keep reinfesting.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Answers to some of life’s questions

March 13th, 2007 3 Comments

stripey-shirt.JPGIvy says:

Kathy T over at Where’s the Mute Button asked us some questions. We at Home-Ec 101 are here to help, so here’s where I answer those questions. Kathy’s questions are in bold:

1. How to clean up *shart-stains.

In case anyone was unaware, shart stains are those brown stains that mysteriously appear in one’s underwear when one gets a bit too exhuberant with their gas expulsions. According to Kathy, this is not a problem for her. Sure, Kathy, we believe you. Spray N Wash is the best way to deal with this embarassing issue.

2. Can you vacuum out your fireplace without ruining your vacuum cleaner?

Not really. If you’re talking about cleaning the actual chimney, this is one of those times I’d probably go ahead and spend the money to have a professional clean it. I remember my mom and dad cleaning the chimney themselves when I was a kid, and it was so nasty. This is one of the reasons I don’t have a fireplace. As far as cleaning out the fireplace after you have a fire, you’re going to need to use a broom to get all the ashes out. Possibly Heather has some chimney/fireplace cleaning suggestions she can add to this post .

3. Cleaning your duct work.

Shop vac with a long cord and a long hose.

4. Attack of the lady bugs… is it murder to annihilate those devils?

Ladybugs are attracted to light colored houses, so paint your house black. If you can’t bear a black house, try burning a lemon scented candle, I’ve heard that works. I have a friend whose granny would use a shop vac and vacuum up those suckers. That’s probably the most humane way. I’m with you on the ladybugs, I tend to get hordes of them. Man, they’re annoying.

5. How to make fancy ice cubes (if lady bugs were edible, we could freeze them in the middle and that’d look pretty).

Buy fancy ice cube trays, of course.

Little known Ivy fact: I don’t keep ice in my house. I never use ice, so I don’t waste space in my freezer on it. If I need ice, I run down to the gas station and buy some.

6. How to clearly mark you pillow so your husband doesn’t want to steal it.

My mom and dad used Sharpies to write their names on their pillows. There’s nothing more amusing than seeing pillows marked “Mystery Lady X” and “St. Mark”. Of course, if your husband is an active pillow thief, try wiping boogers on your pillow. That should stop him.

7. Is once every three years enough when cleaning stuff on the inside of curio cabinets?

Martha would not approve, but as far as I’m concerned, if you can’t actively see the dust, you’re golden.

8. What to do with those leftover Christmas decorations you find around the house throughout the year to keep from climbing up into the attic.

Throw ‘em away.

9. Giant inflatable rabbits. Help us convince the world how wrong those are.

I can’t even begin to start on the wrongness of giant inflatable rabbits. Save the vinyl! Don’t buy giant inflatable rabbits!

10. Invasion of moths. WTF is that all about? I’ve never seen more moths in my life than what we have here. I guess mothballs is the simple answer, but they smell so bad.

bug-zapper.jpgBug Zappers aren’t just great for killing bugs- they are fun entertainment for the entire family!

As you can see, we even answer stupid questions! Send your stupid questions to us today, by using the “send us email” button in the sidebar!

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