Lately, a couple of our customers have been dealing with pantry moths. If you have ever had them, you already know what a nuisance these little pests can be.
You may notice one little moth flying around the kitchen and not think too much about it. Then you see another one. Before long, you start wondering where in the world they are coming from.
Unfortunately, the answer may be sitting right in your pantry.
Where Do Pantry Moths Come From?
Pantry moths, often called Indian meal moths, can come into the house in food that is already infested. That means having pantry moths does not necessarily mean that your kitchen or pantry is dirty.
They can turn up in flour, cereal, rice, pasta, oatmeal, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, baking mixes and other dry foods. Don’t forget about dry pet food and birdseed, either. Those can be easy places to overlook.
Once they get established, they can spread from one food product to another.
Finding the Source
Getting rid of the moths you see flying around is only part of the job. You need to find where they are coming from.
Take the food out of your pantry and look through it carefully. Check opened packages, but don’t automatically assume an unopened package is safe.
Look for small larvae, webbing, clumped food or anything else that just doesn’t look right. If you find an infested product, the safest and simplest thing to do is throw it away.
And keep looking. There may be more than one problem package.
Give the Pantry a Good Cleaning
Once you have removed the food, vacuum the pantry thoroughly.
Pay particular attention to corners, shelf edges, cracks and little spaces where crumbs and food particles can collect. Pantry moth larvae can wander away from the food before becoming adult moths, so don’t limit your search to the food packages themselves.
After vacuuming, clean the shelves thoroughly. I would also suggest making a 50% solution of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray all the cracks and crevices, then let everything dry before putting food back.
This is one of those jobs where being thorough pays off.
Store Dry Foods in Sealed Containers
One of the best ways to prevent another pantry moth problem is to change the way you store foods that they like.
Instead of leaving flour, cereal, rice and similar foods in cardboard boxes or thin bags, consider putting them into glass jars or sturdy plastic or metal containers with tight-fitting lids.
This does two things. It helps keep pantry pests from getting into your food, and if you happen to bring home a product that is already infested, it can help keep the problem contained instead of allowing it to spread throughout the pantry.
I also like the idea of keeping pantry foods rotated. Use the older packages first instead of letting things sit forgotten in the back of the cupboard. It saves food, saves money and gives you a chance to notice a problem before it gets out of hand.
What About Pantry Moth Traps?
Pantry moth traps can be useful, particularly for helping you determine whether moths are still present.
But don’t depend on the traps alone.
If there is an infested bag of flour, cereal, pet food or something else hiding in the pantry, removing the source is what really matters. You can keep catching moths, but more will continue to appear as long as they have somewhere to reproduce.
Don’t Forget the Unusual Places
If you have cleaned out the pantry and the moths keep coming back, start looking elsewhere.
Check the dog or cat food. Check birdseed. Look through nuts, dried fruit, spices, baking supplies and packages that haven’t been used in a long time.
Sometimes the source is something you would never have suspected.
A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way
Pantry moths aren’t the worst household problem you can have, but they certainly can be aggravating.
The good news is that you can usually get them under control by finding the source, getting rid of infested food, cleaning thoroughly and storing your dry foods in good sealed containers.
And the next time you see one of those little moths fluttering around the kitchen, don’t just swat it and forget about it.
It might be a good time to take a look in the pantry.
For help keeping your home clean and manageable, learn more about Driscoll Cleaning.