https://www.bin-store.com/blog

Have you ever had to deal with pantry moths? Nothing is more disgusting than opening up your pantry to find that your dry goods are crawling with worms. Whether you are in the food storage and transport industry or you are simply looking for a solution for your own home kitchen, you might want to think about the food storage containers you are using.

When it comes to controlling pantry moths, there are a few steps you need to take to kill an infestation:

• Pull everything out of your pantry and wipe your shelves, walls, and floor down thoroughly with soapy water and vinegar.
• Throw out contaminated dry goods (or put them in the freezer for a week to kill the eggs).
• Throw out food containers that aren’t sealing properly.
• Wash the quality bulk food containers bins that you have.
• Wipe down your shelves with peppermint oil or sprinkle some bay leaves to discourage future infestations.
• Wait a week to make sure the infestation is dead before putting everything back.

As I just mentioned, if you have plastic food storage containers with lids that are not closing properly, you will need to get rid of them. It is all too easy for moths to sneak in and out of your dry goods. Whether we are talking about bulk dry food storage containers or small containers for home, you will need to replace them with boxes which seal properly and completely.

Thankfully, in many locations pantry moth infestations are not a common problem. Many people go a lifetime without ever seeing a moth or larva in their pantry. But if you live in a place where pantry moths are common, you may very well find that it is a continuous struggle to deal with them.

Going forward, the best steps you can take to prevent future infestations are:

1. Thoroughly inspect any jars or cans you buy and place in your cabinet. You might even want to wipe them down. It is common for eggs to be stuck to the outside of the jars and cans.
2. Freeze new dry goods for at least one week before transferring them to your pantry. This will ensure that any larvae and eggs currently infesting them are dead.
3. Clean out your pantry regularly. Yes, it’s a pain, but it needs to be done.
4. Only use top quality food storage containers which seal!

You may balk at the idea of throwing out storage containers that no longer seal—and you shouldn’t! There is no need to throw out old food containers at all. They can easily be repurposed. Donate them to thrift if you no longer want them, or find other uses for them around your home. Like other types of clear plastic bins, food storage boxes are very versatile. You may find that they now work great for organizing your office supplies or your sock drawer. Invest in new storage containers for your pantry. It will pay off!