CasaSugar

Do You Use Fly Tape?

CasaSugar — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:30:56 -0700

While absolutely unsightly, sometimes fly tape is necessary, especially in spots like porches and decks. Do you use it in your home?

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DIY: Organic Fly Trap

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:13 -0700

If you don't feel like spending your endless Summer chasing flies around with a swatter, a fly trap may be more like it. I recently came across a DIY for making an organic fly trap, and since this season goes hand-in-hand with the little pests, I decided to summarize it for you. You should have most, if not all, of the supplies already in your home.

Supplies:

A two-liter soda bottle (used)
Sharp knife
A wire hanger
Match, lighter, or stove gas flame
Electric tape
Bait (like a small piece of meat or dog poo mixed with water!)

To hear the steps, read more.

Remove the bottle cap.
Cut through the bottle a third of the way down.
Place the bait in the base of the bottle (the bottom two-thirds).
Invert the top third of the bottle, and slide it into the base.
Tape the two pieces of the bottle together.
Bend some wire into a U shape (for hanging), with ends angled inwards.
Heat up the ends of the wire, and bore two holes into either side of the bottle by pressing with the hot wire.
Make sure the wire is securely hooked into the bottle.
Now, hang your fly trap and relish in fly-less, chemical-free bliss!

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How-To: Get Rid of Fruit Flies

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:37 -0800

It's not even the holidays and I already have house guests. Fruit flies. They've taken over my kitchen, and as much as I clean and toss out my produce, they continue to return. They're no doubt laying eggs somewhere. Gross. But thankfully I've found a quick solution for zapping those little buggers that uses household supplies, and doesn't require any toxic pesticides. To hear the steps, read more.

Here's how, from Susie J:

Fill a narrow-necked bottle (try a Corona or Cuervo) with a bit of apple cider vinegar, banana, bread, or red wine. This will act as bait, and they will fly in.
Around the top of the bottle, and inside the neck, rub some liquid dish soap, honey, or vegetable oil. This will prevent the flies from making their way out, as it will be too slippery and sticky.
Leave the bottle for a couple hours, and you should have trapped the flies.
Microwave the bottle to kill any eggs they may have dropped. Make sure there is no metal on the bottle.
Repeat until all the flies are gone.

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How-To: Get Rid of Moths in Your Kitchen

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:30:27 -0700

I just discovered a moth infestation in our kitchen. While I can handle a lot of creepy crawly things, finding moth worms in my nut mix is not okay. It turns out that in warmer climates, infestations like this are very common. In fact, it's unusual that it's taken me this long to get overrun by moths! While researching ways to send them packing, I came across some very handy how-to advice, which I've compiled here.

To find out how to get rid of moths if they've invaded your kitchen, read more.

Here's how to get rid of those pesky winged invaders, courtesy of How To Get Rid of Stuff:

Identify all of the places where the moths are present.
Clean these areas exceptionally well.
Remove all items from the areas.
Vacuum every surface, walls, shelves, cabinets, carpet, etc.
Scrub hard surfaces with a mixture of hot water and detergent. Scrub every inch because moth larva can attach themselves in even the tiniest of spaces.
If the shelving is removable, pull it out and clean the edges and walls around it.
Clean every surface that comes into contact with food, including your spice rack.
Follow up the scrubbing with a vinegar rinse. Either put some white vinegar into a spray bottle, coat, and wipe, or apply it directly to a cloth and wipe everything down.
The moths are likely originating from one or more of the food items previously stored in this area. Throw away every grain-based food item - even if it appears to be sealed well. Also dispose of nuts, raisins, flour, and tea.
Any remaining food containers and items should be thoroughly cleaned with the same detergent/water solution and vinegar rinse before returning to the freshly scrubbed area. A single egg or caterpillar left hanging onto something can start this whole thing all over again, so be thorough.
Kill any moths left flying around in the air. You can do this with a fly swatter, or use moth traps.

I'll be attempting all of these cleaning changes this weekend, and I'll let you know how it goes! Do you have any other ideas for getting rid of kitchen-lingering moths?
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Roundup: The Best of Endless Summer

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:30:28 -0700

So long sweet August. Your time has come. But, I won't bid you adieu without a little reminiscing. Here are my favorite posts celebrating this month's Endless Summer theme:

Casa Quickie: Bring Summer to Your Fireplace

Don't worry, we'll be back next Summer with more wonderful tips. Until then, stay tuned for September's scholarly theme!
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