Kinda embarrassing question

[jjspigland]

Ok so I'm going to suck it up here. I really want to make the most of couponing and stockpiling. First I must win the battle with DH and get him to realize that I *AM* shopping smart. Second (embarrassing part), we commonly get mice.

So, the question is to you stockpilers, what methods do you use to keep pests out of your boxed and bagged grocery products? Couponing and stockpiling isn't going to do me a bit of good if I can't use it.

[bunnynugget305]

Been there! Done that! NEVER going back!!

I had the same thing happen to me with mice! I had just started couponing, and I didn't even have proper shelves! Just a shelf with no slip stuff on it. I had bought some noodles. Wacky Mac. They don't come in a box, they come in a plastic bag. Well.... I was reorganizing, or putting stuff away, or geting something to eat, whatever! I pulled the bag off the shelf and made the discovery. A mouse had eaten its way into the bag!I was freaking out!:hectic1: Not that I am a germ-a-phobe, but mice are pretty dirty! So what I did was I put the mouse trap on the shelf. I figured that way the next time he went up there to eat my stockpile... SNAP!!!! Problem solved! Well I did place several traps around the basement and that also helped. Also I do have a cat... HOWEVER she is NOT a mouser. She will not catch and eat the mouse. No, she will play with it! Then when the playing gets to rough, it dies, then she will skin it, and leave it for me to find!But when you can, use hard, plastic, clear containers for your stockpile! Keeps bugs and mice out! HTH!

[gctattoo]

Thankfully, we don't have a mouse problem here. *knocks on wood* But being FL, there are plenty of ants and creepy crawlies who love to get into food. After a tragic episode with an unopened box of Cocoa Puffs, I turned to plastic-- plastic containers for cereal, flour, sugar, etc. And anything and everything else encased in ziploc storage bags. If ants would ever want to eat it, it gets sealed up.

HTH!

[nateNnatsmommy]

I have to admit, a part of me wants to read more about this

After a tragic episode with an unopened box of Cocoa Puffs

[3timesoccermom]

I think you are very smart to ask this BEFORE you have to toss any of your hard-earned bargains. No need to be embarrassed - those critters can get in through the smallest space.

So, the question is to you stockpilers, what methods do you use to keep pests out of your boxed and bagged grocery products? Couponing and stockpiling isn't going to do me a bit of good if I can't use it.

[enginerd]

We live next to the woods and occasionally get mice also - especially in the fall. We leave D-Con out all the time and it always gets eaten. A couple of times we have found a dead mouse inside - I figure better that than them eating up my stockpile. Once in a while I will find something chewed on and I have to throw it away but not very often considering the huge stockpile I have. Be very careful with D-Con if you have dogs or young children. Our neighbors dog once came into our basement and ate some D-Con - we called them and told them but as it turned out he didn't eat enough to get sick.

[CSchunk]

When I was a kid if FL everything went in plastic containers as soon as it came into the house. That is going to mean an initial larger investment in your stockpile though, but I would check garage sales and thrift stores for storage needs. Also, rotate and check stuff often that way you can catch any problem early. Best of luck!

[3timesoccermom]

One tiny tip - if you can find the clear plastic containers you'll be able to see the contents without opening it.

[jennifermevans]

Here are pics of a stockpile that uses plastic containers. I thought about using them just for the dust factor. My DH sands stuff in the basement and my boxes get all dusty!

to1drland's stockpile pics (updated pics Feb. 2010- post #12)

Please let me know if I'm not allowed to put up this link!!

[jjspigland]

Thanks all! Thought I'd report back that I bought some of the big ziploc type bags at Dollar Tree to get me started. Have my eye on some plastics, I want airtight and I'm thinking of these. Pet Food Storage Containers - Van Ness Plastics, Inc.