Mothagedon
It all started with a rotten sack of potatoes.
Actually, it goes back a bit further than that, to our dryer vent getting clogged again.
For several reasons that are too long to go into, but involve my husband being suspicious of duct cleaning companies, we’ve been letting our dryer vent directly into the laundry room. Which is also our pantry.
Along with all the lint, dryers also expel a lot of humidity. Besides making our walls a bit mushy, it also dampened some of our food, and sent a bag of potatoes straight to hell.
Mom: You know that horrid smell in the kitchen I’ve been complaining about?
Me: Yes?
Mom: I found out where it was coming from. It was the potatoes! Thank goodness they were in that plastic tub, because they were practically melted into goo. But that’s not the worst part. They were covered in MAGGOTS.
Me: Maggots? Wha?
Mom: Yes! I was dry heaving the whole time. Everything got bagged up and put directly into the trash.
And then she dry heaved again at the memory.
I have never been more happy to have my mom living with us. Bless her heart for being the one to find, and clean up, that mess. It made having a cold and no sense of smell seem like a God send.
It also shed some light on the moths that had taken up residence in the pantry.
Me: I bet that’s where the moths are coming from!
Mom: Those things are really hard to get rid of. I cleaned out the maggots, so I’ll leave the moths to you.
That seemed like a totally uneven trade. In my favor. So I just nodded and went to bed, thinking that it’d be an easy job to tackle the next day. How hard could it be to get rid of a few moths, especially after their breeding grounds had been eliminated? So far sucking them up with the Dustbuster had been working just fine.
A few days later the moth population had exploded, completely taking over the laundry room/pantry and overwhelming my vacuuming abilities. I knew it was time to finally take care of business when I went in to change a load of laundry and got dive-bombed by hundreds of moths, several trying to enter me through my nostrils. I sputtered and flailed my way out, shrieking to Gilberto to come help me.
Cleaning out that damn room was harder than I’d ever imagined. Not only did we have to remove every item and wash every surface, we had to open up every single container to look for cocoons. I opened a brand new box of cereal and a moth flew out, straight into my mouth. If I come down with some weird disease in the next few months, it’s probably from that moment RIGHT THERE.
There were cocoons under cans, in boxes, in bags and in the cookbooks. There were even a few inside the blender and coffee maker. There must’ve also been some inside the back of the washer or dryer, because despite our efforts, within a few days the moths were back.
I do have a very nice looking pantry now, though. Filled with hidden worms in cocoons, but nice looking all the same.
So now I’m thinking that my mom definitely got the better end of the deal.
And as for getting rid of the moths, perhaps fly tape will work? Though I’m partial to bleaching that room from top to bottom and just buying a new washer and dryer.
Yikes! That sounds like a bad horror movie! How did one get into a closed box of cereal???
Umm…perhaps it is time to vent the dryer somewhere OTHER than your living room?
And I’d suggest a bug bomb.
Aunt LoLo recently posted..That’s What He Said
I’m still re-reading that part about the moth in your mouth.
My mouth itches.
I will come back to comment properly after I dry heave.
San Diego Momma recently posted..The Sprint Navigator Experience
Venting directly into laundry room – oogh, so not good. Maggots and moths… well, I think maggots are actually supposed to be a really good source of protein.
Makes me think about the three cocoons we’ve got stashed on our kitchen shelf, waiting for the magic to happen a few months from now…
What about moth balls or cedar? I also just read online that bay leaves work (make your own sachets using panty hose!). Good luck! I can’t wait to hear the outcome. Oh, and they will burrow into food containers, so even closed boxes will have cocoons/worms/moths inside.
Time to fix the dryer vent situation, huh?
O.M.G I near died reading this post. Have you considered just selling? LOL! I would have gasped in horror and called pest control and maxed out my Visa. Girl, you are a brave soul.
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Ack! I’m going to start dry heaving just reading this. I’m with Natalie, I would have a For Sale sign on the door the next day, lol.
It reminds me of a similar situation we had…. visiting in laws who love red potatoes & feel every house should have at least one bag on hand at all times so they apparently buy (and hide) a bag before they leave. Months later we’re saying “honey, what’s that smell in the kitchen?”
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I am completely horrified at the thought. Have you considered burning it all down and starting fresh? *shudders*
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Oh. My. God. I’m with Natalie…I don’t think I’d have moved, but I’d certainly have needed to have a tantrum (Outside the pantry. With the door closed tight.) That sucks wide…it’s up there with those little beetles that show up with the flour.
Jenny Hansen recently posted..4 More Cowbell-ish Things
Oh.my.gosh. I am still cringing…and in your mouth??? aaahhhh!!!!
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Moths are like sisters to butterflies… I couldn’t really hurt one–even if I accidentally got a taste.
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OH MY GOD I HATE MOTHS. The only thing I hate more than moths are wasps. I guess there’s that consolation, at least you’re not breeding wasps in your house? Yeah, this post was horrifying, and the photo is going to give me nightmares. Best of luck to you getting rid of all that. Bleah.
Ugh. I think I’m more grossed out by the “potato goo” than the moths. Moths I can handle, but stinky food slime? Gah!
That reminds me. I have to clean out some of the containers in my fridge. I’m scared.
I’ve tagged you as a winner of the “Versatile Blogger” award on my blog. Hope you don’t mind.
http://thetaoofme.com/2011/10/04/the-versatile-blogger/
Peg
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And now you’ve just had me throwing up behind your washer and dryer–virtually. I hope the moths are expelled from their garden of earthly delights soon.