Pest-free Flour Bins

QUESTION: I have an old-fashioned flour bin that is ideal for storing flour and other cereals, but I can’t seem to control weevil. Are there any solutions? Mrs. H. Chamberlain, Orderville, Utah

ANSWER: It is difficult to keep old-fashioned flour bins completely free from weevil. One method for getting rid of the pests is as follows:

Empty all food from the bin. Wash the bin well with soap and water, and wash the storage area under and around the bin. Rinse well and let dry. Wash or spray the bin and the area around it with an insecticide. Let the insecticide dry, and then wash the bin again with soap and fresh water, rinsing well, to prevent contamination of the grain with the insecticide. When it is dry again, replace the food in an additional container such as a paper bag, a plastic bag, or a cardboard box. This will provide added protection from weevil.

If weevil are already in the food, the containers will isolate it from spreading to other food.

It is helpful to seal the flour bin with a permanent calking compound. This closes off cracks and holes where bugs can enter or hide. This should only be done after the bin is bug-free and before replacing food. Kay Franz, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Brigham Young University