Since we have moved into our new home, we have discovered that there is plenty of products we can't live without, or new habits we need to strictly observe. Our home was not well kept by previous tenants and when we arrived it was a tropical zoo, lizards, cockroaches, an every now and then mouse, grasshoppers, and all sorts of insects I have not seen before, suddenly were part of our household. We soon discovered that cleanliness is only partly a method of keeping our home just to ourselves. Closed windows help as well. Nevertheless, we are below the tropic of cancer so certain living beings are inevitable. But we have implemented a few rules which help reduce the occurrence of our little friends;)
Since insects and roaches easily enter cupboards and drawers, at first we would wash everything (plates, cutlery, cups) right before using it, even if it was just washed recently and put in place. Soon we realised this habit is cumbersome and difficult to follow a l w a y s . But we do keep our utensils in zip lock bags, a few cups and plates for daily use are stored in a plastic cake cover and basic pots and pans ended up in a large see through click close storage box.
Other habits we had to take on involve never leaving any sort of food out in the open, including unbegun fruit - I personally really dislike eating straight out of the fridge - so fruit I foresee to eat in the next day or 2 are kept in a clay bowl with a lid. Dishes with any food remains (even if it's just bread crumbs) should never be left in the sink. And although I have never liked a full sink, now it's not about aesthetics, now it's a bit of paranoia that any minute food might invite little hungry insects.
The most difficult habit to follow is the closed windows:( we have AC, but a part from it being unhealthy, apparently electricity is very expensive here on the island. Plus it seems so illogical to sit in a closed room, when we live in the Caribbean on a hill with plenty of nice cool wind. In fact, when the windows are open, as they're are on opposite ends of the living room, we can get the house perfectly breezed through with no effort, never feeling the above 30 degree weather outdoors. The minus is, this is how all the little living beings enter. We plan to find out if there's a provider of net doors on the island. As it seems the most logical solution, yet it's a solution I have only seen applied in 1 of the many houses we visited during the house hunt.
But I still like the turquoise views...Since insects and roaches easily enter cupboards and drawers, at first we would wash everything (plates, cutlery, cups) right before using it, even if it was just washed recently and put in place. Soon we realised this habit is cumbersome and difficult to follow a l w a y s . But we do keep our utensils in zip lock bags, a few cups and plates for daily use are stored in a plastic cake cover and basic pots and pans ended up in a large see through click close storage box.
Other habits we had to take on involve never leaving any sort of food out in the open, including unbegun fruit - I personally really dislike eating straight out of the fridge - so fruit I foresee to eat in the next day or 2 are kept in a clay bowl with a lid. Dishes with any food remains (even if it's just bread crumbs) should never be left in the sink. And although I have never liked a full sink, now it's not about aesthetics, now it's a bit of paranoia that any minute food might invite little hungry insects.
The most difficult habit to follow is the closed windows:( we have AC, but a part from it being unhealthy, apparently electricity is very expensive here on the island. Plus it seems so illogical to sit in a closed room, when we live in the Caribbean on a hill with plenty of nice cool wind. In fact, when the windows are open, as they're are on opposite ends of the living room, we can get the house perfectly breezed through with no effort, never feeling the above 30 degree weather outdoors. The minus is, this is how all the little living beings enter. We plan to find out if there's a provider of net doors on the island. As it seems the most logical solution, yet it's a solution I have only seen applied in 1 of the many houses we visited during the house hunt.
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4 comments:
Anti-Critter directions Island style
Screens are very important.
ACE in Cole Bay and possibly also in the other location sells screen doors.
Take measurements to make sure you have standard doors.
Builders Paradise on the road to the hospital might have them as well.
One Stop Screen shop makes screens to size (for the windows), make the measurements yourself and carry with you.
Close to Grand Marche supermarket but on the road into St Peters, more or less across from the former Texaco just after you pass the roundabout.
Building used to be painted white and green.
Address: One Stop Screen shop L.B. Scot Rd.3 Cul de Sac 542 5076 (phone book)
It is a small place. It is possible that it does not exist anymore.
There is aluminum and plastic netting as you call it. Plastic comes in grey & black and sometimes white & green. The turquoise views can be enjoyed as soon as you step out.
All our windows have screens,we have 2 screen doors as well.
With screens a standing "fan" should be enough @ night. No AC needed, except maybe on days whith little wind.
http://www.victorpest.com/store/product.asp?dept%5Fid=53&pf%5Fid=M690&mscssid=J8961P4DFNBU8NJ5F2H33UCEG4FA0MNF
We bought this today @ ACE, our back porch is like a room with no front except for bars.
Off and on we have a resident rat!
They exist for mosquitoes as well.
http://www.alwaysbrilliant.com/aa/aspx-products/1-163/2-42469/SC-FROOGLE/bb/Bug%20Zappers.htm
With a couple of batteries the yellow tennis racket look alike (in the link), often even available @ small supermarkets, works fine in case of a too close for comfort mosquito attack.
Mosquito nets for beds available in different places. This morning I found them upstairs in the department like store, more or less across from the library.I did not inspect them closely.
The other side of the store comes out on Backstreet. It used to be pink and green on the outside but now?
The roach killer & ant killer squares available @ most supermarkets work fine in kitchen and bathroom for a short while. Instructions on the box.
TIPS
Keep toilet covers closed, close wash basin/face basin & shower runoff and the kitchen sink at night. A plastic throwaway cover is not hard to find.
If you still find too much critters after placing screens and other measures call in the pest control.
People often do when moving into another house.
There are way too much critters in your house. You will encounter unwanted critters in your house every now and then, but keeping dishes and utensils the way you do is unusual. However cleaning them before use again is not uncommon.
Some fruit, bananas for instance, cannot be kept in the fridge. Keep some fruit out if you like just not in front of an open window screened or not at night!
c, you're amazing!...you sound as if you have an sxm-anti-critter phd haha;)I'll probably be moving away by the time I implement all you're suggesting. Thank you!
Actually there is more but a lot of things do not require a lot of effort if you do not plan to remain here.
After a while it becomes a way of life.
Eliza in your case you might have to find out were the mice come from I hope they did not take up residence in your house.
Your roof if not solid might be an entrance of critters too.
Too much vegetation close to the house can harbor many things.
If you keep clothes that have to be washed in a clothes hamper with holes, put a clear plastic bag in it first.
At least things cannot crawl in from below in between your clothes.
Shake out clothes before you put them on, check under the pillow and under the sheet before you get into bed.
Expect critters under potted plants indoors! Lift them often.
Something to look at.
Many doors do not fit snugly; you might have to check if there is space under/above the door when it is closed or in between sliding doors. There are different solutions to all off that. Things as simple as using crumpled aluminum foil, adjusting hinges, rubber “strips” under the door with or without hairs etc.
Lizards are your friends actually; find a way to put them outside alive!
Sometimes a broom will do, or a plastic cup with sturdy but thin, flat see-true material.
(Some package material maybe)
Place cup over the critter. Slide said material under cup and critter,
Turn over; keep material on top of the cup.
Step outside and release the critter.
:D Let’s just say I had to deal with a couple of critters myself during the years.
Bringing in a huge frog for instance in a still moist shirt. It jumped around my bathroom and finally in the toilet. We “fished” it out of there with a little net.
Island life can be a lot of work and is never dull!
Thank you so much C!
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