Post by bonnylake on Sept 25, 2010 21:05:18 GMT -4
Killing Mold and Removing Small Pests - without spraying!
You can use the "Oven Method" without pre-freezing if necessary!
To kill mold - on books and other non-washables. Put them in a waterproof bag and leave them in the freezer for a couple of weeks. Then let them thaw (open) in the sun. For really bad mold you may have to repeat the process.
If sun exposure isn't an option for thawing – do it in the oven!
Heat the inside of the books/papers up to 122 degrees, the outside needs to be hotter. I would put it at 130, and let it go for a while. I wouldn't go above 140. Paper doesn't catch fire until it hits 451, but it'll brown long before that. There's also the glue that binds the books, which may be damaged by too high heat.
1) Make sure nothing gets near a heating coil.
2) Keep an extinguisher handy.
Book-mites, Fleas & Bed Bugs
Use the freezing process for book-mites, fleas, and any other pests that get into non-washable areas. If the items they have invaded will fit into a waterproof bag and then into the freezer then do it that way, this method should kill them and any eggs left behind.
Thaw the items in the sun if possible - if not then try this oven method - It takes less than 1 minute at 122 Fahrenheit to kill bedbugs (they might not die in that minute, but it does enough damage to kill them). Eggs may take longer.
At least try this before blasting your small items and bedding with bug-spray.
Problems with ants
Vinegar wipes out their ability to smell ant trails. Clean the surfaces where you have seen them with straight vinegar on a small hand-towel or sponge.
You can use the "Oven Method" without pre-freezing if necessary!
To kill mold - on books and other non-washables. Put them in a waterproof bag and leave them in the freezer for a couple of weeks. Then let them thaw (open) in the sun. For really bad mold you may have to repeat the process.
If sun exposure isn't an option for thawing – do it in the oven!
Heat the inside of the books/papers up to 122 degrees, the outside needs to be hotter. I would put it at 130, and let it go for a while. I wouldn't go above 140. Paper doesn't catch fire until it hits 451, but it'll brown long before that. There's also the glue that binds the books, which may be damaged by too high heat.
1) Make sure nothing gets near a heating coil.
2) Keep an extinguisher handy.
Book-mites, Fleas & Bed Bugs
Use the freezing process for book-mites, fleas, and any other pests that get into non-washable areas. If the items they have invaded will fit into a waterproof bag and then into the freezer then do it that way, this method should kill them and any eggs left behind.
Thaw the items in the sun if possible - if not then try this oven method - It takes less than 1 minute at 122 Fahrenheit to kill bedbugs (they might not die in that minute, but it does enough damage to kill them). Eggs may take longer.
At least try this before blasting your small items and bedding with bug-spray.
Problems with ants
Vinegar wipes out their ability to smell ant trails. Clean the surfaces where you have seen them with straight vinegar on a small hand-towel or sponge.