Tenting for termites: It’s the ultimate pantry purge!
From
Beverly Mills
| November 09, 2010
In Coffee and Convo, Photo Gallery
If you get termites in Florida, it's bad news. Your house gets "tented" and filled with deadly poison. You've got to move everything edible out -- every last crumb!
Here's how it went down:
With 3 days to go: I pack up the pantry and pile the bags in the kitchen floor.
With 2 days to go: Bags in the floor go in the back of my car. I pick up a key from a neighbor's empty house and start schlepping bags of frozen foods through the neighborhood streets. Ah-ha moment: I thought I was managing the foods in my freezer, but I end up throwing out a huge garbage bag of unidentified stuff.
With 1 day to go: Out go the refrigerated items -- and the shocker: My refrigerator shelves are filthy!
The afternoon before: I pack up all of our medications, toothpaste and anything else I can find that goes in your mouth. Last-minute shocker -- I seem to have hidden chocolate bars in every drawer in the house!
The night before: My husband and I pack for our two nights, three days in the hotel.
The morning of: I bag up all of the dog's food, medications, treats and send her off with the pet sitter. Since I can't be at home, I head out for a day's worth of errands.
Afternoon of: I swing by to take photos of our tent-covered house, but photos really don't do it justice. It's breath-taking to see your abode looking like an old-fashioned circus grounds.
Evening of: We head out for what we termed our great reward for all this work -- two nights in a hotel with a great pool!
Two afternoons later: I clean my refrigerator top to bottom, and while my husband unloads the car, I put everything back in the pantry. Then it's on to the neighbor's refrigerator/freezer.
Suddenly my food world seems so clean and organized. Wonder how long it will last?!
Comments
From Alicia Ross - November 09, 2010
OMG - I'm sure the photos don't do it justice, but WOW is all I can say. My pantry (cabinet) was organized the first month I moved into my new rental, but it's been down hill since then. The rest of my pantry is on open shelves for all the world to see, so I keep it pretty tidy. The refrigerator and freezer have stayed pretty neat, but I think that's because there's only me living here now...I figure the cupboard can wait till I move again.
From Beverly Mills - November 09, 2010
As the husband in this tragedy, I have to admit that Beverly did most of the work -- and it was not a small job. I was there when the time came to move back in, and that was enough to convince me that you should do anything to avoid termites. But the hotel trip was nice and it did force us to confront some of the forgotten corners in the kitchen. --Anders
From gwen rhodes - November 10, 2010
my daughter had to have their place tented about 3 yrs ago...what a lot of work. I admire you and Anders for the re organizing...and it will definitely pay off when you go to sell...eh?
From Beverly Mills - November 10, 2010
From Andrea W. in North Carolina, via email: Sorry those critters drove you "buggy" --- so to speak. Love your website with the recipes. Am going to make the Greek soup tomorrow for our church supper.
From fruit baskets - November 11, 2010
Cut all the leaves and bushes in a way that is at least 18 cm away from the house to make room for the tent termite.
From OHSue - November 12, 2010
I have never heard of this! I have seen houses tented for other vermin, but for termites they drill around and stick stuff in the holes in Ohio.
From Phoenix Criminal Defense - November 25, 2010
They must really be concerned about termites in Florida, because I have never heard of such a thing either. As you said, at least it was good motivation to clean out your refrigerator. In my case, its typically a move that causes me to clean that good.
From Chicago Car Accident Lawyer - December 06, 2010
I thought they only did this type of tenting in the movies! I love the picture of you relaxing and of the clean refrigerator. Haha! I had a boyfriend with OCD and he had to clean the refrigerator top to bottom every few weeks...needles to say we are no longer together. Thanks for sharing your ordeal and I'm glad it came out nicely in the end.
From Adam Greenwood - January 05, 2011
Just wanted to comment and say that I really like your blog layout and the way you write too. It’s very refreshing to see a blogger like you... Keep it up. Thanks 
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From Camilla Cover - November 09, 2010
How terrifying that this may be the only well my pantry shelves will ever be reorganized!