Well, when it is rainy and cold we have mould to contend with. When it is hot, it brings other challenges -- not the least of all is hot temperatures inside. Upstairs is usually ten or 15 degrees hotter as heat rises. So, it is helpful if everyone could please be compassionate and develop some new habits.
KEEPING IT COOL INSIDE
Keep outer doors closed as much as possible. Keep windows closed and the blinds drawn shut during the day when you are not here. It will make such a difference. By the time you get home at night, the weather almost always cools down and it is a relief to open the windows and get a breeze through the house.
On the weekends, when it is really hot, keeping the doors, windows and blinds closed keeps the radiant heat (from the sun) out. It helps keeps the hot wind out, too.
ANTS, ETC.
Ants and flies and sometimes spiders, but mostly ants come inside during the heat for two things: food and water. They don't dive into a dish of water typically, but will look for little bits of water that has been dropped or a tap that is leaking.
And food. Keep the counters wiped clean especially of anything sweet. It is time for everyone to take time to look at what they have in their food cupboards (well not Geroge, because I think he still has no food in there):
· Take everything out
· Put about 1/4 cup of vinegar in warm water (the blue ice cream plastic container under the sink (where the garbage bags are stored) is what I use).
· Then wipe down the shelves, sides, doors (inside and out)
· Let it completely dry inside - leave the doors open
· Before putting the food back in the cupboard, wipe the bottoms and check the lips and around the lids of any glass jars or plastic containers to be sure there is no spilled sweet, sticky stuff to tempt ants
· Put opened food in plastic or glass containers or use clothes pins to shut the packages tight or rubber bands or plastic bags (grocery bags are good and if it is something small, there are ziploc bags that you can use to protect your food..
· It may be a good time to check to see if everything is still fresh.
· Then put everything back in.
· Keep alert if you see little ant armies moving around or even a couple "scouts".
· Ants love sugar, honey, fruit juice, candies and syrup.
· If you spill some, it is not enough to just wipe it up loosely. It is sticky so you need to use a little soap or Windex and a paper towel to ensure there is nothing sticky to step in (such in front of the garbage bin)
· The container next to the kettle, by the way should be no problem because it dispenses a teaspoon at a time and is "closed" otherwise.
· When you use sugar, honey, syrup be sure to wipe the lips and tops of the bottles to get all the drippy bits.
· Finally, ants are clean creatures, so you just have to shoo them away (move the object where they are feeding) and they will leave - but not if they can find something to eat!
Spraying around food should not be done. It can make you sick and Mandarin to be kind to. Most bug sprays are toxic for pets (cats especially track through it and do not realise and then lick their paws).
OK, stay cool and safe!
