Not sure she is an expert on ticks, so take this advice with a grain of salt:
HINTS FROM HELOISE
By Hints From Heloise Tuesday, October 24, 2006; Page C10
Dear Readers:
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, there's a good chance you have some logs stacked outside, and there's also a very good chance that there are bugs among them! To make sure you keep the bugs out when the logs come in, here are some simple hints:
1. Keep the wood outside in the cold until you're ready to burn it. Many insects that lay dormant in the cold suddenly spring to life when they enter your nice, warm home. So it's best to toss the logs right on the fire when you bring them in the house.
2. Also, store cut wood in loose stacks away from the house, off the ground and under cover to keep it dry. If you use a tarp, make sure there's space between the tarp and the wood for air circulation.
3. Firewood can also be stored in a sealed box or container, so long as you spray the container with insecticide and let it dry thoroughly before putting the wood inside.
4. Never spray the wood itself! When burned, pesticides can release poisonous gases.
P.S. Stay warm during the cold winter months and be fire safe, not sorry, when it comes to your home and family.
Posted by MagicAcorn (Member # 8786) on :
Also don't leave gloves for stacking wood on the wood pile. Keep the gloves in the broom closet in the house. Brown reclusa spiders like to hide in the darkened finger tips. Ouch!
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
I have centipedes because the last tenant left firewood on the back porch, right in front of the door. The rental agency thought I was crazy when I told them to take the firewood away.
Centipedes may be pretty harmless, but I don't care to share my apartment with them.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I used to live a few miles from Heloise! We saw her once in a restaurant. Couldn't miss her with that beautiful white hair!
Posted by jggrl (Member # 9470) on :
Ewwwww....I really really really really REALLY hate insects. Especially spiders and, now with all this lyme stuff TICKS. Reading all this made me squirm. But it was good info. Thanks! And Cave: Thanks for the info about the ants....I think if a bunch of flying ants fell through my ceiling I might just be traumatized for life! Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Hi,but when buggs are hanging on there you can watch them panic when putting the wood on the fire.
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