I had a huge slug problem…they were sliding up my kitchen cupboards at night – a 60p hack stopped them coming inside
THE long-awaited arrival of summer might make Brits happy – but it also often comes with slimy slugs taking over our homes and gardens.
Luckily, fans of the cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch – also known as Sophie Hinchliffe – have come to rescue once again with a purse-friendly hack that tackles the pesky pests.
Slugs and snails are common garden animals, and they are well suited to the damp, mild climate of the UK.
Although only a few species feed on garden plants and some could even be considered a gardener’s friend, there’s no denying that these pests can be a nuisance and annoying.
One person who certainly knows a little about this is an anonymous Facebook user who took to the popular Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It page to seek advice after their new property arrived with ”a huge slug problem”.
Seeing if fellow members of the group had any tips and tricks, the person explained: ”I’ve never ever had to deal with this before but it’s really getting me down.
“I come down during the night and there’s 10 [slugs] sliming my kitchen up.
”Nothing feels clean and they’re really starting to get to me.
”I have slug repellent but has anyone got any idea that have worked for them?”
According to the frustrated Mrs Hinch fan, they’ve been ”relocating” the slugs outside – however, to no avail, as this solution also hasn’t worked.
Luckily, lots of homeowners and gardeners were on hand to share tried and tested solutions.
A common solution was to use salt.
”Put salt round door at bottom any pipes that come into house,” one suggested.
“Look under your cupboards, they also squeeze in flat so use expanding foam or good filler for even a slight gap.
”Salt works,” another agreed, praising the budget-friendly hack which should cost you around 60p.
”Salt around all your door frames,” someone else was raving over the affordable kitchen remedy.
”I have slugs in my passage that come from vent bricks through the wall and come out in the stairs. I’ve pulled all the carpets back and put loads of salt down, seems to have stopped them.”
Why do slugs want to come inside?
Dr Gordon Port, senior lecturer at Newcastle University explained: “Slugs are extremely flexible.
“Even though most have a small shell (or internal shell), they can fit through most small holes, such as the small holes that may exist around pipework.
“However, they can also come through the gaps under doors,” said
However, if you spot a snail trail across your kitchen in the morning, don’t spend too much time looking for the guilty pests in question.
As explained by the expert, Science Focus reported, a slug is likely to exit your property during daytime – and then ”as soon as it gets dark, they’ll become active again”.
”Most slugs and snails only travel a few metres each night.
“And to help them find their way back to the same house each night, they’ll follow the scent of their old slime.”
Why having slugs in your garden is a good thing
Yes, they chomp your precious plants, but having slugs in your garden should be celebrated.
Rebecca Miller, Associate Editor for Fabulous, and novice gardener, believes we should work in harmony with slugs and not try to get rid of them altogether.
“We’ve been conditioned as a society to believe we must have gardens with straight edges, short lawns with pretty stripes and perfect borders with flowers constantly blooming.
But unruly hedgerows, abundance of tall wildflowers buzzing with insects, and bugs and slugs galore in flowerbeds is totally natural – and necessary.
I understand that your plants might be very precious to you, but we need slugs and snails. They provide food for all sorts of mammals, birds, slow worms, earthworms, insects – and they are part of the natural balance.
By removing them, we upset the ecosystem and can do a lot of harm – thrushes in particular thrive on them!
It is said British Gardeners use some 650 billion slug pellets per year! Please find a natural alternative – the poison from slug pellets enters the food chain and can kill hedgehogs, who consider slugs and snails as a tasty treat.
If you’re truly desperate, consider using Diatomaceous Earth – it is a naturally occurring compound approved for organic use, that can be used for pest control.
And while you’re at it, challenge yourself to grow “sacrificial plants”.
Sacrificial planting, commonly known as trap cropping, is the deliberate act of growing plants to attract pests. Pick a slugs favourite vegetable or ornamental plant for them to nibble on, and they will leave your more precious plants alone.”
Other slug repellents to try
Salt not working?There were also plenty of other tips and tricks people swore by, including using your morning cup of coffee.
”Coffee ground (free from Starbucks) all round any entry points. It’s safe and nontoxic,” one fan of the brew claimed.
Meanwhile, another member of the popular page advised to try out a different bevvy – beer.
”Put some beer in a container so they can crawl in. They love beer… then throw it out. No more of them.”