Do-It-Yourself Pest Eradication Not For Everyone

Fri., June 4, 1999

Tom Skierka Correspondent

The long, mild, wet winter created a huge insect infestation this spring. You probably already witnessed a few clues, like black and red ants in the popcorn bowl, bugs in the VCR, spiders in the sock drawer (shudder) and squealing spouses screaming, “Kill it, but not in the house!”

Unless you like big, fat, ugly, squirmy roommates, (wow, I just had a flashback) the time to spray the foundation is now, while the children are still in school. You can pay for the service by calling Senske, Terminix or others to get a professional job done and to avoid dealing with toxins. But if that is your bag, it’s cheaper to buy a home kit. According to Ward Johnson of River Ridge Hardware on Garland, you can get a gallon tank for around $15, a year supply of diazinon for $8 and a mask and rubber gloves for $3. This should last all summer and through the fall. Put a few Mr. Yuk stickers on the tank and store it way, way out of reach of small children. Do not spray into the wind and put the pets in the garage. Johnson also recommended using a bug bomb to kill the ones that are already in. It’s a great excuse to take the kids to a movie, and make sure you keep all food covered.

Real tape doesn’t quack

If you are thinking about solving a duct problem, do not use duct tape. According to the May issue of Men’s Health, duct tape isn’t reliable for that purpose or anything long-term, except perhaps hostages. The best solution, according to the article, is a gooey sealant called mastic, which you paint and let harden. It’s available at most hardware stores. Oh, and it’s duct tape, not duck tape. (Well, maybe everyone didn’t know that.)

If I had a putter, I’d putter in the morning.

Here are a few hints for Father’s Day. When shopping for a gift, think of something untoolish. Just because Dad does most of the home improvement stuff and likes to fill the tool box, it doesn’t mean a tool is the perfect gift. It’s about as sentimental as a toaster oven or blender for Mother’s Day. Fellas, help me out here. If I am not mistaken (I generally am, so I have been told by the Mrs.) part of the joy of taking on a new task is buying a new tool. And, after all, the best improvement to any home is happiness. So e-mail what you really want for Father’s Day to tjs106@aol.com.

Three chairs and a table for me

I hate buying furniture.

I take that back. I hate furniture shopping, especially now with three kids. It is darn near impossible to make a selection with much thought. Proof: I have a white couch and love seat. Now there are several Web sites out there for home shopping, but this new one is fantastic. Furniture.com takes all the agony out of shopping and keeps it at home. It takes the “R” out and makes it fun-iture. Click on www.furniture.com and discover the hardest part of shopping online is spelling furniture.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.