arowland17 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 We got a flitrap as recommended on here and after about 2-3 weeks it was almost full so we had the unpleasant job of emptying it yesterday. Just to warn anyone that ever has to go through this I have never known a smell so horrific, it is far worse than those big sewage pumping trucks - I put the OH in rubber gloves and stood from the other end of the garden as he tried to empty it into carrier bags while trying not to vomit!! the bags were knotted and put into at least 5 more bags each of which was knotted but the whole garden stunk it was so awful! Put it this way, we're going to buy a new container each time it needs replacing now as we can't go through that again!! was extremely unpleasant and I'd advise anyone that is near to emptying their new one (as a few people were thinking of buying them on the post I originally read) I get a new container then just bag up the whole thing and chuck it!! They're an excellent little contraption but very unpleasant to change!! If anyone has been more successful in emptying it we would be glad for advice but think binnign the whole thing would be simpler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Flitrap is good isn't it - but they don't half stink! I got 2 & put one in my kitchen on top of my high cupbords & just under the kitchen conservatory roof. BIG MISTAKE Within a few hours it was terrible, & of course we didn't realise it was the Flitrap,so were hunting around for a rotting mouse corpes that the cat had brought in. We almost pulled all the units out,when The Hubby spotted the Flitrap! The smell got to me so badly that I couldn't use the other one either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 my goodness, after the smell yesterday and that was in the garden with quite a breeze I can't imagine what it must have been like having it indoors! It must have been awful!! It's amazing how such a small container can make such a stench, we were really shocked and extremely glad the bins were collected this morning!! Glad I'm obviously not over-reacting about the smell, it really was terrible but they're really good things, our garden is almost fly-free as they are all around the flitrap and don't settle on the fences / patio / chicken run anymore at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I shall look forward to cleaning mine out then...it is looking pretty grim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I shall look forward to cleaning mine out then...it is looking pretty grim. me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 yes it's very unpleasant - and while you're desperately trying to knot up the bags of dead flies a lot of them continue to fly into the open and stinking flitrap still!! would recommend spraying some fly killer through the holes in the top to stop the swarms flying back out when it's opened - we didn't have any at home and had to empty it before bins collected as we couldn't leave it in the bin for the next 2 weeks (good old fortnightly rubbish collections!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 At work I occasionally have to deal with horrible and peutrifying smells and stuff (details ommitted, this is a family forum) The trick I use to deal with the smell is to get a dust mask (from DIY stores) and smear Vicks on the inside of the mask. Works wonders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 10, 2007 Author Share Posted September 10, 2007 good idea, we may try that, or should I say the OH may try that next time he has to clear out the flitrap!! he may refuse after last time though, in which case we'll probably resort to just buying a new container! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Whilst I agree the smell is disgusting, I always wash mine out like this and don't have too much bother. I get a bucket of hot soapy water with another empty bucket with a weight in it ready. I collect jars, plastic containers with lids, Whittard tea containers with lids etc. I take the lid off the flitrap and quickly place the other container over the top. Holding both containers together, turn them upside down, so that the flitrap is now on top and hit the bottom until everything has fallen into the other container. Once this is done, quickly take the flitrap off and place the lid on to contain the stench. Put the flitrap in the bucket of hot water and weight down with the other bucket. I leave this to soak over night and then soak again in a fresh lot of soapy water. Then either refill or leave to dry in the sun. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 12, 2007 Author Share Posted September 12, 2007 what a brilliant idea about collecting things with lids - I keep small jars with lids to dispose of excess fat from cooking so it doesn't block the drains but will try and keep bigger things now - maybe a coffee jar would be a good size thing to empty the flitrap into. excellent tip there, I'll let the OH know before the time comes round for cleaning it out again, although we've had a lot less flies now the weather's cooler so with a bit of luck it wont fill up quite so quickly this time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I have just cleaned mine out. Oh Boy! The smell is unlike anything I have ever encountered before. Definitely an outside job. The container was heaving with dead flies, so it really does work. For some reason I find myself fancying an Eccles cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 eh??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Egluntine: I know just what you mean, except that it's Garibaldi biscuits that spring to my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 In the book I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Garibaldi biscuits are called squashed fly biscuits! That's the old fashioned name for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 oh, I've always known them as squashed fly biscuits!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Ooooh....I haven't had a garibaldi biscuit for about 20 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Do they stll make those biscuits lol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Yes! yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
