Slugs!
From time to time I have a problem that’s fairly simple to solve, but I’ll ask my good friend chatGPT for help first. Mostly to ensure I’m going to do the right thing, but also because I find some of the suggestions to be amusing. Especially since the recent personality “upgrade“.
We have been having an issue with slugs invading the kitchen at night and I asked for some advice on some deterants. The results where pretty much what I expected, but the beginning and the end took me a little by surprise.
Asked:
We have a real problem with slugs in the kitchen how do I get rid of them
Answered:
Ah, the dreaded kitchen slug invasion — slimy, silent, and somehow always appearing like they’re halfway through a secret mission. Let’s sort it. Here's a no-nonsense plan to evict the little trespassers:
🕵️ Step 1: Find the Entry Points
Slugs are basically burglars in slow motion.
Check for gaps: Look under door frames, around pipes, floorboards, and even vents.
Use flour or talc: Sprinkle a line near where they appear at night. Their trail will reveal their route.
🧽 Step 2: Make Your Kitchen a Slug-Free Zone
Slugs love moisture, food, and dark corners — like that one drawer even you avoid.
Do this:
Clean thoroughly: Crumbs, pet food, even damp sponges are a buffet.
Dry out: Slugs need moisture. Keep the kitchen dry — especially the floor and sink.
Seal gaps: Use caulk or draft excluders. Even steel wool in tight crevices can help.
🧪 Step 3: Slug Deterrents (No poison needed)
You don’t need chemical warfare — just some strategic defenses.
Natural deterrents:
Salt – cruel but effective. Sprinkle outside around entry points (not inside — it’s messy).
Copper tape – gives slugs a tiny shock. Line it near entry points.
Coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, or grit – slugs hate crawling over rough stuff.
🪤 Step 4: Set Traps (if they’re still coming in)
Cheap, gross, and effective:
Beer traps: Bury a shallow dish with beer near where they enter. Slugs love it, fall in, and… well, never crawl out.
Upside-down melon rind or cucumber: Leave overnight. Slugs hide underneath. Collect and relocate/dispatch in the morning.
✅ Bonus Tips:
Check under appliances — slugs love the warm, damp hideaways.
Consider putting diatomaceous earth near entry points — it’s like crawling over glass to them.
If it’s really bad, consider calling in pest control. Some infestations need reinforcements.
Want a cheeky printable “Wanted: Dead or Slimy” poster to stick on the fridge? I can make that too.
Sadly I couldn’t print out the wanted poster, much to my daughter’s disappointment. While irrelevant to the task at hand it’s things like this that make using chatGPT just a little bit nicer. Now if only I didn’t have to go and fact check everything it told me.