What’s another name for hot dog slingin’ weather? Bug weather.
Although we don’t usually see a big bee and wasp problem until fall, the flies come out all season long.
Your dogs and buns are usually covered with lids or bags, but what about your
condiments?
Nothing turns off a customer faster than seeing a fly meandering across the chopped onions.
Nasty…
And how about bees and wasps? Let’s face it, the only thing worse than getting stung on the job is when a customer gets stung!
What do you do about flying insects? Let’s share some tips on how to control them or better yet, get rid of them altogether.
-Steve
They have a new clip on bug repellent. It’s made to repel bugs, mostly mosquito’s, but if you can find a spot to clip this on. It may come in handy. Also a mini battery powered fan. Pointing at your condiments to repel flys from landing!
I know it sounds “tacky” but we put out bug strips. They are the most sanitary things there are, and most pest control consultants will provide you with some. But the easiest thing to do is just pick them up at WalMart, they come in peelable strips that just hang down from your affected areas, and they stick right to them… They have some scent that will lead those pests right to them. Then they are literally “OUT OF YOUR HAIR!” Not to mention the whole, offer of a quarter for every fly someone kills! My employees will kill 4 flies a day on average, so that is about 5 bucks for 20 less flies that my customers have to deal with in the restaurant! And at worse, just laugh! The pests are there with or without your customers. And so are your customers there with or without your pests. As long as you are trying, they see that and understand that they are a natural occurrence in summer months. Not much more you can do but try to work around them.
We live in Phoenix so this is actually a year round problem, but we read somewhere on the internet a while back that dryer sheets will deter bees. We tried them in and around our cart and in our chip basket and it did seem to work. I think the strong perfume smell somehow worked. It’s certainly worth a try!
A ziploc baggie with water and three or four pennies in the bottom will keep them away. It makes the flies dizzy with the water and reflection. If your cart is stainless try just putting a baggie of water. Just tape above the condiments. With the stainless and water it should give the flies a real DISCO effect because flies have so many eyes. Thanks
Living in NH it even becomes a bit more complicated as we have six seasons of the year; Spring, Mud Season, Black Fly Season, Summer, Fall and Winter. We are now in Black Fly Season which runs form Mothers Day until Fathers Day, not sure why. The Black Flies are the worst and the only way to protect yourself is to wear netting on your head and over your clothing. We are used to that “get up” this time of the year and then we dress in camo the rest of the year.
I disagree about the bug strips, they are just plain dirty, they look dirty and customers don’t like dirty. I have had some problems with bees but I just took a little relish and put it on the ground about 15 feet from my cart, the bees found it and problem solved. My condiment tray is covered which helps. I use the Prodyne Condiments on Ice, Acrylic 5 compartment Service Bar with Ice Chamber Below. (Recommended here, thanks Steve). Works great and my wife found them on line real cheap. They don’t bounce too good and I have broken two of them by droping them but I mark that up as getting old and slow. Nightime events are the worse for bugs down here, I had one and the bugs just about carried off my Doggs, they were very large bugs. We made it, I told my wife that we were just providing a new condiment next year bill it as “Surprise Toppings” Red Necks will love it. We like Suprises!!Michael “Duggs Doggs” Good!! Good!!
Here in New England, the bees seem to be more interested in getting IN to something. They explore every hole left open around the burners and soon find it to be too hot to bother. I have chips in the small sealed packs, relish in a covered dish (too near the heat for them to bother) and nothing seems to bother with anything else. The ketchup and mustard are the only open condiments and they’re in squeeze bottles. I occasionally wipe off the tops to remove any temptations. The breeze off the lake does the rest. Lakeside lunch/CT
I use a condiment holder sold by San Jamar. It has a roll top lid that I keep closed except when preparing an order. They have several models and will hold ice. Retail is around $40 and will hold 4 different toppings.
I think flies hate the heat as bad as we do. My location is out in the hot sun and the stainless on my cart heats up with the sun hot enough to keep flies from hanging around too long. Keepting the cart and bottles wiped down with a sanitizing solution helps a ton also.
What about pre-package condiments? yes or no..
I also found that the water in a baggie DOES work. There are several eateries here in Columbia, SC that have them up and when asked why? They said “to keep the bugs away”.
As far as i know “Fly Strips” are completely against all health codes.
I’ve used those mini disco balls when I lived in AZ (lots of flies year-round down there), or I’ve used clear sandwich bags with water and crumpled balls of tin foil inside to deter the flies. I suppose that Christmas ornaments might work too, but I’ve never tried those. I got the mini disco balls from an arts & crafts store in town, not sure if they still have them, but they may be found eBay or similar online stores.
Move to Northwest Indiana. Wind blows so hard that the bugs can’t land. just one rule of thumb when it comes to bugs here. Don’t look into the wind and smile
I found something at Tractor Supply for flyes it works iam in FL<so welcome to fly city it cost 6.00$ but wow no bugs you put water in it. I hang it under my table an bye bye. also citanella is great.
What about pre-package condiments? yes or no
Gary the answer is NO, if I was to use pre package condiments I would just send my customers down to the local 7-11 were they can get a .50 hot dog, plus who is going to pick up all those little packages, remember service, service, service….
I don’t have much trouble with flies as long as I keep things covered and wiped down with bleach water. I do have problems with bees and yellow jackets. I use a spray bottle with water and Dawn dish soap. You just spray them and they die almost immedietly. And since it is just dish soap it is safe to use around the cart. Of course, just don’t spray any food!
Mark, what ratio do you use for the water and dawn dish soap. Sounds like something I would use.
Thanks for the tip.
The water bag thing… Please explain just once more. If I got it- What I will end up with is a ziploc bag of water with a couple pennies in it, place that on my work area and no more flies? Really?
I work at UF in IT for Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. I am building a HD cart myself and was just reading the email now I wave 30 sec. of free time to do so.
Try Red Cedar chips, the fragrant wood is popular for repelling insects. Also spraying a fine mist of a cheap generic brand of Listerine into the air will keep them away for a couple of hours depending on the air movement. Also fans do work great.
Sorry fly strips work but I wouldn’t buy any food from a place that I could see them. Maybe if they were in a decorative wood box hiding the stip.
I will be building my E-Z Built very soon. I just ordered it 3 days ago. I am REALLY REALLY lookin forward to being a member of the Dog Slingers Community 🙂 And I just want to say T-Y T-Y T-Y for all of yalls advice. However… Nikos, no offence but i agree with the others… FLY TAPE ON A FOOD CART….YUCK!!! I would Not want to see it on a cart I was buying from and it Will Not be on mine.
P.S… I cant express enough how much I appriciate this web site. Thank You Very Much Steve:)
The waterbag thing, HUGE SUCCESS. It really works. This site is truly the best information for Hot Dog vendors. I can’t tell you how much good information is exchanged. The entire community is filled with great people. Steve you are the best!
God Bless
Dean
I use a San Jamar but also find that a cup of diced onions about 10-15 ft away really helps draw them away.
I will be out there soon with a cart, thanks to Steve. I live in Florida and some of the flys are like B52 Bombers, When the kids were small we would have birthday partys in the local parks, and believe it or not, just a couple of small zip lock bags filled with just water placed around the grill area and a couple on the tables, and that was it, you enjoyed your food. Except when a pallmeto came around, then you grabbed the kids and ran for your life.(just kidding) the water bag is your best bet. Thanks Steve your the best. Pat.
IT WORKED FOR ME!
Ok, just saw this and I can testify to the fact that I was a “victim” of bees and bee stings. After being stung and having to go to the hospital due to my arm swelling up to 1/2 more than its usual size; a Customer siggested putting out a cup of bleach. Huh??? Great as long as kids don’t get near it or nobody drinks it!
I now use a spray solution, you mix up bleach at 200PPM and yes you can smell it! Put it in a spray bottle and atomize it. I spray it all around the outside of my umbrella at time of set up, the food prep counter areas, and the exteriorof the cart area. This is enough to repell the bees and the wasps, and it is sanitary too!
Thanks a lot of Great Ideas Mick
I’ve been slinging for a few years now. It was great seeing the different ideas on repelling pests. I’ve never tried the water bag w/coins yet. I might try that this season. Thanks for all the good ideas. Much appreciated.
Papa George
Fans fans fans!!! I’ve done many many Festivals. With 20 other food venders flys bees blood suckers are out in abundance. I use an EZUp 12×12 over my cart I use two heavy duty fans to blow away the bugs. That’s nasty customers see that and even if your super clean and they know your super clean, I’m sorry but it could lead to loss of appetite. Only problem with fan is placement as you don’t want fan kicking up dust into your food. I just make sure it’s not blowing at the prep table works great for me
Good tip Anthony.
I just must be lucky I move around a lot with my cart different places sometimes 3 times a week. I think that what happens to me is by the time the little critters figure out where I am. I leave!! Then the hunt for me begins again!! Maybe I should rename my cart “Hunt for Red Dog October”. I wonder if I would have to sell red dogs?
“Sell em’ all”
jerry
LOL!
Shout out to Susan and Renee, I’m here in Green Valley and Sahuarita, South of Tucson. I can’t wait to try the pennies in a bag of water! Now that it’s heating up, I’ll be doing twilight events. To lessen bugs around my solar lights from my umbrella–any nighttime suggestions? What essential oil would be good to lessen the smell of bleach? Steve, your advice and thoughts from members of this great community is fantastic! I almost gave up when the temps hit 98 in April, but I’m determined to make my biz work — because I love making people smile served up with a great hot dog experience. *Thank you’all*
Not much you can do about bugs that are attracted to light at night. Any suggestions slingers?
7/11 has 50 cent hot dogs?
Not anymore Lee. I wrote this a while back, ha.