Ugh! I went downstairs at 2am and on my kitchen floor I found ...

[MrsSawdust]

... no fewer than 13 slugs.

I knew we had a slug living amongst us from the nasty little trails it leaves occasionally. I had NO IDEA there was a whole extended slug family. All different sizes. All yucky pale green.

So, how do I get rid of them? Bear in mind I'm the biggest wimp going when it comes to killing anything - even the tiniest insect. So a no kill solution if at all possible is preferable.

Also, is it significant that most of them were congregated in front of my dishwasher? Are they living inside it? Am I washing my dishes in slug water??? (shudder)

Pick them up with a tissue. Salt is the none contact version, but will leave a terrible mess in the morning.

You'll have to move out, it's clear.

That's what I'd do, but then I am terrified of slugs.

From March to November I put down a huge amount of salt on the steps so no slugs come near, but last year, one was in the house.
I have no idea how it got in, I put salt at my bedromm door (upstairs) and a big amount at the bottom of the stairs in case it was a slug invasion, but I never saw another one.

Perhaps in came in on DD's shoe?(she never wipes her feet, grumble, grumble)

Anyway, as I was saying. move out.

Ah, glad it is not just my problem then...

Spotted a trail on the carpet near top of stairs yesterday.

Had been careful not to leave any cat food available in kitchen, but as house had not been lived in for 6+ years I expected some 'visitors' in the house (not helped by hole in the roof).

Are they attracted by pet food then? I have a dog. The slugs weren't anywhere near the dog food though.

You need a pair of old kitchen tongs and a carrier bag - go out at midnight/round the kitchen - pick up all the slugs you can find - tie up the bag and put in the black bin

I kid myself that when they get to the tip they think its friggin Mardi Gras

I did this for a week and got rid of about 100 - that drastcially cut down the slug population in my garden and obviously my kitchen.

Don't put pellets down - the ones that are non-toxic to kids/pets don't work and the toxic ones will kill animals.

An old fashioned beer trap?

Urgh we have this its horrible, I'm terrified if I have to come down in the night.

urgh

MrsSawdust I think they are probably sufficiently able to digest anything with their slime, since they don't have (AFAIK) any 'mouth', so it may have just been unfortunate they visited my cat's dish and not your dog's bowl.

On the other hand, since they can go up vertical surfaces very easily, I was very careful to leave nothing out on any work surfaces (made me a bit tidier perhaps).

Get Nemaslug and water it generously on every bit of soil around your house. It works very well and it isn't chemical or dangerous for animals (except slugs obviously).

Our cats bring them in, I think by accident they stick to their fur. Hideous, I sympathise.
LOADS of slug pellets (blue ones) by all holes into house - doors, drain pipe holes etc.
Worse in hot warm weather I always find...

I also bought some spray to put down near the doors so they don't come in
We had a dreadful prob with it too, sympathies, but since buying the spray it's much better.

Don't go down without slippers on. it's fairly disgusting when you tread on a slug with bare feet.
They kind of pop and squidge between your toes.

Ugh. We were getting them in our kitchen too. I put salt down along the doorway but they were still getting in.

One night I caught one squeezing in through the sink overflow

Cue lots salt being thrown at the overflow and lots of boiling water being thrown down the sink.

Dh used to flush them down the loo, didn't believe me that they came back until one night he went back an hour later and found the same slug crawling out of the bowl (apparently it had identifying characteristics ) uurgh - at least he slaughters them now

I stayed at a friends once when I was young and the bathroom was downstairs. I could not believe how many slugs were in the kitchen, I was scared to sleep in case they came upstairs!! But I didn't like to say anything and was scared to drink to much in case I needed the loo.

Then we had them in the kitchen here, I used the salt in the doorway method and they weren't as bad.

This year not a sign in the house or garden because a hedgehog has come to live with us! I'm besotted with her/him, s/he is my hero!!

Can I ask, does anyone know what slugs are for? I believe in the balance of Nature and all livings having a place in the greater scheme but cannot see the point of slugs, unless as food for hedgehogs.

we had this problem too, do any of you live in older houses with floorboards? I found that I was getting them comming up through the floorboards in the lounge. Loads of slug pelets by the air brick has helped. In the kitchen I had a problem too, when I pulled out the dishwasher and the cooker i found their trails everywhere!!!! UGHHHHH! I have put LOADS of slug pellets under all the units inthe kitchen and under the dishwasher, and the problem is MUCH better now, infact I havent noticed any trails for a while. I caught one squeezing in through the SEAL in the back door, and its a double glazed upvc one too, I couldnt believe it!!