Good idea Suzanne. Actually the dry cleaners here advertise the fact that they use filtered water so I'm sure that's the answer. Now I think of it, a friend of mine who lives in Kuwait, had her washing macine plumbed so that the water went through 2 filters.

Alison, while you're still there and if there's one around, ask a plumber. The filters are really cheap but you won't be able to do it yourself. The darks wash before a whites is a good idea but I've never noticed a difference myself. All my whites are slightly grey (very attractive, I don't think) but after a while I stop noticing...until I buy new school shirts!

Hi, Just being reading the recent posts. I didn't think of roaches, ants, mice and rats, all I have been worried about is mozies!! I am going to Hurghada on the 12th September, can anyone tell me if it is better to take out my sprays and powder with me? I cant stand insects!!!! Also can we buy mosqito nets out there or is it better to get my own? I dont no where to buy them and what you do about sizes or do they come standard size. Has every one got them on their windows aswell as doors? Please help.

Cheers Dawn -x-

Hi Dawn - how are you? Great to see you back on the forum. Having said that, it's me that's not been around much lately.

Don't take sprays etc with you - you'll find all that sort of stuff there. Nobody has mentioned those plug-ins that are supposed to keep mossies at bay but it might be worth taking some of them. I've never tried them as we don't have a mosquito problem here. I'm not sure if Towers has fitted insect screens on doors and windows but you'll definately be able to get them fitted. I'm one of the many that gets eaten alive and on our last trip to Cairo - in winter with very low temps - I was covered in bites. Therefore, I would take nets too.

Cockroaches are a problem in the cleanest of flats but they won't hang around empty ones so don't anticipate the place crawling with them when you arrive. When we leave our flat for the summer, they go too! You've read what everyone says about sprays and they really do work but you must keep spraying every other day or so. On average, I only find a dozen (small ones) or so over the whole year - and almost none in the winter. We lived in a villa in Saudi where we used to get the enormous cockroaches - I used to find them inside too often for comfort...one was inside my washing maching once. Horrible things that frightened me silly! I may be wrong but I think you'll only get the small ones in flats.

Never been bothered with ants, rats or mice - maybe because we're on the top floor. There is a problem with rats and mice in Bahrain which always suprises me given the number of 'wild' cats here.

xx

Hi Dawn, you can buy the plug in mozzie repellants and refills in the pharmacy. Can't remember what I paid in March, but they are made locally so not expensive. Ask for Ezalo (brand) if you can't see them. You can also get mozzie repellant coils to use outside. They do work, but put repellant on too to be sure.
Good Luck
Helen x

Hi Helen, Thank you. When did you say you are going out to Hurghada? And what apartments are you in? Thats if you dont mind me asking.

Dawn

Hi Dawn, I am out from 9th Sept ( 1 WEEK TO GO. YIPPEE!!!!!!!) to 6th Dec and am staying in a friends apartment in Jewel in the Crown opposite La Perla Hotel, off Sharia El Hadaba.
Do you fancy meeting up for shopping/coffee/beach or something one day?
Helen

Hi Helen, It would be nice to meet up. But not sure when cos we are going over to snag, get bank account, get a notary and probaly shop for a few things. So we could probaly meet up in the evening sometime. Me and my Wayne are both 49, have 4 daughters, 7 grand children and 3 foster children. We are coming out on our own this time and I have never been to egypt before. We will be staying in our apartment in Regency Towers, I dont know where that is to where you are. How do we get to meet up.

Dawn

While looking for info on red ant bites (they're driving me mad!) I found this info on how to get rid of ants.
Boric acid is toxic to ants and many other insects as it attacks their nervous system and causes dehydration so a 50:50 mixture with icing sugar makes a bait which will be taken to the nest where it should destroy the colony. It is an ingredient in many commercial products and has been used for centuries as an insecticide, a flame retardant, an antiseptic and in food preservation, so it is relatively non-toxic to humans and their environment. The nest can be located by following the returning ants, or quite often it is found while working in the garden when a stone is turned over.

They do not like peppermint so place it where you don't want them to go, or at their nest. Peppermint extract in water can be applied to surfaces.
If an ant is squashed clean the spot well as the corpse will release pheromones which will attract others. It is best to use a vacuum cleaner to remove unwanted ants.
A circle of petroleum jelly around the entry point will halt their journey, and if bait is placed within the circle they will take it back to the nest.
Another deterrent is ground cinnamon which can be sprinkled around to keep them out.
Instant coffee placed at the entrance of a nest and repeated a few times will see them off.


Hope this helps.

URGENT REQUEST!!!!!!!!!!!
Can anyone help pleeeeese, I have been asked to get a loo brush for the apartment. Are they available in Hurghada? and where, or do I have to take one with me!!!
Helen XX