Bella Donna

We are in the final throes of sorting everything out and getting it ready for when the packers move in on 11th August, but still have to do things like cleaning the bikes and work tools.

How fussy have you got to be with all this cleaning? We live in a rural area so we're aware that things like bicycles and shoes have to be spotless, but what about things like vacuum cleaner filters? Is it enough just to wash them? We've also resurrected stuff we had stashed in the attic, and that is covered with dust - how fussy do we have to be with getting rid of simple dust?

We had the guy from Bishop's in again yesterday to reassess our volume, and he was saying that because we're rural Somerset, we'd probably get picked for checking at customs. So we need to be sure exactly how far we have to go with all this cleaning - if it's *that* bad, we'd better get the Jayes fluid out now!!

Jonahs_mummy

I know when GSB & Scissors got their stuff shipped they cleaned all their tools with white spirit....... its a case of if they see any evidence of dirt/mud they will inspect the whole lot & you could get charged for fumigation......

Anne4Terry

I'd like to know about general build up of house dust too. Don't really fancy doing a big spring clean while we are trying to pack.

Sandra

Jeyes - smelly stuff, spread around and remove the obvious dirt, clean vaccum cleaner of last use and wash the filter. Get packers (if using professionals to approve) and get them to sign to say they are happy. Also ask them to pay for any charges you may incur and watch them bluster

Then wait and see, it is a bit of a gamble as to what they pick on. Buggers let all our camping/bikes/boots/golf gear in and then picked on the lawnmower (impounded it - let the rest of the load go) and charged us another 200$ to get it cleaned. We might even of taken it seriously had they not detached the grass box and sent that with the main release!!!

Aus Custom and Excise web site has full details of prohibited stuff, make sure that is not in your container and the rest is clean and smells of Jeyes and cross fingers.

Good Luck do not worry too much

JayDeee

Jeyes fluid, spray bottle, spray over everything and nothing of ours got inspected, 2 boxes opened and nothng was rifled through proppely. my theory is clean and spray it making it smell clean and all is OK.

Kala x

gdcollectables

We had the guy from Bishop's in again yesterday to reassess our volume, and he was saying that because we're rural Somerset, we'd probably get picked for checking at customs. So we need to be sure exactly how far we have to go with all this cleaning - if it's *that* bad, we'd better get the Jayes fluid out now!!


Hi

what on earth do they mean by this? How do the customs in Australia know that you live in a rural area and why would it matter to them anyway?

I think the guy from Bishops was probably having a laugh, he's not trying to charge you extra is he?

gd

Anastasia Beaverhausen

What about saucepans and frying pans. Mine are all about 5 years old, and over the years have accumulated black marks and grease marks round the base. Am I just better off ditching the lot and replacing it when I get there?

gdcollectables

Hi

they are really just concerned with protecting Australia from bugs - so they are most concerned with anything which has been in contact with soil, ie shoes, boots, bikes, camping stuff, etc.

They also worry about possibly bringing in pests from fruit, veg, other foodstuffs, wood borers/worms, seeds, etc.

We only had 2 boxes opened, shoes and Christmas decorations, which are the usual ones checked.

I'm sure they wouldn't bother with pots and pans.

gd

Pollyana

Thats right, they are not really bothered about ordinary dust, and certainly don't care what your saucepans look like!
They tend to check shoes and boots for mud - they will have your UK originating address on the paperwork, and the reason they are more stringent if you come from a rural area is because of the risk of stuff like foot and mouth. I remember leaving Australia during the last UK foot and mouth epidemic - everyone coming in on a UK flight had their bags opened and footwear checked.
Christmas decorations - remember to dump anything with pine cones - they area strict no-no because of the seeds they contain.

Bella Donna

The inventory? Our address will be listed. They are far more interested in someone coming from a rural area as there is greater potential for *contamination* from mud deposits, dirty shoes, bikes with residual soil, etc..

Well I don't see that he stands to gain anything at all. I asked if they checked containers randomly at Customs, or if they checked all containers. The guy from Bishop's said they check containers randomly, but they do check all inventories, and that they are more likely to open a container that has come from a rural area.

gdcollectables

How strange - never heard of that before!!~!

gd

scissors

hi there hun,its a bit of s nightmare isnt it,but if you get charged for cleaning at custome they ll charge you a fortune,gary had alot of tools and he cleaned them all individually with white soirit and then baged them and sealed the bags,sio if they opened the bags they would immediately smell the white spirit,as for the vacuum cleaner i took it all apart and washed it out as best i could but you cant get to it all,we didnt take anything from the garden,butbut we scrubbed all our shoes with dettol and what a job that was

tracey