Shoes!
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Brisbane since October 2008 (Ex-Kent)
Posts: 47
Shoes!
Hi again folks
Sorry the questions are coming thick(er) and fast(er) but PSS arrive next Tuesday to pack us so we only have 3 days left to prepare - and to get up to Marks & Spencer and do some last minute shopping! (Anybody need anything?)
We have deliberately avoided taking any garden tools or furniture because of the Aussie paranoia about British soil - but where do we stand on shoes? Do we need to disinfect them or anything before they go in the shipping container?
We have a "Declaration of Cleanliness" form we have to complete which asks for "Details of measures taken to ensure cleanliness" (!)
We would love to hear how others dealt with shipping their shoes to satisfy AQIS (My OH has bloody hundreds!)
Many thanks
Dave
Sorry the questions are coming thick(er) and fast(er) but PSS arrive next Tuesday to pack us so we only have 3 days left to prepare - and to get up to Marks & Spencer and do some last minute shopping! (Anybody need anything?)
We have deliberately avoided taking any garden tools or furniture because of the Aussie paranoia about British soil - but where do we stand on shoes? Do we need to disinfect them or anything before they go in the shipping container?
We have a "Declaration of Cleanliness" form we have to complete which asks for "Details of measures taken to ensure cleanliness" (!)
We would love to hear how others dealt with shipping their shoes to satisfy AQIS (My OH has bloody hundreds!)
Many thanks
Dave
#2
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Shoes!
Hi again folks
Sorry the questions are coming thick(er) and fast(er) but PSS arrive next Tuesday to pack us so we only have 3 days left to prepare - and to get up to Marks & Spencer and do some last minute shopping! (Anybody need anything?)
We have deliberately avoided taking any garden tools or furniture because of the Aussie paranoia about British soil - but where do we stand on shoes? Do we need to disinfect them or anything before they go in the shipping container?
We have a "Declaration of Cleanliness" form we have to complete which asks for "Details of measures taken to ensure cleanliness" (!)
We would love to hear how others dealt with shipping their shoes to satisfy AQIS (My OH has bloody hundreds!)
Many thanks
Dave
Sorry the questions are coming thick(er) and fast(er) but PSS arrive next Tuesday to pack us so we only have 3 days left to prepare - and to get up to Marks & Spencer and do some last minute shopping! (Anybody need anything?)
We have deliberately avoided taking any garden tools or furniture because of the Aussie paranoia about British soil - but where do we stand on shoes? Do we need to disinfect them or anything before they go in the shipping container?
We have a "Declaration of Cleanliness" form we have to complete which asks for "Details of measures taken to ensure cleanliness" (!)
We would love to hear how others dealt with shipping their shoes to satisfy AQIS (My OH has bloody hundreds!)
Many thanks
Dave
#3
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Shoes!
We scrubbed them with a brush. Picked out any stones, etc. stuck in the tread. Then scrubbed them again with cleaning fluid. It's the dirt and stuff in the tread that they are worried about.
We also put all the shoes in 1 box and clearly marked it shoes. We did the same for anything we thought AQIS would be interested in. I was working on the theory that if you make it easier for them and if you can show that you made the effort (i.e. you did more than power wash the bicycles) then it's more likely that your stuff will pass unscathed.
We didn't get anything stopped but you can never tell with AQIS.
We also put all the shoes in 1 box and clearly marked it shoes. We did the same for anything we thought AQIS would be interested in. I was working on the theory that if you make it easier for them and if you can show that you made the effort (i.e. you did more than power wash the bicycles) then it's more likely that your stuff will pass unscathed.
We didn't get anything stopped but you can never tell with AQIS.
#4
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Shoes!
Did much the same as above - scrubbed all the treads with a toothbrush soaked in bathroom cleaner, and polished the leather with some disposable leather wipes that smell like almond (and therefore, with hindsight, explosives).
The box of shoes was the only thing of ours to be inspected but got through ok.
The box of shoes was the only thing of ours to be inspected but got through ok.
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Brisbane since October 2008 (Ex-Kent)
Posts: 47
Re: Shoes!
Thanks folks for the advice - and Seasider for the laugh - I'll steer clear of the almond fragrance
Dave
Dave
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: North Beach
Posts: 279
Re: Shoes!
Hi All,
We were told to give the shoes a good scrub with Jeyes Fluid, the house stinks of it! But that way at least when they open the box they know they've been cleaned.
Thanks All.
M
We were told to give the shoes a good scrub with Jeyes Fluid, the house stinks of it! But that way at least when they open the box they know they've been cleaned.
Thanks All.
M
#7
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Brisbane since October 2008 (Ex-Kent)
Posts: 47
Re: Shoes!
Thanks Margy - that's actually what we've just bought. Can't wait for the smell I'd do the shoes in the garden but it's raining again (as usual)!
D
D
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,913
Re: Shoes!
As for garden tools, same again, Jeyes fluid does the job. All our things got through fine, don't even think they were checked.
#9
Re: Shoes!
AQIS decided to steam clean 9 pairs of our shoes, including almost new strappy sandals never worn outside! Charged us $22 per pair Not all survived the ordeal.
It just seemed a completely random thing.
It just seemed a completely random thing.
#10
Re: Shoes!
Scrubbed wellies with jeyes, and polished all other shoes, but took quite a few pairs with me. All garden tools painted with hammerite and handles varnished- man they gleam!! Still to arrive tho, so don't know how effective they have been.
Caroline
Caroline