Guarding against moths this summer
There’s few things more irritating than finding moths have put a hole in your favourite knitwear or carpet beetles have chewed through the carpet in your spare bedroom.
The damp, warm conditions of a rainy summer create the conditions moths thrive in.
Today we’re sharing some simple tips and tricks for guarding against moths and what to do if you find them lurking in your home.
A brief guide to moths
The first step to guarding against moths is understanding them. Moths that eat clothing don’t like light and it’s likely you’ll never see them. When you do, what you’re seeing is an adult moth – and they won’t do any harm.
What you should be concerned with is the larvae of clothes moths and carpet beetles. When insects have a chance to lay eggs in secluded spots, it’s the larvae will feed on your fabric for several months.
Since these moths shun bright light, you’ll rarely find them in busy areas of the home. Where they tend to thrive is in clothing that’s packed away into a closet or on carpets underneath furniture.
Preventing them
- Keep clean – Keeping your home clean and hoovering regularly will help keep moths at bay – you are likely already removing them without knowing it. A hoover will remove eggs from the carpet before they have an opportunity to hatch, so don’t be tempted to skip those hard to reach spots under the bed or in the back of the wardrobe.
- Wash up first – Before you pack away any clothing between seasons, make sure you wash any items that have been worn to rid them of moth eggs and any scents that might attract pests.
- Seal in plastic – Store your clothing in resalable plastic bags and boxes, which moth larvae won’t be able to penetrate.
- Try cedar – Red cedar contains oils that will kill moth larvae, though not eggs. Cedar boards or cedar-lined closets are a good place to start.
- Use lavender – Again, lavender is a simple DIY solution to keep moths at bay. Use a small packet in wardrobes and drawers where you’re storing clothing between seasons.
- Air it out – Moths like heat as much as we do. If you’re not using your spare room, turn the radiators off to keep the room cool and discourage moths from hatching there. Let natural light into the room and open the windows regularly to let air circulate. Taking rugs, cushions and blankets outdoors and brushing or banging the dust out of them will also in turn help shake off any moth eggs.
- Try the freezer – If you’re worried about one or two particular items of clothing, instead of cleaning them, try freezing – wrap in a plastic bag and place in the freezer for several hours. Larvae won’t survive the sub-zero temperatures.
- Buy a clothes moth cassette – If you’ve had problems with moths before a simple moth cassette could be a useful addition to your wardrobe. The cassette will discreetly kill of and help keep any moths at bay, and emits a pleasant citrus scent, too.
Do you have any tips for guarding against moths? Let us know in the comments below!
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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