Record numbers are eating the UK out of house and home
Are you suffering from a moth infestation? Mild winters and warm springs mean more of us are looking up how to get rid of moths than ever. Modern-day housekeeping habits aren’t what they were. In the past, people had few clothes, valued them and looked after them properly. Now, we buy vast quantities of clothes and stuff them into wardrobes – dark, warm places where moths can breed undisturbed.
Moths can cost a fortune. The larvae eat woollen carpets, wool, cashmere and cotton, etc, so how to get rid of them without calling in pest control? English Heritage says that clothes moth numbers have doubled in the past five years.
‘Outdoor’ moths tend to be drawn towards light, but clothes moths like dark, undisturbed areas near their food sources. The larvae make holes in clothes and carpets – bizarrely, the adults don’t have a mouth. Signs of damage will tell you where the eggs are, plus webbing and cocoons in corners.
How to get rid of moths – Four types of indoor moths
- Common clothes moth larvae (Tineola bisselliella) eat irregularly-shaped holes in fabrics
- Case-bearing clothes moth larvae: Create smaller, more regular-shaped holes
- Brown house moth larvae: They like materials like feathers and leather
- White-shouldered house moth larvae: they scavenge on a wide range of food, so are less damaging to textiles.
Preventing moths from infesting your home
- Moths are attracted to human sweat, hair and body oil on clothing made from wool, feathers, fur, and silk. Always wash clothes before you store them.
- Store clothes in airtight bags or plastic containers, not cardboard boxes.
- Vacuum regularly, under furniture and in dark corners. Moths can lay eggs in carpets.
- Keep wardrobes ventilated.
- Use cedar hangers and put extra cedar balls in the pockets of garments in storage.
- Turn off radiators and open windows to allow air to circulate.
How to get rid of a moth infestation
- Wash clothing above 48°C for more than half an hour or put them in the freezer for a few days to kill eggs. Clean cupboards and wardrobes with a vinegar and water solution.
- Natural repellents include dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender or bay leaves. Put the herbs into a cloth bag and place them in wardrobes and drawers. The essential oil form of these herbs, sprayed on contaminated areas, works too.
- Beware eBay or charity shop bargains. Larvae are recognisable as inch-long, silvery threads.
- The moth’s life cycle is about three weeks, so shake out your clothing once or twice a month to dislodge any larvae.
- Rugs, curtains, and cushions can harbour eggs, so give them a good beating and brushing outside (like the olden days) to destroy eggs and expose larvae.
- Remove dust from vacuum cleaners immediately, or eggs will hatch inside, live off the dust and fly out. Vacuum regularly under beds, carpets and behind radiators.
- The Moth Box (totalwardrobecare.co.uk) stops the breeding cycle by attracting male moths onto an adhesive strip impregnated with female moth pheromones.
How to get rid of moths – Infestation in the kitchen
A musty smell, webbing in the corner or a sticky secretion in food cupboards, apart from visual evidence, means you need to take action.
- Throw out contaminated foods and clean the cupboard with a vinegar/water solution.
- Larvae feed on grains, nuts, and rice. Dispose of any open containers.
- Keep the kitchen well ventilated.
- Buy a natural kitchen repellent.
Moths: what NOT to do
Don’t attempt to treat an infestation with normal pesticides. These can be harmful to people and pets. That Victorian remedy, mothballs, contains repelling chemicals, naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which slowly kill insects. However, unless the area is sealed, the fumes can be too weak to kill adults, and they will leave toxic particles on your clothes.
