Dealing With Clothes Moths
Whether you are storing clothes for summer or winter the risk of clothes being damaged by moths is always a high one, so it helps to take the necessary action.
06/09/2023
Fish moths, clothes moths, most moths aren't exactly something you want in your home, especially if they are the ones that will quickly eat through your clothes, linens, blankets and curtains. Both fish moths and clothes moths slowly nibble away at clothes on shelves, clothes in drawers and clothes hanging up in cupboards.
Nobody wants to use smelly mothballs to keep drawers out of your, well... drawers, especially since they make your clothes smell as well, so what other steps can you take to keep moths away from your clothes. There is the option to hang cedar-scented wooden blocks on hanging rails and have cedar-scented potpourri sachets in drawers and cupboards, but there are other steps to take that will prevent infestation now and in the future.
The common clothes moth, tineola bisselliella and tinea pellionella, are small moths that have a voracious appetite for any textiles and fabrics. The latter moth species also feed on hair and fur, feathers and carpets and can wreak havoc on upholstered furniture.
Are Your Clothes Being Eaten?
If you are not sure if you have moths the easiest way to know is to look for dead insects, pupae cases or small holes in your clothes, particular clothes that are put away in storage in a closed linen closet, blanket box or clothes stored that are not moved around regularly. Moths also love carpet fibres and can eat away to leave bald spots on carpets, rugs and mats.
Clothes moths and fish moths leave small grains of excrement behind so always be on the lookout
How To Protect Clothes From Damage By Clothes Moths
Apart from mothballs and cedar sachets another way to prevent damage to fabrics and clothes is to wash well before you put them into storage, regularly empty and clean out cupboards and drawers as well as blanket chests and linen cupboards. Stains on clothes and fabrics are attractive to clothes moths and that includes any sweat residue or body oils. Washing clothes before you put them away will reduce the risk of damage by fish moths or clothes moths.
It is also a good idea to clean out stored items regularly and pop them into the tumble dryer for a warm cycle. This is not only great for freshening up clothing and fabrics in long storage and will help keep bugs at bay.
Another solution is to place clothes and fabrics in vacuum bags. This is the best way to store seasonal clothes or clothes that need to be stored for whatever reason.
And last but not least, A further solution from our friends at mothprevention.com is to use a moth killer for clothes protection.
Clean out linen cupboards and closets on a regular basis to keep stored linens fresh and bug-free
If you don't have a tumble dryer to give stored clothes a cycle you can hang them out on the line when the weather is sunny and hot.