Dreaded clothing moths!

mcchannen

Dear all--thanks to an infestation in the building* where I work, my home now has casemaking clothes moths! Has anyone dealt with these? We're sheltering in place with two small kids and a dog, so harsh chemicals are not an option for us, nor is fumigation (and it's unclear the infestation is as terrible as that...yet).

So far all I have are pheromone traps, which I had laid out as a precaution when the building was infested. Did not think I would actually catch any! In addition to traps, what do we need to do to protect our many wool/cashmere sweaters, wool rugs, etc.? Many thanks in advance!

*the infestation started when a fellow faculty member (I'm a prof at a university) stored old rugs in his office when he left....arg!

4 years ago

General

5 replies

Latest reply was from mcchannen

cherylm

Active Member

Oh no I feel for you. We did our own battle with moths a couple years ago and it was a long and expensive process (expensive in the loss of clothing, extermination and new storage boxes).

The traps can give you an idea of how bad the situation is but as I am sure you know it is the larva that do the damage. We tried home remedies (cedar, moth balls (gross) etc.) but ultimately treatments from a professional is what was needed. Understandably not easy right now because you have to leave for several hours.

What did help - getting rid of unnecessary items so the storage areas are less full, moths love areas that aren’t disturbed so get rid of “just in case” items. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum especially around the baseboards and corners. Make sure items storage are pristinely cleaned - take the items we would be the most upset about losing to the dry cleaner ASAP. You can freeze items for 48 hours if you have a freezer to kill potential larva. I my case the moths had very expensive taste and preferred cashmere .

Store the clothes moths like most in sealed bags or plastic bins. I bought plastic bins with gasket closures and bags that zip tightly for my sweaters for example.

Good luck!

4 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

They do really love undisturbed spaces. I have been known to run a fan in my closets...

4 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Shake out or put the sweaters in the dryer on no heat every so often. It is the moth larva who do the damage and the eggs are supposed to shake off easily. Put unwrapped bars of original Irish Spring soap or other strong smelling soap in places where you keep your woolens. It is a repellant working like moth balls. I also try to wash woolen sweaters in lavender detergent before storing until winter..

4 years ago

abby

Active Member

If you vacuum, clean out the vacuum after each use. Take the dirt from the cleaning to a trash bin away from your building. If the vacuum has a bag to catch the dirt, store the vacuum bag Inside a freezer bag in the freezer between uses. Store the vacuum away from your area, preferably in an unheated storage space.

Putting your clothes in a freezer works! It takes the value of remarkably few cashmere garments to exceed the cost of a freezer.

You are at a college. Have the Entomology professors help you. If your college has no Entomology professors, contact a nearby college that does. Entomology profs often know methods that avoid or greatly minimize the use of chemicals. (That worked well when I had carpenter ants at my house.) If your administration is no help, rat them out to the state vermin inspectors, those that get rid of six legged vermin and those that get rid of two legged vermin.

4 years ago

mcchannen

Active Member

Thanks all for these suggestions!!

@cherylm, ordering storage bins and bags today!
@rachylou, a fan seems like a good idea; the closet that I *think* is the issue has no air flow and minimal lighting.
@Joy, ordered some sachets with cedar and lavender for storing once my bins arrive!
@abby two legged vermin indeed;-) I'll see whether we have an entomology dept here. I've been very lax about emptying the vacuum, so will have to be more stringent.

4 years ago

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