Help!! I have moths!!! - YouLookFab Forum

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Help!! I have moths!!!

gryffin

Veteran

Hi all - Sorry to bother and I did not search, I've had a bad week. My MIL has been very ill, 99.5 and we are just seeing the light she may pull through, then my stocked fridge died the night before my brother and nephew arrived for a 3 day visit, total loss, awaiting new guts as the condenser etal is shot. In addition I just found holes in 4 cashmere and merino sweaters, it's got to be moths. I don't see anything. I've never had them. Is there anything non toxic where I wont go around smelling like a cedar chest, I'm a physician and don't even use perfume because many of my patients are sensitive. I will put a call into my exterminator on monday but any help on fragrance minimal non toxic would be greatly appreciated!!

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17 replies

Latest reply was from April

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh no! I'm so sorry, Gryffin. This sounds like a nasty week indeed and it is never good to find moths in the beloved cashmere and merino.

Some years back this happened to Mr. Suz and I asked for help -- freezer was suggested as one remedy for items not already damaged (and even damaged ones, I suppose). https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moths-help. Also careful cleaning (of course) and some suggested hot dryers (but would that not shrink the sweaters??) Anyway -- other suggestions as well -- cedar chips, etc.

I was able to get a good invisible mend on a few items of mine that did get holes for one reason or another (moths or catching on a belt or cat claws). So that is an option for possibly saving some of the sweaters if you have someone local who can do it. Beware, though -- some advertise the service but don't do a good job.

I hope you are able to save some of your precious woollens and find a storage solution that works for you!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Unfortunate time for the fridge to be out- freezing will kill moths and eggs. I used to put yarn into a zipper freezer bag in the freezer for 24 hours before putting it in with the rest of my yarn to make sure it was moth free.

rachylou

Veteran

I have found that sweater bags and running a fan in the closet helps. I keep my closet doors open tbh, keep the air circulating.

Irina

Veteran

Sorry to hear about your problems. Hope it will get better soon.

I packed most of our cashmere in vacuum sealed bags but I still have a number of merino and summer cashmere sweaters. This year I’m using a new to me method - I mixed water with some eucalyptus oil in a spray bottle and spray inside of our closets as often as I can, usually 2-3 times a week. This was recommended by sale assistants from a store that sells yarn for knitting. Allegedly, moths hate the smell. I’ve been spraying for a few weeks and clothes doesn’t smell like eucalyptus at all.

phoebe

Before storing them in heavy weight reusable ziploc bags for the spring and summer, baking woolens for 20 minutes at 170 degrees F has been 100% effective

gryffin

Veteran

Suz - when I found the first hole by a shoulder seam on my gray cashmere I thought I snagged it. Looked up on YouTube and was able to repair. Then my JCrew merino (the wool clearly of choice) started to show little holes. I had remembered the freezer trick. Unfortunately everything I could freeze from broken fridge is in there. The repair guy shamed me over that but hey fix the bloody fridge and freezer won’t be so packed. Hot dryer I will try. I found some ancient SLA from my old cleaning lady closed the closet and sprayed some. Got some sticky moth traps. Nothing but that may be the sla. I think the other cashmeres and merino are a loss. I have cedar blocks and something else on order. I am sure I will be evaluating the extent of the carnage over the next few weeks…. Thanks so much for your help!
Chewy- IKR where is freezer space when I need it?!!! Total worst timing. But isn’t that always the way?
Rachy - I’ve never used sweater bags. I run cold so I still occasionally wear my sweaters summer. I always leave my closet doors open. It’s a walk in with a pretty chandelier and I like clothes to get circulated air too.
Irina - Thank you. I had not heard the eucalyptus oil trick. I have a few books on essential oils. I’m going to look that up. But that’s a great idea!!
Phoebe - had not thought of the oven trick. Thanks so much. When I get my kitchen decluttered from fridge debacle I’m going to have a bake my sweaters day. Dryer first and maybe second bake. Cardigans I think freezer/dryer. Don’t want melted buttons. Thanks so much.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, Gryffin! Sorry! Blast

Glad you got great advice, am sending healing thoughts to MIL, and hope your fridge is sorted fast. Plus that your family visit was fab despite the challenges. Hang in there!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Poor you sounds like a difficult week for sure.Freezing your jumpers for 48 hrs when you get your freezer back kills moths and their eggs.l also store cashmere in vacuum bags with natural moth repellent tablets but they are a complete nuisance.

gryffin

Veteran

Angie - thank you. MIL is main concern. She’s stable and improving slowly. We are hopeful. My brother and nephew were great. Very unfazed so it was nice despite the chaos. Yup hopefully will be functional soon. Considering what’s going on in the world I cannot complain. Grateful it’s not worse. Appreciate the good wishes!! This too will pass!!
Cardiff girl - I will definitely be putting freezer to use!! I just got moth away - peppermint, thyme, rosemary and cloves packs. Smell nice. Haven’t caught any moths in the traps. But I did use the SLA. I don’t think sweater bags will work for me as I use them all year long, less in summer but I’d miss if I could not have. But maybe rotating a trip to the freezer would help. I’ve been so fortunate to have no issues ever before. I guess just lucky until now…

Bijou

Veteran

Sorry to hear all that you have been dealing with! Regarding the moths, the response from Julie-Ann (about half-way down in Comments) on this post on Keep It Chic is very useful

Closet Clean Out — Keep it Chic. Moths are seasonal, with the larvae eating your clothes mainly late Spring and Autumn. I store my woollen knits in cotton bags.

gryffin

Veteran

Thank you Bijou. I'm definitely if I don't see it I won't wear it so I'm hoping to eradicate the current crew and then find a way to make my stuff less yummy. I like the cotton bags for summer. A friend told me dry cleaning bags but they ate a new clean jcrew sweater in a store plastic bag never worn with tags so they seem like deer, where there is a will there is a way! Now I wonder if that's how they got in and if I should freeze or toast new sweaters before putting them out.....

RobinF

Veteran

Oh no, sounds like a rough week. Hope some of these ideas work to prevent more damage! Glad your MIL is doing better.

gryffin

Veteran

Robin - thank you. You are very kind. Fingers crossed for some calm sailing all around! But bugs on top of the rest....yuck!!

nemosmom

Veteran

You’ve gotten great suggestions. Freezing has worked for me, followed by a hand wash in wool-friendly soap (I use outback). After they are air dried, toss them in a low heat dryer for 10 mins.

I cover the majority of my knits in pillowcases in warmer months (use them like a laptop sleeve). And stack on shelves. I like having an extra layer of protection.

I also keep a spray bottle of lavender/peppermint/eucalyptus/water and spritz the closet throughout the year. I vacuum the closet weekly.

Do not use those moth traps, it only invites them in.

One thing that has helped a lot is keeping any knits I’ve worn (but not yet washed) outside my closet until they’ve been cleaned. It’s a pain to have items in two places, especially when I don’t want to wear the same sweater all the time, but I’m wary of the tiniest speck of anything coming back into my closet.

gryffin

Veteran

nemosmom - thank you. That's stellar advice. And I'm so impressed you are that organized and consistent in cleaning! I die just thinking about that with awe!! my moth traps are totally empty and I have some lavender/thyme/rosemary bags that I ordered as well. Now that the fridge is working again (happy dance) I'm trying to get the freezer debrided so I can start the big freeze. Since I tossed the JCrew sweaters I have not seen any more holes. I'm still being vigilant but hoping I will be able to eradicate the beasts!! What brand of essential oils do you like and how many drops of each do you use? I think that's just a great idea!!

nemosmom

Veteran

Ha! I blame PTSD after my major moth discovery. With the span of two days I found several holes in a favorite merino sweater, one dead moth in a bag of items waiting to be donated (since removed from my closet), and a live moth - crawling, trapped between two layers of a beloved cashmere scarf. Surprised I didn’t burn the whole closet down….!!

I just set a repeating monthly reminder in my calendar to vacuum, lift up items, and run hands through hangers for a quick spot check; it’s not a lot of effort, really.

I usually use the house brand essential oils from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Since I dilute them with water, I am not super picky about brand. Around 5 drops of lavender and a couple drops of mint and eucalyptus. Again, not picky or an exact science. I don’t want to overdo the oil, in case it spots; I shake up the spray bottle before spritzing to help mix the oils before I spray. Not sure if it makes any difference.

Congrats on getting the fridge sorted and good luck on the eradication! I hate the little buggers!

April

Veteran

Oh, my - not single spies but in battalions, right? So sorry to hear this is all happening to you at once.

Have learned the terribly hard way about moths. We had an infestation in NYC that was coming from the HVAC system in our apartment building (there was basement storage and I'm guessing carpets and off-season clothing were the problem.)

You've gotten good advice from the forum already and I would add this. Find a set of "moth pheromone" lures and hang them in your closets. These are non-toxic and don't smell like anything, nor do they kill moths (that's a separate process). They lure moths to a sticky surface so that you can tell they are present before they ruin your whole wardrobe.

Moths love dark spaces and clothes that contain human perspiration, oils, etc. so "clean and light" are your friends.