So frustrated...losing my woolens to moths

Beth

I dry-cleaned all of my sweaters at the end of spring last year as I always do...just to find probably 50% of my sweaters/knits have been attacked by moths, mostly the cashmere knits. Arrrgh! Not just a tiny hole here or there, noooo. They look like swiss cheese:( Not only did I lose some favorite pieces, but that's a big financial hit, too.

Maybe it's a sign that I need to move to Team Wovens, instead?

Anyway, how do you all store your out-of-season knits? I can't afford to replace my sweaters every season...

13 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

Oh no that must really suck! I store mine with moth balls in a suitcase. They do smell a little when I take them out but nothing a little airing/in dire cases, dry cleaning won't get rid of!

13 years ago

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

No! That's the worst.

13 years ago

Stephanie

Veteran

In terms of preventing moth damage, I have had better luck carefully hand-laundering my sweaters with Woolite (and drying flat).

13 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Bummer! Finding good replacements for favorites is always a lot of work and $$.

Knock on wood - I've put mine in Rubbermaid containers in another bedroom (not in the basement). I don't know if I've even taken any special cleaning precautions before putting away. . .

Are moths more common in some parts of the country or are they everywhere, and I've just been lucky?

13 years ago

Anonymous

I put mine in Rubbermaid containers too with some cakes of Irish Spring or other strong smelling soap. I read that any strong smell (doesn't have to be moth balls) deters the moths and it seems to work for me. My very favorite pieces get stored in zip lock bags in the large freezer in the garage for extra protection. I wish it had room for all my woolies.
Oh, and before putting away for the season, most is hand washed and air dried rather than drycleaned. Also, it may not be moths. There are other critters like silverfish that eat fabric.
Last summer one pair of cashmere socks that wasn't put away got big holes eaten in them. Don't forget the socks and the scarves that might be hanging with your winter coats.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I never honestly knew moths were a modern problem. I have to ask - is this for storage in attics or basements or other unfinished areas of the house? I can't imagine them attacking in our regular closets. But then I got introduced to carpet beetles this year, and I'd never heard of those either. Hate 'em and can't wait to come home to my hardwood floors lol!

13 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I store my heavy sweaters in individual ziplock bags, and then put the bags into a rubbermaid bin with a locking lid.

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I keep my woolen sweaters in the closet with some lavender sachets and cedar chips. No moth balls for me - the smell gives me a headache. I don't actually store them away for the winter, so they live in the closet year round, and I've never had a problem with moths, knock on wood.

Another vote here for not sending your woolens to the dry cleaners, particularly cashmere. One of the things I've learned as a knitter is that fine wool fibers (such as cashmere and merino) are damaged by the dry cleaning chemicals and become brittle and easily broken. Of course this is not going to fix the moth problem, but it will make the wool more durable to wash gently instead of dry clean. I am also a little squicked out by dry cleaning chemicals to be honest, so I prefer to limit my exposure. You want to wash with something gentle (although honestly I use regular detergent sometimes), avoid wringing or stretching, and dry flat.

13 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

So sorry to hear this happened to you!

Like Diana said, I wouldn't dry clean any of my wool or cashmere sweaters. The chemicals are bad for those fibers.

I also wouldn't use moth balls. The toxic gas they give off, which kills moths, can also be bad for people and pets.

I hand wash my knits using Eucalan. Making sure your clothes are clean before storing them can reduce some problems with moths.

If you suspect clothes moths larvae may be in some of your garments, you should clean them thoroughly and then put them in the freezer for several days. This *should* kill the larvae.

Store clean, uninfested garments in garment boxes with tight-fitting lids. I like to place lavender sachets in with my woolens. Moths don't like lavender...but it's not a guaranteed repellent.

Clothes moths are more prevalent in some parts of the country than others. I understand they like more humid climates, so if you live in an arid part of the country, you shouldn't have to worry about them so much.

13 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Try storing them with some cedar blocks- they smell much nicer than moth balls, but do the job. You can also stick something in a ziploc bag and throw it in the freezer overnight or for a few days to kill eggs. I hate wool moths! One time, I bought a large shipment of yarn (undyed yarn from a mill- back when I was dying yarn), and I opened the box and had moths fly out of it! It was the worst nightmare of anyone in the yarn business.

13 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Oh no, that is one of my greatest fears ! Of course you can't afford to replace them.

I dry clean mine too. Then I store them in canvas storage containers with cedar squares. The canvas allows air to circulate, but not the moths to get in ( you want to make sure that the see through window is plastic so nothing can get in ).

http://www.amazon.com/Househol.....y_hg_img_c

http://www.amazon.com/Homz-361.....d_sim_hg_3

http://www.amazon.com/Cedar-C3.....y_hg_img_b

ETA : To keep the cedar blocks fresh, you can sand them a little once a year to keep hem fragrant.

Good Luck !!!

13 years ago

Anonymous

Oh that really stinks. That happened to me once, when I have carefully saved to buy two new (!) cashmere turtlenecks. I only got one winter out of them. Now I'm warm season dominant so I don't have any wool, but others have given some good ideas.

You know, you did everything right! You PAID to have them drycleaned for crying out loud. So it's not like you put them away with food spills on them or anything. Have you asked your drycleaner about this?

Maybe someone RATE could rock them as the "burned out" look.

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Argh! I feel that pain. Moths are dread creatures.

I think it kinda helps to keep the air "stirred" in the closet. Going in, messing about, maybe running a fan for a bit. I also leave the door open and let the dog go in. I'm all for her chasing moths.

13 years ago

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