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[Sheilaz]

Does anyone have a surefire method for ridding their house, or at least wardrobes, of clothes moths, please?

 

I have had some success placing soap bars in drawers but then they make us sneeze.

Sometimes I've used cedar blocks but I'm not good at replacing, especially as I'm not sure how effective they are.

 

I could carry on with the soap but does anyone have a better tip?

 

Also, any item left out of the drawer gets eaten, it's so frustrating, is there anything else I can do?

 

It means not leaving a cardigan in the hall or on the landing, or even in the wash basket, my favourite one is spoilt.

YD has 2 ruined on her bedroom floor. Yes, I know the answer to that, but even draped on a chair, or anywhere not in a drawer, it's driving me nuts!

 

What does everyone else do?

Edited March 26, 2011 by Guest

[sari]

You can get Pheremone Moth Traps...clothes moths are a vintage clthes wearers nightmare!! I lost a cashmere twinset ( vintage) last year to beeping moths...I bought some moth traps from somewhere on the 'net, and they worked ( so far....)

[Sheilaz]

Thanks for the reply Sari, much appreciated. Sorry to hear you've had this problem too, they always seem to go for the best items don't they?

Strangely, despite storing 2nd hand winter clothing for several months, we haven't had this problem at the charity shop in the 10 years I've been there, thank goodness, but I get them every year at home.

 

I'll try the traps next Sari, thank you. Anyone else with some good deterrent ideas please?

[sari]

I know where I got them from as well, a holiday home that was responsible for my daughter becoming asthmatic..it was full of black mould and damp, and she a serious allergic reaction...so after the hospital, and having to rush home...when I finally unpacked the cases, and found moths grrrrr I was a bit peeved!

[Christian]

Lavender bags, hung up from the hangers?

[Blackrocksrock]

I also had them and bought a commercial spray Orphia and it worked and I then used ( off licence I may add) Frontline spray for dogs and cats for fleas, ticks etc and it has worked a treat - nothing since but I washed or cleaned every single item in the wardrobe before I put them back in to ensure no grubs! I would love to know where I got them,

[Egluntyne]

Moth balls?

[Sheilaz]

Thank you for all the suggestions, my computer froze when I typed a detailed reply last night. This week is Operation Clothes Moth, I might use all the ideas, so thank you everyone.

 

The topic has been very useful to me in realising that I need to take an elimination approach, rather than just the losing battle "deterrent" approach, I'd never thought of it like that before.

 

I'd decided that moth balls are OK for storage bags as it's the fumes in a confined space that work, but I do dislike them, and also couldn't just spread them around the house, does anyone recommend them?

Because of this, I had been using lavender, but threw out all DD2's bags in the winter as I was trying a scent free bedroom for her, perhaps they had been effective until then.

 

I will definitely try Blacrocksrock and Sari's methods, thank you both, and get some more mothballs and lavender too, thank you Christian and Egluntyne.

[Omletina Kyckling]

I made up lots of lavender filled hearts and pack them amongst all my cashmere sweaters/cardigans and also in with my felting wool as that would be moth heaven. Fingers crossed, not had any nibbling since I've been doing this!

[Alis girls]

Moth balls smell terrible - if I was a moth i wouldnt go near them. Problem is they stink out where ever you go. Our surgery reeks after someone comes in having used the things

[Blackrocksrock]

By the way the ceder blocks only need sanding to bring them back to smelling good - I bought a couple of hanging ones and we sand them twice a year.

[teacake]

I was just searching online for diatomaceous earth, and read it was good for getting rid of moths

 

"Diamtomaceous Earth kills all stages of moths and other insects by dehydration or desication. Can be of use to spot treat an infestation of House Moths or to sprinkle around carpet edges, floor and wall joints and other nooks and crannies and throughout carpet areas where House Moths and other insects like to live and breed.

 

Apply Diamtomaceous Earth to dry areas to be effective in getting rid of carpet bugs under carpets or bugs hiding under furniture."

[Sheilaz]

Funnily enough, I was so desperate that I nearly posted "I think I'll just douse the whole house with Diatom", but not seriously.

 

Now I think it would be a very good idea. I'm certainly going to put it around the carpet edges on the landing, I think that will help a lot.

 

Thanks for posting, it's worth a try.

[Charlottechicken]

Moth balls?

 

I use moth balls. I use half what they recommend, and it seems to work, and I've never noticed a smell on my clothes (will now ask friends if they can smell moth balls on me ) .

 

Actually, I've just noticed a moth in the spare bedroom and realised all my little net bags I hang the moth balls in are now empty. Must get some more tomorrow.

[Sheilaz]

Thanks, that's useful to know.

A handy tip about the cedar blocks too, thank you.

 

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this;

Discussing the problem with DD she admitted that one cardigan had torn on an escalator ( ) and wasn't moths at all, the other one she had bought as a vintage item, complete with moth holes already, but she liked it.

 

So, maybe they're not in her bedroom, but they definitely attack anything on the landing, and my best jumper in the wash basket, so have been and bought all sorts of your suggestions.

 

Thank you everyone, clothes moths won't dare stay in our house now.