Larvae in a lather

SIR – The advice from Rentokil (report, June 22) on how to eliminate moth larvae from clothes is rather confusing.

They advise a washing temperature of 55C but point out that the larvae prefer the keratin protein found in natural fibres such as wool and silk. If I washed my woollen jumpers at 55C, they would hardly fit a five-year-old by the time they emerged.

When handwashing woollens, I follow my grandmother’s tip of putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil – which deters the moths – in the final rinse. Most modern washing machines have a low-temperature wool cycle and the eucalyptus is easily added in place of softeners. Sheila Williams

Sunningdale, Berkshire