HOW TO GET RID OF CLOTHES MOTHS
Don’t let your favourite knit become a meal for moths!
Know your enemy
Clothes moths start to emerge in spring when temperatures rise, so if you spot one in your home, you need to take action fast. The brown house moth is around 8mm long with bronze, black-flecked wings; the common clothes moth is around 6-7mm long with paler, beige wings. They have a particular taste for wool, silk and cashmere, but will settle for cotton fabrics and carpets, too!
Contrary to popular belief, moths aren’t only drawn to light. They will seek out dark, undisturbed places to lay their eggs – such as the back of your wardrobe or drawers. It’s also worth checking under rugs and behind furniture.
Take action
Once you’ve found the culprits, don’t delay as female moths can lay between 50 and 1,000 eggs at a time. Start by taking all your clothes out of the wardrobe and vacuum the inside using the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner.
Next, wash all your clothes at the highest temperature recommended on the care labels. Place non-washable items in plastic bags and pop them in the freezer to kill moth larvae. Vacuum your carpet thoroughly, paying attention to areas underneath furniture and spraying areas of carpet where you’ve seen moths with a killer spray such as Moth Stop! (£16.99, lakeland.co.uk).
Prevention is better than cure…
Keep your wardrobe well ventilated by airing it regularly.
Wash garments thoroughly before putting them away at the end of a season.
Store clothes you don’t plan to wear for a while in a vacuum storage bag.
Use natural moth repellents, such as cedar wood rings, in your wardrobe, or add a few drops of lavender essential oil to water in a spray bottle and spritz your carpet and clothes lightly.