Pest Issues

Effective Ways to Get Rid of Moths

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Dealing with moths is annoying. The problematic bugger falls into two different categories, mainly depending on the trouble they cause. Some moths feed on clothes and even carpets, while others enjoy living in your pantry and eating your food.

As pest control providers, we know how troublesome dealing with both types of moth infestation can be. Experience tells us that prevention is the best way to fight moth infestations in your home, but sometimes it might be too late for that.

If that’s the case, then you’ll have to find a reliable way to get rid of moths as quickly as possible. As it is common for old houses and buildings to have moth related problems, it’s always good to know a thing or two about these pests and how to protect your food and clothes.

Table of Contents:

What attracts moths in your home?

Believe it or not, moths can be attracted to the way you decorate your home. The flying insects are drawn to fancy silk curtains or any furry materials in your home. Pretty much any cloth material that moths feed on can drive them to your house. A moth’s menu can include various fabrics, such as wool, fur, webbing, silk, hair, felt and even feathers.

Moths love living in dark places and tend to avoid well-lit areas of the house. Because of this, you can usually spot moths at night, or in rooms where light is little to none.

A moth infestation may not look like much of a problem, still, it should not be underestimated, as it can cause damages amounting to thousands of dollars to fix or replace.

Where do moths live and breed?

Moths can be found in different rooms of the house. Some may be living in your kitchens’ pantry and feeding on your food, while others can be thriving on the bottom of your wardrobe feasting on forgotten knitwear. Because of this, sometimes it can be hard to find where the moths are living and breeding. You will have to dedicate part of your time to observation and careful inspection.

From our experience, we can conclude that moths usually find a breeding ground in dark and humid places that are rarely used. The food source is of major importance, as young moths need food to grow and survive.

Therefore, we suggest that you thoroughly clean your kitchen cupboards twice a year. Make sure to remove any old or spoiled foods, because they can be the cause of the problem.

Going through old clothes and decluttering your wardrobe will ensure that you don’t create a nice breeding environment for moths in places you rarely open.

How to identify a moth infestation

There are some important indicators to look out for that can tell you that moths are present in your home:

  • Moth larvae – They are tiny in size and resemble maggots. These are moths caterpillars and are usually the first sign of a moth infestation. Most times, people find the moth larvae by mistake while searching in their wardrobe.
  • Silken tubes – The moth larvae live in them. It’s important to note here that the adult moths don’t feed on fabric. The moth larvae eat the fabric to grow.
  • Adult moths – These small insects can also indicate that you have a moth infestation in your home. You will find them on the ground because adult moths don’t fly.

If you find any of the above signs or see some of your favourite knitwear with holes from moth larvae, we suggest that you go through your clothing and try to find if there are any more of the above-mentioned signs.

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Best ways to get rid of moths in your house

The good news is that you can fight moths on your own, as long as the infestation isn’t severe. Some of the proven home remedies you may remember from your grandma. Here they are:

  • Lavender – Hanging sachets filled with lavender in your wardrobe will most likely deter moths best. And it smells awesome. We suggest that you use the real plant, instead of buying lavender-scented pods from the store.
  • Herbs – Another good way to repel moths is by using mint, thyme or a cedar-made wardrobe which also deters moths. If you grow these herbs yourself and have constant access to fresh material, then you can build a solid defence against these pests.
  • Moth traps – If you already have moths both in your wardrobe and pantry, then you can try fighting them with moth traps. You can easily find them in the stores, and they tend to do a pretty good job. To successfully use moth traps, you’ll have to place them in the infested place (e.g. the wardrobe, or inside the pantry).

If you have a more severe infestation going on in your home, then you may have to seek the help of a specialist to do the job. A professional pest controller will come and identify the type of moth, and take the proper steps to exterminate the pest. They will also come for a second time to inspect the infested places and determine if more procedures will be needed.

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How to mothproof your home

As we’ve mentioned before, prevention is the best method to fight an infestation, regardless of the pest. And you can save yourself the troubles of getting rid of moths by taking a few simple preventive measures:

  • Starting with the washing of all the clothes that you are going to store for the season. The washing machine will kill the moth larvae, so you won’t have to worry about your clothes safety when you put them in the wardrobe. Tip: If you are going to store fur coats, you should take them outside and give them a good brush. Brushing the fur will remove any eggs if present.
  • After you prepare the clothes, proper storage area must be provided. We suggest the usage of plastic containers, which should be closed, and isolated from the outside. This is the best way to prevent any moths from entering the container.
  • It’s also good practice to place a lavender satchel in every container, just in case. A big plus is that after taking the clothes out, they will smell great.

Starting with the washing of all the clothes that you are going to store for the season. The washing machine will kill the moth larvae, so you won’t have to worry about your clothes safety when you put them in the wardrobe.

If you are going to store fur coats, you should take them outside and give them a good brush. Brushing the fur will remove any eggs if present.

After you prepare the clothes, proper storage area must be in provided. We suggest the usage of plastic containers, which can be closed, and isolated from the outside. This is the best way to prevent any moths from entering after storing.

It’s also good practice to place a lavender satchel in every container, just in case. A big plus is that after taking the clothes out, they will smell great.

Takeaways

  • Prevention can help save you from any moth troubles.
  • Materials like wool, fur, webbing and silk can easily attract these insects to your home.
  • Moths prefer to feed and breed undisturbed, so they thrive in dark places with high humidity.
  • You can try deterring moths with home remedies involving herbs and plants before resorting to chemical products.
  • Proper clothes storage will keep the little intruders at bay and you won’t have to worry about your possessions.

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