HELP! How do I get rid of clothes moths??? Post Reply

[la-la]

CAn anyone please help! I have clothes moths and I think they are in my airing cupboard as I have just ironed a brand new top which has just been washed for the 1st time and ARGH it has a hole right in the front. So fuming mad with these mini beasts! Can anyone tell me a sure fire way of getting rid of them for good?!

Thank you!!!

[karend1]

I undestand how you feel although I had them 4 yrs ago and they are still here although less. I have also had my house professionally sprayed to no avail. I purchase every product there is so here are my best ones:

Colibri protector sachets
The diamond moth traps with sticky pads
Zero clothes moth spray which does pong so use a mark when kids are out
They have eaten loads of lovely clothes which is so annoying so we now put all our woollens in plastic hanging bags.
If they are in one place I would empty cupboard clean it thouroughly and put all the items in the freezer to kill eggs or v hot wash. Then spray and refil cupboard with moth killer. I read its the larvae that eats clothes?

I hate them! My house has lots of wood and we thought they had gone but saw a few flying around last week in final desperation the dry cleaners told me to use real cedar wood I purchased 3 metres last week chopped up and put in drawers cupboards and wardrobes.don't know what else to do really!

Wish you luck my 4 year old screams "moth moth" when we see one they are poor flyers so easy to kill if you see one !

From a desperate SW London moth exterminator
Best regards

[la-la]

Thank you so much for your advice karend1. I am starting to fear here that one you get moths you are never rid of them. We did have them in our old place and I think they have moved with us. They seem to like the flavour of jersey as I keep finding holes in t-shirts. I will start at the top of your list & work my way down. The fight begins.....

Thanks again and all the best with getting rid of yours. If I find a wonder cure I'll let you know!

[twingirlsmama]

you will never get rid of them!!! ive had so many expensive sweaters ruined. and of course they go for the cashmere ones. the only thing you can do is put every item of clothing into a bag after washing and then freeze it for at least 48 hours. an impossible task really as you would have to put every item of clothing in the freezer at the same time. in winter i put all my sweaters away in vacuum bags and dry clean everything before storing it. i use the balls in plastic pockets from john lewis and put them in pockets of jackets and coats, the bottom of clothes hangers, drawers etc. I also have hanging moth proofers in all the wardrobes and cupboards - manufactured by zensect. good luck.............

[Goldhawk]

Rentokil will come in and spray not sure of cost

[NurseryGirl]

I have had them for years, just barely under control. I thought I was winning, but they've been back lately! However - I have managed to keep most of my clothes and things mostly safe. I've been using lavendar oil, lavendar bags and cedar wood. I don't want moth balls as they are so toxic and would be for our cat especially, but would also be wary with children or asthmatics (or asthmatic children!) in the house.

Learn to look for the signs of them - they leave sort of sandy excrement that I didn't recognise at first, but now I've seen it all too often! If you find it, make sure that the clothes and the shelf, basket or drawer it's in are all washed and/or vacuumed thoroughly. Look for small little cocoons or little white larvae, about a quarter of an inch long. I'm afraid I squish them and flush them. It is the larvae that will chomp your jumpers, carpets, leather, feathers and anything else that has come from animals. Cotton and synthetics should be safe. And I will definitely second everyone else who has mentioned freezing! That's what I have done with precious knitted toys and other items.

They don't like being disturbed, so washing and hoovering certainly helps. They ate my feather duster, stored in a cupboard, so now it hangs from a door knob where people brush past it regularly (& maybe even do a bit of dusting!).

I'll be checking back for success strories - they drive me crazy!

[la-la]

Wow, thank you so much for all the advice. I feel more frustrated about it than ever now and really don't know what to do 1st. I am sure they are in my airing cupboard so I have started freezing batches of clothes in order to gradually empty it then spray with rentokil moth spray....... Hoping this will do the trick although it will take weeks.

Daniel, I would love to have professionals in but it is a lot of money if it is not a guaranteed cure.

One thing I'm really not sure about is that the holes are in cotton. I have found them in t-shirts, jersey tops etc. Can this be moths as what I'm gathering is that they go for animal fibres?

[NQWWW]

Charlotte Gaskell sells beautiful oriental carpets, and knows a thing or two about moths! She sells the moth traps (£4.20 each - includes 2 pads) with sticky pads (£1.30). They attract the male moths with a pheromone smell. The males get stuck and can't make babies, so no chewing of your woollies. They worked fantastically well for me.

Her contact details:
020 8672 3224
info@charlottegaskell.com
http://www.charlottegaskell.com