How Do You Keep Clothes Moths Free?

5 steps to a moth free wardrobe

1. Deep Clean the Area. Use soap and water to wipe down surfaces and thoroughly vacuum cracks and crevices.
2. Use a Natural Moth Killer. This will safely remove any larvae and eggs that might still be present.
3. Store Clothes Correctly.
4. Use A Moth Repellant.
5. Repeat Every Season.

How do you prevent cloth moths?

Take care to store clothes made of wool, fur, or feathers in tightly sealing plastic storage bins or compression storage bags. Place suits, dresses, or other hanging clothes in garment bags, sealed and without holes (tape over any seams or joints). Avoid fabric containers, which moths can eat through.

What scent repels clothes moths?

Make your own natural repellant – Place dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender or bay leaves into a small cloth bag and hang them in your wardrobe and place them in your drawers. The oil form of these herbs, sprayed on contaminated areas and clothes, can also repel moths.

What keeps moths out of your closet?

Hang herbal sachets with lavender, thyme and rosemary to repel moths. Look to cedar scents, too, as cedar’s natural oils are powerful enough to kill closet moth larvae and eliminate infestations. Replace shelving with natural cedar boards. Use cedar hangers and cedar sachets for garments.

What is the best moth repellent?

Without a doubt, Cedar is the best natural moth repellent, followed by lavender. Just keep in mind, you have to first get rid of an infestation before you can prevent future moths. Otherwise, you’ll just be hanging up Cedar and lavender sachets as decorations for the larvae to enjoy.

What smells do moths hate?

Moths tend to dislike lavender and Cedar. Although lavender smells great to humans, it is highly repellent to insects like moths. Cedar is another great choice. Cedar masks the smell of natural fabrics and also gives clothing and linens a fresh, fragrant aroma.

Will dryer sheets keep moths away?

Tumble dryer sheets
Floral fragrances are a great moth repellent.

How do you get rid of moths permanently?

5 Ways to Get Rid of Moths

1. Deep Clean the Area. Use soap and water to wipe down surfaces and thoroughly vacuum cracks and crevices.
2. Use a Natural Moth Killer. This will safely remove any larvae and eggs that might still be present.
3. Store Clothes Correctly.
4. Use A Moth Repellant.
5. Repeat Every Season.

How do you get rid of clothes moths naturally?

Mix ¼ cup of neem oil in a 2-quart spray bottle. Fill it with water, then add a few drops of liquid soap. Shake well, and spray your solution directly on the moths. Another simple solution is to mix white vinegar with equal amounts of water to create a pesticide spray that is effective against moths.

How does vinegar get rid of moths?

Create a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. 3. Spray the solution over all affected areas and wipe the solution inside cabinets and drawers, drawer slides and liners, and undersides of shelves, making sure you go over the corners, edges and nooks well.

What attracts moths to clothes?

Store only clean and dry fabrics in the closet; moths are also attracted to the odors, oil, and moisture in fabrics that are soiled with food or grime. Store out-of-season clothes and linens in airtight containers where moths can’t reach them. Instead of stacking in-season clothes, hang them on clothing rods.

Where do clothes moths lay eggs?

Female moths lay eggs on fabric. They particularly like clothing with stains, sweat or urine that larvae can use to get the vitamins they need. Outdoors, female moths lay eggs on fruit trees, and the larvae make a meal out of your trees’ leaves and fruit.

Do moths eat cotton clothes?

Both types of moths eat natural fibers found in clothing, carpet, drapes, upholstery and bedding. They’ll eat wool, silk, cotton and any other natural fiber they can find. If they run out of clothing fibers, moths will even eat pet fur or chomp through synthetic materials to burrow into natural fibers underneath.

Does peppermint keep moths away?

Mint leaves are another effective moth repellent. Place a handful of dried peppermint in a sachet, or place loose leaves among your clothes. Peppermint oil works well, too. Just apply a few drops to a cotton ball, and tuck it in the corner of your closet.

Does lavender keep moths away?

Lavender oil is a good idea for scaring off clothes moths, too. Williams suggests hand-washing “vulnerable garments” with a few drops of natural essential lavender oil at the end of the season. The oil can also re-scent pouches that have faded over time.

How long does it take to get rid of a moth infestation?

So to get rid of a moth infestation, you would need to hammer all stages for at least four to five weeks to break the life cycle. If an infestation is already well established, you may need more visits or consider a full moth heat treatment that is more powerful.

How do you deal with a moth infestation?

Here’s an expert’s guide to dealing with a moth infestation.

1. Step 1: dispose of infested clothing.
2. Step 2: wash or freeze infested clothing.
3. Step 3: vacuum your wardrobe or drawers.
4. Step 4: deploy moth proofer spray.
5. Step 5: use insecticide.
6. Step 6: take preventative measures.
7. Step 7: be vigilant.

What causes a moth infestation?

Most moth infestations come from the pantry moth or clothes moths. The most common way to contract a moth infestation is by carrying infected items into the home. Food and clothing items that have larvae or eggs hiding within them can introduce a moth problem when you least expect it.

How do you find a moth nest?

You are looking for white webbing (a bit like messed up cobwebs) and frass and you may even find clothes moth larvae. Inspect carpets, especially round the edges, check rugs including the undersides and under bits of furniture.

What temperature kills clothes moths?

Killing clothing moths by freezing is easy too, and just a smidge more involved. To kill clothing moths by freezing them, the items must 1) first be at least 70° F (21° C), and then 2) placed in a freezer set to below 18° F (-8° C) for at least 72 hours.

How long do clothing moths live?

The lifecycle lasts for about 65-90 days, with the female adult moths living for about 30 days and potentially laying up to 300 eggs. The larvae that hatch from the eggs do the damage, as the adult moths themselves, known as ‘millers’, pose no threat to your knitwear.