*Collaborative post
Clothes moths are arguably the worst kind of moth to have in your home. Not only are they generally annoying and unsanitary, but they can also result in serious damage to a range of natural textiles, including clothing, bedding, carpets and rugs.
It can be a bit daunting to discover that you have a clothes moth problem, but you need to take action fast. From confirming which kind of moth you’re dealing with to taking preventative measures like moth traps, here’s how to start getting rid of these annoying pests.
Confirm the moth type
Before you start actually dealing with your moth problems, it’s important to confirm the moth type you’re dealing with. Some sure signs of clothes moths will be the presence of small (roughly 1 cm in length) light brownish-grey moths, that dislike the light and will scatter around if disturbed.
Importantly, you’ll also see the damage that their larvae result in. These will be small (and eventually, not so small) holes in your silk and wool items, from socks and jumpers to carpets. Some people aren’t aware of the fact that it’s not actually the moths that make the holes – it’s their larvae, which look like tiny little caterpillars.
Separate your infested items
Once you’ve confirmed that you’re dealing with clothes moths, you’ll need to separate your infested items. This means carefully looking over all your clothing, and taking out any items that look like they have larvae, moths or holes in them.
If you have absolutely any doubts, it’s worth erring on the side of caution. You’ll want to bag up all your clothes which potentially have moths in them, and separate them from your other items. You don’t want to miss any, or all your eradication efforts could be for nothing.
Clean your clothes
To get rid of the moths from your clothes, you’ll first need to wash them, at a reasonably high heat – over 50 degrees Celsius ideally. If this isn’t possible, you can also take them to a dry cleaner and tell them about your moth issue.
Another option is to freeze the moths out. Place your clothes in a freezer that’s at least -18 degrees Celsius, leaving them in there for at least three days. Repeat this process to be absolutely certain that you’ve gotten rid of the infestation.
Invest in moth traps
While they’re not a standalone solution to clothes moth infestations, it’s generally worth investing in moth traps as part of your prevention and eradication strategy.
There are a range of options from suppliers like Moth Prevention, depending on the kind of moth you’re dealing with. When combined with the strategies outlined above, traps can be an effective way of getting rid of moths, and making sure that they don’t come back again any time soon.
It’s important to stay diligent with these things, to make sure that the clothes moths don’t return. Once you’ve gotten rid of them, invest in proper preventative measures, so that you can rest assured that your clothes won’t get ruined in the coming months and years.lanced life.