Clothes moths

[Chestnut]

So far today, I have seen clothes moths in our hallway, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.

Do any of you know any tried and tested ways of evicting them?

[rary]

A rolled up newspaper

[Mitzi]

Burn all clothes and carpets.

[nickdub]

As Mitzi says the only sure way is to get rid of anything they eat - for most people that involves anything woolen (plus possibly some other natural fibers).

[Martin H]

The grubs need moisture to survive, they can't digest bone dry wool or other natural fibres. That's why they are so rare in modern centrally-heated homes. I'm not sure that turning up the central heating to max is a good idea in this weather, though.

[Scarlet]

They also like being undisturbed.

Clean the house top to bottom.
Empty wardrobes - give them a good clean inside.
All your clothes and soft furnishings need to be washed. Get an industrial carpet cleaner and do that too.
All clothing that isn't worn should be bagged.
Spare bedding etc can be kept in those sealed bags.

# if you don't want to wash the curtains- a good Hoover may work.

[Paulie]

A dehumidifier helps: as moths like damp conditions. I've found this to be very effective. And you can buy moth killer spray and tablets to put in wardrobes etcetera.

[Babru]

There's been a big moth problem for lots of people in Edinburgh the last few years. My sister, my friend and her dad all had holes in their carpets as a result. I have a spider hoover https://www.lakeland.co.uk/20455/Spi...Insect-Catcher and use it to catch and then squash the blighters - otherwise I find they get away as often as not.

I was thinking of getting a new carpet myself, and wondered if I would be safe with a part wool/part nylon. Apparently not - anything with natural fibres is moth food.

[Chestnut]

Oh gosh, I really don’t want to have to throw out every item of clothing, curtain, carpet, soft furnishing, bedsheet etc that might contain a natural fibre...
Fingers crossed!

[roitelet]

I use my Grannies method, conkers. They contain a natural naphtaline which deters moths so they don’t lay eggs which hatch into the grubs that do the damage. Never had a clothes moth problem

[bramble]

When I was growing up my grandmother always put camphor balls in the linen to deter the moths.
There is still camphor oil on sale..
Why not give it a try.

[carolefu]

If you have any lavender growing, cut the blooms & dry. Then put them into either organza bags or those little cotton bags then store them where you keep your clothes. Yes, I know your clothes will probably smell of lavender