Yikes!! Moths in my Kilt Kloset!!

[azwildcat96]

I second the Scotch suggestion. Find a bottle that you don't care for, and drown the buggers! Then have a wee dram of the good stuff to celebrate the victory.
Seriously, good luck with the eradication. Let us know what works for you.

[tyger]

You are on sound ground there, Jeff.

I think the old entomologist's saying is that "The time for one to implement pest control is before one sees the pests."

My program includes a fogging of my closet of suits, sport coats, kilts every March and September.

[denmcdough]

Mookien,

I steam my several wool kilts quite frequently, like every time I finish wearing one. And, I tend to wear them a lot these days.

I purchased an inexpensive steamer at Wal-Mart and it works wonders. Really! It's great for working out wrinkles, and I hope it's been doing its job of destroying any moths. I haven't found any, as of yet. As for keeping them away long-term, well, not sure. So, I just keep at it every so often.

As for steaming each pleat....not a problem. The steamer has a nice size head, which is slender enough to whisk inside and do its job.

I store my wool kilts (by hanging them up) in a pillow case. All I do is cut a small slit on top, in the middle, for the hanger; place some tape on the covering; fold up the bottom and pin it. What's cool is that the pillow case breaths, but keeps intruders out!

[Galician]

I like that idea of using a pillow case to cover the kilt!

[Dale Seago]

I like that idea of using a pillow case to cover the kilt!

So do I!

[Ryan Ross]

So do I!

I do that, myself.

[ForresterModern]

I like that idea of using a pillow case to cover the kilt!

Here is inventiveness taken another degree forward. Why not just buy pillow covers, cut a small hole in the end opposite the zipper for the hanger hook to go through, put in your kilt and just zip up the bottom of the pillow cover instead of having to deal with pins. Cheap kilt garment bags (as long as your kilts and hangers fit). Must try at home when this is all over.

j

[denmcdough]

Jeff, another great idea! I wonder if they'll be long enough, though!?? I assume they would. Wonder what they cost, as compared to pillow cases, which are rather inexpensive?!

Actually, pinning the bottom of the pillow case isn't that much of a hassle, IMHO!

So far, I do think the pillow cases are working out okay...have been storing the kilts in them for over a year now! If I find any moth eggs, I'm gonna freak out!!!!!

[mookien]

denmcdough: Thanks for elaborating on your steaming technique. I'll give it a try. I have been hanging my kilts inside thin plastic cleaner bags and clipping the bottom together with gym clips. But they don't breath, so pillow cases seems like a better option.

I also use lots of cedar (blocks, thin sheets from cigar boxes, and hanger discs) and sand it up to bring out the aroma. It smells good to me, but may not be as effective as I hope. See the following article from the CSU Extension for details.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05599.html

[ForresterModern]

Well, after careful review of options and discussion with my wife we bombed the whole closet with all my woolens distributed about the small room. Since the fogger bomb was designed for whole house use we figure in that small space the saturation effect would surely be complete, and it seems so after cleanup. Supposed to be effective on all three life stages of the moths including the eggs and larvae. Swept and wiped down carpets and surfaces, then packed up all the fur sporrans in plastic storage containers, same with wool bonnets and caps, bagged up all the kilts in storage garment bags, and placed cedar blocks or hangers in each container. Added cedar planking to the shelf units, and have cedar oil spray on order to keep the cedar walls and else up to smell with frequent replenishment. All I need to do now is get a few more garment bags for my jackets, and put my long winter wool coats in similar long gown bags with cedar blocks for their final storage. Cleaned up several dozen dead moths from around the room, carpet, shelves and directly on several items. Shook all the hanging items out and gave them a good beating or brushing before returning them to the closet.

Hoping all this works. Will try to post pics of the demons and the source sporran (trojan horse of sorts), as well as the new and improved closet, later this evening, once I finish things up tonite.

As for the zippered pillow cover idea, I think king size covers should work for even my length kilts---will give it a try if they are wide enough for my kilt hangers.

Single malt salute tonite after completing the job.

jeff