Moth Protection??

[English Bloke]

Not wishing to hi-jack a thread, I thought I post a question here.

After reeling over Hamish's magnificent Kilt Kollection (or part there-of) in his lovely, continuation of the flight of the Saltire thread. I noticed that in this Picture...

Hamish...

... all the wool kilts appear to be wrapped in plastic. Presumably this is to protect against clothes moth larvae.

Set me thinkin' (ooh noo!) as I'm venturing into worsted wool, and though mainly aimed at Hamish this, anyone else, please feel free to chip in.

What type of bag do you use for this err... barrier method? (Home-made / shop bought and if so how made/ where bought). Presumably it needs to be sealed all round to keep the blighters out?

Is there any effective way of protecting wool other than a bag. I've read that Cedarwood is supposed to be the business but also read elsewhere that it's not . Anyone got any experience of this working or failing?

Anyone got any experience of Moth damage to a kilt and was it repairable?

I've spent quite a bit getting my first wool kilt sorted and I'm quite prepared to sit up all night with a machine gun but sensible X Marks advice may prevent the need for such drastic action.

Help and advice, once again, is appreciated.

[PiobBear]

I use commercially available garment bags.

Around here we reserve the automatic weapons for incoming mosquitoes, our State bird. They're so big WalMart sells sneakers in their size.

[SteveB]

My wool garments are in a closet with cedar hangers for the waistcoats, Argyle, and suit coats. The door has a cedar panel. The kilts are on hangers in the open.
The Maine state bird (mosquito very large) was used by the military to design an aircraft for in flight refueling. Though the military chose a smaller scale.
During bug season in New Hampshire, I tend to wear trousers and long sleave shirts so as to keep my kilts from smelling of DEET. The New Hampshire state bird is the black fly.
Slainte

[ForresterModern]

I am working toward getting all my wool items into some form of sealed environment with cedar blocks or cedar balls included. Sweaters are already in a closeable wardrobe with cedar blocks and balls. Kilt jackets and waistcoats in zippered garment bags with little hanging cedar blocks (have a hook just like a hanger so they hang on the same rod as the garment bag), kilts in those long plastic bags your dry cleaning comes in---with the bottoms loosely knotted to sealthat end, and also with the hanging cedar blocks; my other woolies (hats, hose, plaids, etc...) are in one of those plastic rubbermaid storage boxes (clear so I can see through it to easier find my specific items of acute need) with a few cedar balls or blocks thrown in with them. All is fairly sealed up and smelling nicely when I get them out to wear. If you notice the cedar scent diminishing over time each time you take out an item, all you have to do is take some rough sandpaper to the cedar and rough it up, and the aromatic cedar oils will return fairly briskly and strongly for another several months.

Mothballs are definitely more effective than cedar in the long run, but the odor they give off is fairly offensive and requires at least a 24 hour airing out peirod before wearing in company is advised. I know of some folks who have bought the big bags of cedar chips used for hamster and other rodent bedding from the pet store, and placed sizable handfulls in small cheesecloth bags tied shut, in lieu of the cedar blocks or balls. Then you just buy more fresh cedar from the pet shop once or twice a year, as needed, to replace the aging chips in the bags. Probably a cheaper solution in the long run.

[joshmccl]

I have been following Robert MacDonald's (Kiltmaker) advice on storage. I am new to the kilt world, but his advice made sense, and it does seem to keep the pleats in great shape.

http://www.westcoastkilts.com/kilt-c...toringyourkilt

I then place it in a cedar chest. I plan to find a > 25" Rubbermade container to place the kilt in first, then into the cedar chest. Double protection! It is nice to be able to sort this out in the winter in Canada, where moths are pretty rare.

[joshmccl]

one more thing...before i got the cedar chest I was using a drawer in my dresser. I have ready access to cedar trees here and I ran a small log of aged cedar through the miter saw and had a few small 'disks' of cedar. The smell was quite strong and effective. Make sure it is aged to avoid moisture problems though.

[DWFII]

I keep all my wool garments in garment bags (I learned the hard way) and I keep a couple of cedar planks with hangers sandwiched in between the garments.

But additionally, I use an oil called Texas Cedar Oil to refresh the cedar planks every now and again.

I pour a little Cedar oil on a paper towel and wipe down the wood then I toss the paper towel in the bottom of the garment bag.

My kilt, my hose, my bonnets, my P-37 BD all reek of cedar, but it is a good smell--earthy and clean. It is also comforting because it tells me all is well with regard to moths.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I bought a bunch of cedar coat hangers and some lightweight garment bags from IKEA (I think they were 2 quid for five bags) which I use to keep dust from my jackets. I picked up a tin uniform trunk at a local auction in Leith for a fiver, and I keep kilts and hose in this, along with a couple of moth balls. You can also buy cedar boards at any of the DIY/home improvement stores and use these to line a closet in which to keep your woollens. Twice a year I take everything out and give it a good airing. Thus far, in more than 40 years, no moth damage.

One of the best ways to prolong the life of your clothes is to make sure they are well aired and put away clean after each wearing.

[Jack Daw]

I store my kilts and other woollens in plastic garment cases/bags that hang in my closet. The particular garment bag can hold about 7 or 8 kilts. I also hang a can of moth cakes above. The scent of the moth cakes does not linger. Also as another precaution, I would advise to brush your kilt if you have been out of doors for a significant period.

[Chefdave]

I know of some folks who have bought the big bags of cedar chips used for hamster and other rodent bedding from the pet store, and placed sizable handfulls in small cheesecloth bags tied shut, in lieu of the cedar blocks or balls. Then you just buy more fresh cedar from the pet shop once or twice a year, as needed, to replace the aging chips in the bags. Probably a cheaper solution in the long run.

That's what I do except that I just leave it in the bags. Plenty of cedar scent can still make it through with no problem.

The bags cost almost nothing and using them I've made my own cedar chest (just line the bottom of a chest with the unopened bags) and cedar closet (place one bag above and one bag below the garments).

Cheap, easy, and effective!