I have MOTHS!

[Lallans]

Ah, moths. We know each other well, moths and I. The fumigator bombs recommended in an earlier post work well but if you live in an older building and have attractors (I tie trout flies and they love fur and feathers), they always seem to come back even if it takes a few years. Experts will tell you that the only thing that will ensure zero clothing (or fur or feather) damage is to use a KILLER moth ball containing napathene. The disadvantage to that is the smell. If you can find cedar oil, sold as an essential oil in natural remedy-type stores, I have had excellent luck enclosing my kilts and suits in nylon travel garment bags in which I place strips of blotting paper (or cardboard) soaked in the oil. I also dab it around any openings. That way you smell only of cedar, which isn't so bad (and airs out pretty quickly). You do have to renew the oil as it evaporates. I also have a professionally made cedar chest I bought at a flea market: make sure yours has absolutely no cracks of any size and moth proof gaskets on the lid and that will work well, in my experience. BTW, this is my first post on Scotweb, and also I make greeting to the Forrester tartan wearer who posted earlier- I too wear that hunting tartan. Go Green!

[GDub]

No offense intended to those who recommended this, but the last thing I would do is "bug bomb" my closet! Hanging the woolens out in the sunlight (or if possible giving them a little freezer time) then storing them in garment bags or trash bags or something the moths can't get into seems a sensible solution.

[Lallans]

'Bug bomb the closet'? I was talking about bug bombing the HOUSE- you will know when you have to. As far as freezing goes, any moth-eaten Canuck such as myself will tell you that if freezing worked, there would be no moths in Canada. Freezing DOES kill larvae and adult moths, and is great to cleanse a garment of them, but in some species at least their EGGS will survive nicely and wake up when the warmth returns. Further qualifications to my own advice: even moth balls are supposedly not guaranteed be effective unless they are used in a closed environment (more closed in than a closet). Also, I've heard it said that when clothes moths appear in a normal household (one that isn't,like mine, full of wild fur etc), it will usually be found that they are centered on some hidden source of food- my informant used the for-instance of a dirty old sock that has fallen under the couch. Myself, I've found them in dark places in quite small dust kitties etc.

[GDub]

'Bug bomb the closet'? I was talking about bug bombing the HOUSE- you will know when you have to...

OK, but I wouldn't bug bomb my house either (far worse IMHO)--even if there were wool moths, sporran eating weevils or child eating army ants... To be honest, I never have and never will go for an "...icide" solution. Even with a severe termite problem, the walls will come off and studs and joists will be replaced. But that's just me, Mr. Organic.

Sláinte.

[tulloch]

My cleaner says that they go for the spots of soiling - food, human oils. Make sure they are clean, follow the above advices.

[Tiny]

Vacume pack bags work wonders and finally gives a use for the vacume bagger system you bought the night you couldn't sleep and was up all night watching infomercials.

[Tobus]

I'm reviving this semi-retired thread because I've discovered (to my horror) that I have moths too. I've never had this problem before. But suddenly I'm noticing holes in my wool items in 2 separate closets.

I intend on buying some moth balls or whatever I can find at the store, but what do I do with them? Is it sufficient to put 'em in a small closet, or must they go in smaller sealed containers with the garments I'm trying to protect? In other words, will the smell of moth balls keep moths out of the closet?

Also, how can you tell if you still have moth larvae in your garments? Are they big enough to see? And if so, what do they look like?

[Pleater]

Moth larvae can be seen, they are white grubs with dark heads - they tend to get into the most hidden spots though - they do not like the light. They also create little dwellings of fibre for themselves so they are both disguised and secure. They can be disloged with a pin and squashed - do not squash them on the clothes. Do not iron moth infested clothes - blaugh!!!!

Wool needs to be kept clean - sponge over the apron after you have worn kilts where you ate or drank - do not rub just dab the wet sponge onto the fabric so it is damp and then dry it off with anything absorbent - you might be surprised at how many dirty spots are picked up.

Likewise treat jacket cuffs and fronts, and the collar, so they are kept clean.

It is advisable to take out all the items from your wardrobes from time to time, unfold and inspect them, give them a shake - just in case - and keep valuable items in a cover or bag. That also means that if you put mothballs into the wardrobe the smell isn't overpowering on the clothes, and it should soon disipate.

If you find damage from moths or other insects a quick way to exterminate them is to double bag the garments and put them into the freezer.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[MacLowlife]

I have found it useful to read the cubic footage allowances on mothball packages. A sealed closet will work as a fumigation chamber if you concentrate the fumes sufficiently. Cleaning and brushing are great ways to contend with moths, as is thorough vacuuming- like under sofas, etc.

Moths may not be inevitable, but wise people prepare for them as if they were. Save any extra fabric, yarn, etc. in case you need to reweave. I like seeing a moth repair now and then, especially on someone else. It shows the owner likes the garment well enough to wear it past its initial damage.

Lay not up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust can consume... (Matthew 6:19)

[Bugbear]

I blame the moths all on Linny and Squiggy from that TV show.