Thinking about moths, the picture of small, winged insects fluttering near the light comes up in your mind. Even though categories different varieties into one big group. Some of the varieties of moth sneak into your home in search of food. Once your house gets infested with clothes moths, you can find them in your pantry laying eggs. Some of its variety can hide in between clothes and feed on the fibers.
Here, are a few things that you would want to know if there is a clothes moth infestation in your house.
Types of moths that cause damage to carpets, garments, or other cloth material are known as cloth moths. These pests consume textile as their food. Cloth moths generally hate bright light so, find dark places like wardrobes, chests, and closets very appealing. It provides a comfortable setting for them to thrive. It is not the mature moths that feed on clothes but the larvae. When the cloth moth lay their eggs in the garment, they start feeding on the fibers near them as soon as they hatch.
There are two types of clothes moths are found in the house:
Case-making moths
Case-making moths enclose themselves in a tube-shaped, silken case. They drag this case around, which contains bits of fibers that they feed on.
This variety of moths, known for the silken web-like structures that are spun by the pests while they eat are webbing moths. They leave patches and tubes like structures on the garments.
What do cloth moths eat?
Going by the name these pests eat garments but not all of them. They consume animal-based, natural fibers whose main component is keratin protein. Silk, wool, felt, feathers, leathers, and fur are such materials that are liked by the cloth moth. This simply means that they feed on and damage expensive clothing. As the synthetic fibers won’t attract such pests so, the cheaper materials stay safe from them. When outside cloth moth lay their eggs in the nests of the birds and other animals such as squirrels. When these eggs hatch they will get to eat fresh fibers found there along with feathers and fur.
Where can you find cloth moths?
If you store any winter clothes, blankets in the attic, or stored away for the next season, cloth moths have a chance of infesting those clothes. If you don’t pack them properly or put neem balls in between the clothes, you will find cloth moths next time when you unpack them.
These pests can be found in wall cavities, attics, basements also, where you have stored old rugs, carpets, and garments. You can also find them in the upholstery and furniture that are made of natural fibers.
How to prevent cloth moth infestation?
There are a few ways you can keep your belongings safe from these pests:
Clean all the dress materials, coats, blankets made of natural fibers carefully before storing them away.
Make sure to disinfect the clothes and check for moth eggs or larvae.
You can dry-clean expensive clothes if you find eggs attached to them. The dry-cleaners will brush the larvae or eggs off gently without damaging the dress.
Pay close attention inside the sleeves, under the collar, and seams tucked away.
Store the clothes carefully in sealable, tight-fitting plastic bags before putting them in boxes or hanging them up.
You can also opt for storing expensive clothes in cold vaults offered by furriers and department stores.
Use moth flakes, balls, or crystals that contain paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. These balls will forbid moths from laying eggs. If you have pets and kids at home, you may want to use these carefully as they are hazardous to them. Try to use the recommended amount and keep them sealed away in the bags.
There are different kinds of insecticides and moth traps available in the market. Even though they are effective, it is still dangerous and volatile to use them at home without any professional help. Call a professional pest control company in Delhi NCR to remove them from your premises. You can ask them to survey your property. Some of them even give a free inspection and provide plans to eradicate them.
Some of the natural methods to eradicate clothes moths
Here are a few tips to help you control clothes moth infestation at your house.
Fill the home with cedar
You can prepare cedar oil spray by diluting it with water. You can also use it in a diffuser to spread the smell. Certain insects and moths are repelled by the smell of cedar.
Use a mixture of dried, powdered, and crushed herbs
Prepare a mixture of herbs that is dried, powdered and pack it in a bag. You can hang this bag where you keep food and clothes. You can use herbs like thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, cloves, and lavender. Moths don’t like their smell so, stay away. If you have essential oils at home, you can dilute them and spray them on the clothes. You can also use a diffuser as well.
Dust and vacuum your carpets, moldings, and floors
Vacuum your home regularly. You can use dusting clothes, eco-friendly cleaners to keep dirt and dust away. Empty the contents inside the vacuum and thoroughly wash the dusting clothes so that, no larvae or eggs of the moth hides and develops in it.
Freeze clothes that show signs of moth infestation
If any of your cloth is infested with the moths it is best to leave them in the freezer for 24 hours or more. This will kill the larvae from extensive cold temperatures. After that, you can simply brush them off.
Wash of eggs and larvae of the moth
If possible, wash the clothes infested by cloth moth by using hot water or a high heated dryer. If your expensive clothes cannot be washed this way, then you better take them to a dry-cleaner.
Use vinegar
In case your dress doesn’t fade you can scrub and wash the cloth moth infested area with the vinegar solution. Simply add water and vinegar to a bottle and spray it on the eggs and larvae. These tips have been used by the grandmothers successfully to keep the valuable clothes evergreen.
