Fighting moths is oftentimes a hard thing to do. They can be a problem to a household, as moths fall into two different categories. One that feeds on clothes and others that love living in your pantry and feed on your food.
Usually, when you start seeing signs of an infestation, it’s already late, and you’ll have to put time and money into fixing the problem. As it is common for old houses and buildings to have such a problem, it’s always good to know how to deal with it (as much as you can) and try to save the day (and your food or clothes).
What Attracts Moths Inside Your Home
Believe it or not, moths can be attracted just by how you decorate your home. The flying insects can be attracted to your fancy silk curtains or any furry materials in your home. Any cloth material that moths feed on can cause your moth infestation or be a trouble waiting to happen.
Those materials can be considered luxurious, so a moth infestation can cause damage that may end up costing thousands of dollars to fix or replace.
Moths love living in dark places and tend to avoid well lit areas of the house. Because of this, you can usually spot a moth infestation at night or in rooms where light is little to none.
Where do Moths Live & Breed
Moths can be found in different areas of the house. Some may be living in your kitchen’s pantry and feeding on your food, much like other annoying pests, while others can be thriving on the bottom of your wardrobe, feasting on forgotten knitwear.
Because of this, sometimes it can be hard to find where the moths live and breed. It takes a lot of searching until you finally find the correct place.
In our experience treating such infestations, moths usually find breeding grounds in dark, humid places, which are rarely used. The food source is very important as young moths need food to grow and survive.
Because of this, we suggest that you thoroughly clean your kitchen cabinets twice a year. When doing so, make sure to remove any old or spoiled foods because they can be the cause of the problem.
Going through old clothes and decluttering your wardrobe will ensure you don’t have moth breeding grounds in places you rarely open.
How to Identify a Moth Infestation
Just like any infestation, there are many signs that can show you that you may be having a moth infestation going on in your home.
The first sign that you may notice is moth larvae. They are very small in size and resemble maggots. These are moth caterpillars and are usually the first sign of a moth infestation. However, most times, people find the moth larvae by mistake while searching in their wardrobes.
Another sign of a moth infestation is the presence of silken tubes. The moth larvae live in them. It’s important to know because adult moths don’t feed on fabric. The moth larvae eat the fabric in order to grow.
Adult moths are also a way to give off that you have a moth infestation in your home. You will find them on the ground because adult moths don’t fly.
If you find any of the above signs or see some of your favourite knitwear with holes from moth larvae, we suggest that you go through your clothing and try to find if there are any of the above mentioned signs.
Best Ways to Get Rid of Moths
The good news is that you can fight moths DIY, as long as the infestation isn’t severe. One of the proven methods you may know from your grandma.
Using lavender filled sachets and hanging them in your wardrobe will most likely deter moths best. We suggest you use the real plant instead of buying lavender scented pods from the store.
Another good way you can repel moths is by using mint, thyme or getting a cedar-made wardrobe that also deters moths.
If you already have moths both in your wardrobe and pantry, then you can try to fight them with moth traps. They do a fairly good job capturing the majority of the insets.
In order to successfully use moth traps, you’ll have to place them in an infested place (e.g. the wardrobe or inside the pantry).
If you have a more severe infestation going on in your home, then you may have to seek the help of a professional to do the job. As most widely sold insecticides aren’t strong enough to deal with the infestation.
A moth control specialist will come and correctly identify the type of moth and take the proper steps to exterminate the pest. A pest controller will also come for a second time to inspect the infested places and determine if more procedures will be needed.
How to Moth Proof Your Home
Prevention remains the best method to fight the infestation. Because of this, you have to take specific steps when storing your clothes.
Adjust cabinet and cupboard doors so they fit perfectly and make it harder for moths to gain entrance where there are food sources.
It’s highly recommended that you wash all the clothes you will store for the season. The washing machine will kill the moth larvae, which will protect your clothes. If you are going to store fur coats, you should take them outside and give them a good brush. Brushing the fur will remove any eggs, if present.
After you prepare the clothes, proper storage space must be in place. Experts suggest the usage of plastic containers, which can be closed and isolated from the outside. This is the best way to prevent any moths from entering after storing.
It’s also good practice to place a lavender satchel in every container, just in case. A big plus is that you will have nice smelling clothes after taking the clothes out.
Also, don’t forget to place a moth zapper if you recently installed an exterior light mounting block.
Conclusion
Dealing with moths is never an easy task. Sometimes, you may not notice that there is a problem at all.
However, these pesky little things can cause quite a bit of damage to your property if you don’t deal thoroughly with the infestation. Remember, your best bet is to act quickly when you notice the problem so that the moths don’t cause too much damage.
