How to Get Rid of Moths in Room
Starting to notice moths lingering around your home? Moths are a common household pest and while a few moths flapping about might not seem like a big deal it can quickly escalate to a moth infestation.
Moths may not bite, buzz or sting, however, these fluttering pests can cause some serious damage to your clothes, and to your pantry. They take refuge in your closet and drawers, as well as your sealed food containers.
There are natural remedies to get rid of moths in your house. Picture: Getty
Why moths are a problem
Moths cause no physical harm (despite what Mottephobia sufferers may believe), however, the damage they inflict can be extraordinary. The two common household moths you will find will cause damage in different ways in separate parts of the house.
Closet moths will hide away in your wardrobe, closet or cupboards destroying clothes by chewing through woollen jumpers, silks, linens, as well as taking to carpets and curtains – no natural fibre is safe. They shed pupae skins and leave insect excrement that could be mistaken for large grains of sand, and they lay eggs in your clothes. Yuck.
And pantry moths? They're no better. They include a species known as the Indianmeal moth, and tend to find their way into your dried goods, making crackers, flour and rice their home. The worst part? They leave behind larvae in your food and lay nests in cracks and crevices.
Indianmeal moths love finding their way into your dried goods in the pantry. Picture: Erinna Giblin
How to tell if you have a moth infestation
Unfortunately, you may not notice you have a moth problem until the damage is done. Unlike their larger fluttering relatives, closet and pantry moths are smaller in size.
While most of us think moths are generally attracted to light, this isn't necessarily the case for the type that's found its way into your home. In fact, it could be that you have a moth infestation simply because the moths are seeking shelter from harsh lighting in and around your home; this earns them the colloquial nickname 'goth butterflies'.
If you haven't noticed the damage caused by these fluttering pests, you may want to inspect your pantry a little closer – yes, weevils are moths, too.
Keep an eye out for holes in your clothing, carpets, or curtains, and be sure to inspect your closets, wardrobes and cupboards for moth webs or any whitish-gold insects lying around. You'll find pantry moths and their larvae hiding in your food or cracks in the walls – anywhere where they can gain access to your dried goods.
Curtains are one area moths like to infest. Picture: Ross Campbell
Getting rid of moths with mothballs
Just the mention of the word 'mothballs' is likely to conjure childhood memories of time spent with grandparents. Grandma's signature scent 'eau de mothball' is unforgettable, right?
Mothballs are a common method for preventing infestations of webbing moths. They're easily hidden out of sight and out of mind, releasing a smell derived from a combination of chemical pesticides and deodorant.
Before you reach for the bag of mothballs, however, it's important to know that mothballs are easily consumed by small children and pets, and their high concentration of pesticide is incredibly toxic and lethal if consumed. Signs of mothball poisoning include vomiting, pale or brown gums, seizures and laboured breathing.
Mothballs work, but beware of how toxic they can be to kids and pets if they're accidentally consumed, so always keep them out of reach. Picture: Getty
7 DIY remedies for getting rid of moths
Want to get rid of moths naturally? If you'd rather steer clear of mothballs – and their memorable fragrance – try these natural remedies to get rid of moths in your house.
1. Throw away infested food and wash your clothes
If closet or pantry moths have made their way into your home, it's important to remove any traces where they've caused damage to prevent future infestations. It's highly possible that both types of moths will have laid eggs in your food or clothes, so be sure to throw away any infested food, and properly wash and brush clothes that have been exposed to moths.
2. Seal up any cracks and crevices
Once you've removed all traces of pantry and webbing moths, be sure to seal up any cracks and crevices the moths may have found their way into. Start by vacuuming around areas where infestation may have been to remove adult moths or moth eggs that have nestled in the cracks, then seal up these spots in order to prevent future infestations.
3. Ventilation and humidity
Moths are attracted to humid spaces, so it's important to control temperatures where you can in your house, and regularly clean your closet and pantry. Where you can, keep air circulating to prevent moths from laying eggs in your clothes or weevils finding their way into your food.
4. Proper storage and cleaning
It's time to put down the mothballs and get serious about clothing storage, for the sake of your wallet. Skip grandma's favourite moth prevention remedy and opt for storage containers and vacuum-sealed bags instead.
Proper storage is crucial for preventing future infestations of pantry moths, too. When storing away perishable goods or dry foods, always use air-tight containers to keep your food fresh, and keep out the weevils.
5. Bundles of herbs and florals
A terrific natural remedy to deter webbing moths is to create satchels containing lavender, rosemary, clove, mint, thyme and cedar chips to hang or sit in your wardrobe. The smell will deter any invading webbing moths that are repelled by the aromatic combination. Bonus: It also makes your wardrobe smell great.
Herbal remedies can rid your home of moths and make your spaces smell great. Picture: Erinna Giblin
6. Lavender essential oils
While lavender smells great to us, webbing moths cannot seem to stand it. Simply pour a few drops of lavender essential oil onto cotton balls and place them in your wardrobe, closet, and boxes of off-season clothes.
Lavender is much nicer to smell than mothballs. Picture: Getty
7. Cedar chips
You may already know of this remedy. Cedarwood has long been a natural repellent for clothes moths, and is an easy fix to deter the evil insects that are destroying all your clothes. Place cedar chips wherever you have noticed signs of webbing moth infestations, or invest in cedar liners for your drawers, or cedar rings for your hangers. If your cedar chips begin to lose their scent, sand them back slightly or buy a bottle of cedar oil to apply to the wood.
How to Get Rid of Moths in Room
Source: https://www.realestate.com.au/lifestyle/how-to-get-rid-of-moths-in-the-house/