If you’ve ever found a mystery hole in your favourite sweater, then you’ve probably pondered how to protect your wardrobe from moths.
In fact, this is one of the questions I get asked the most when it comes to taking care of your clothes!
Especially if you live in an older property, you’ll understand the frustration of moths ruining your clothes.
Trigger warning for anyone who’s not a fan of creepy crawlies – the following information may make you feel a bit squeamish. However, if you’re fed up with your expensive cashmere being a moth snack, then it’s best to know what you’re dealing with!!
Know your moth enemy
The brown house moth is around 8mm long with brown, black speckled wings.
The common clothes moth is slightly smaller, around 6-7mm long, with light beige or golden wings.
They like to lay their eggs in dark, undisturbed places like inside drawers, underneath furniture and rugs, and inside the back of your wardrobe.
A female moth can lay around 50 eggs at a time. The larvae look creamy white with a brown head.
Moths can be a problem at any time of year, although you may notice more moths during the transition from winter to spring, because as the weather warms up, moths begin to emerge from their winter cocoons.
Signs you might have moths in your home
- Holes in your clothes
- Webbing and/or cocoons in cupboard corners
- Musty smells on clothes
- Larvae on clothes
If they lay their eggs in your home, the larvae that hatch will munch their way through your fibres. And we’re not just talking clothes here. Don’t assume your upholstery, soft furnishings and carpets are safe if you find moth damage in your wardrobe. They will feast on those too if nothing else is available!
These munching machines LOVE natural fibres like wool, silk, angora and cashmere. They’re also not averse to cotton too if the aforementioned are not on offer.
How to protect your wardrobe from moths
Unless you want to see your favourite garments covered in holes, prevention is better than cure. The tips I share HERE regarding space, ventilation, laundering and storing your clothing will go a long way to protecting your wardrobe from moths.
In addition, there are some products you could try placing inside your drawers and wardrobe to deter moths such as cedar wood rings and cedar wood balls. These can even be placed inside the pockets of garments, for example.
There are also natural moth repellents usually available in the form of a sachet or bag you can place in your wardrobe and cupboards.
Why not make your own?
Some herbs repel moths such as rosemary, clove, lavender and bay leaves. Pop the dried version into little cloth bags and hang in your wardrobe or place inside cupboards. You can also spray the essential oil version into high-risk areas.
A homemade moth repellent can be made by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to water in a spray bottle, then spritzed lightly on your carpets and clothing.
To get rid of moths altogether, however, you need to break their life cycle and get rid of unhatched eggs and larvae.
Follow these tips to get rid of moths in your wardrobe and home
- Remove all the clothes from your wardrobe.
- Thoroughly vacuum the interior and base of the empty wardrobe. Use the crevice tool to get right into the edges and corners.
- Wash all your clothes at the highest recommended temp. Check care labels and take clothes to the dry cleaner that cannot be washed.
- Use your freezer as an alternative if you have room. The freezing temperature will kill moth larvae. Wrap garments in plastic bags and place in your freezer for 1-2 days.
- Vacuum all the carpets in your home thoroughly, again using the crevice tool and paying particular attention to the dark areas underneath furniture.
- Use a moth killer spray on any areas in the home where you have spotted adult moths.
Get more clothes care advice here, in my GUIDE TO LOOKING AFTER YOUR CLOTHES.
Looking after your clothes means that you get to love your clothes for longer!
If you’d like to buy fewer clothes, but have more to wear – check out my blog HERE!