How to get rid of moths: recommendations from professional cleaners

The butterfly does not like to be the center of attention – it usually hides in the farthest, darkest corners of cabinets or under upholstery, and very rarely flies away – if disturbed or for mating.

You probably know the obvious sign of a moth infestation: when tiny holes appear on your clothes, you don’t have to wonder for long where they came from. However, there are other “symptoms”: you may notice insect droppings that look like tiny black specks, white cobwebs left by the larvae, and cream-colored eggs the size of a pinhead.

Have you discovered that a pest has taken up residence in your home? It’s time to start a war – here are the ways you can use it.

“Lavender is one of the most popular ways to prevent moths,” says Kathy Cohun, a professional cleaner and cleaning company franchise manager. – But be careful: this old trick only serves to keep insects away. The plant will not be able to kill any eggs, larvae or butterflies, so first make sure there are none in the cupboard and then place some lavender sachets in there.

Among the recommendations of cleaners for getting rid of moths is often the advice to use cedar – insects cannot stand its aroma either. “You can choose from a variety of options: plates, balls, cubes or even wooden hangers. If you notice that the wood has stopped smelling, simply sand the surface – this will restore the repellent properties of the material, says John Stewart, an employee of a company that produces environmentally friendly household cleaning products.

“You don’t have to use dried herbs or wood: essential oils will work just as well. Natural repellents include cedarwood, lavender, thyme, cinnamon, cloves and eucalyptus: apply a few drops to cotton balls or pads and place them on your closet shelves, advises Jennifer Parnell, co-owner of the cleaning company.

“Freezing is a very effective method of getting rid of clothes moths, but you have to know how to use it correctly,” says entomologist Jennifer Broomfield. She advises placing things in airtight bags and putting them in the freezer for a week (if your temperature is below -20°, then 72 hours is enough).

“If you remove the clothes earlier, the caterpillars may wake up and continue their meal,” explains the expert. She also reminds that fabric fibers become brittle when exposed to low temperatures, so you should let the objects “thaw” completely and only then remove them from the bag.

“Temperatures above 55° kill butterflies at any stage of their life cycle – from eggs to moths. You can get rid of pests by washing your clothes on a sixty degree cycle or using a steamer. If this method risks damaging things, go back to the gel idea,” says Broomfield.

Trichogramma are tiny parasitic wasps that destroy other insects by laying their eggs in others. For now, this natural way of combating moths remains exotic for us, but, for example, in the UK you can buy small paper cards, each of which contains more than two thousand wasps.

After opening the card, trichogrammas themselves look for moth eggs and do not allow the larvae developing in them to hatch. Wasps are completely safe for humans – we are unlikely to notice these tiny 0.4mm long creatures. After destroying the moth, trichogrammas disappear naturally on their own and are now considered an excellent alternative to insecticides.

Moth balls not only have an unpleasant odor for butterflies: when they evaporate, they release a gas that is toxic to adult insects and larvae. The balls are made from mothballs or 1,4-dichlorobenzene, both carcinogens. Therefore, you cannot just put them in the closet – use airtight containers and, before putting them on, be sure to ventilate them well in the fresh air.

“These professional moth control products are generally capable of destroying moths at any life stage. Be sure to read and follow the instructions; for example, some products can be harmful to children and pets and should be removed from the room when you disinfect clothes,” advises Jennifer.

“I can’t call the sticky strips a professional method of moth control – rather, they are a red flag that there are pests in the closet. The traps are covered in pheromones that mimic the scent of females and attract males. If you see a stuck insect, you can be sure there is one nearby and you need to act quickly,” says textile conservator Mary Ballard.

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