How to Keep Moths Away Without Using Moth Balls

Moths are attracted to woolen materials like clothes and carpets.

Clothes moths are pests that, unlike their cousins the mosquito, don't care for blood. What they care about is wool. In particular, clothes moths like to lay their larvae on wool, fur and feathers. These larvae can chew through and damage said clothes. The most common way of dealing with clothes moths is by lacing clothes with mothballs, which are balls of chemical pesticide that repel clothes moths. Unfortunately, mothballs are also dangerous to young kids and infants. The good news is that there are other solutions you can employ to repel clothes moths from your home.

Instructions

1. Inspect any clothes made from wool when you bring them into your home. Until you have time to thoroughly examine them, keep them away from your other woolen clothes. If they are infected, have them dry cleaned to completely remove moth eggs and larvae.

2. Keep your clothes clean. Moths only infect clothes that have been contaminated with sweat, food stains, beverage stains and the like. Also clean your storage areas, such as closets and drawers. Sprinkle boric acid powder on cracks and crevices.

3. Put clothes in airtight bags or plastic containers. Check them for infestation periodically.

4. Store woolen clothes in cool, dry areas. Open windows in either deep winter or deep summer, as moths will die in temperatures below 0 degrees or higher than 110 degrees.

5. Vacuum wool tapestries, carpets and furniture. Remove any remaining pet hair, a food source for moth larvae.

References

• Washington State University - Spokane County Extension; Clothing Moths; January 2005
• Colorado State University Extension; Home & Garden: Clothes Moths: Identification and Control in the Home; W.S. Cranshaw
• The Consumerist; It Turns Out Mothballs Aren't Just Bad for Moths; Phil Villarreal; Feb. 8, 2011
• Oregon State University Extension; Mothballs: Proper Use and Alternative Controls for Clothes Moths; D. Stone, et al.; May 2008