How to Control Moths in Wool Fabric
The larvae of clothes moths enjoy consuming the keratin in wool fabric and other organic material. Prior to the 1950s, clothes moths posed a common problem in closets and houses across the world. In the 1950s, wool clothing began to be treated during manufacture with various long-lasting residual insecticides. Many of these chemicals have been found to pose a health risk and have been removed during clothing manufacture, which has caused a resurgence in clothes moths again attacking wool clothing and furniture. Prevention and maintenance can keep wool fabrics free of destruction by moths. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum
- Plastic containers
- Plastic bags
- Duct tape
- Moth bug spray
- Mothballs or cakes
- Eastern red cedar chips
- Moth insect foggers
- Dry ice
- Pheromone-based insect traps
Instructions
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Vacuum the entire house regularly. Focus on crevices where human and dog hair and oil can accumulate, which makes an excellent breeding ground for larvae.
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Remove all wool clothing that shows signs of moth larvae or damage. Have clothing professionally dry cleaned. Vacuum the entire closet from top to bottom to remove any moth eggs that might remain. Promptly empty and dispose of the vacuum debris outside.
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Place freshly dry-cleaned garments in an airtight container to prevent any remaining larvae from attacking the clothing. A few eggs might remain in the area that have been missed during vacuuming so storing the wool clothing in an airtight container will help prevent re-infestation.
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Place mothballs or moth cakes containing paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene into the containers with the wool clothing.
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Purchase eastern red cedar chips and place inside clothing containers or bags. Eastern red cedar chips work well to kill larvae but they will not prevent or kill adult moths. The chips will also not kill eggs.
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Spray a chemical moth repellent into crevices and along baseboards where a moth infestation has occurred. If the flooring is hardwood, spray the moth repellent into the joints of the wood to allow it to seep between the boards.
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Purchase foggers that specifically state that they can be used to kill eggs, larvae and adult moths. Follow the directions on the label for release inside the home.
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Purchase pheromone-based insect traps, which attract the moths and capture them. The traps will not effect eggs or larvae, but adult male moths tend to flock to them.
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Fumigate the closet by placing dry ice inside of the small space until the dry ice evaporates.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use heavy plastic bags in place of storage containers to pack wool clothing. Tightly seal the ends of the bags using duct tape.
Moth larvae can also attack the fibers of wool fabric couches. Professional cleaning of the furniture is required for removal.
Heat infested clothing to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to kill moths, eggs and larvae. Be care to not burn the clothing or allow it to catch fire.
Paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene are respiratory irritants for many people. People with a lung condition should avoid using mothballs or cakes.
Always wear gloves when handling dry ice because it can cause severe skin burns.
