I have been losing fighting a battle ever since we moved into our century home almost 3 years ago. You see we inherited moths from the previous owners. And they really like clothing from Club Monaco.
I don’t know if it is extra tasty or if is just extra available. But it seems to be that out of all the clothing in this house the articles of mine from Club Monaco seem to get holes more than the rest.
Don’t get me wrong. I have made some serious progress on the moth front and the fact that we have completed alot of renovations on this house has really helped to diminish their numbers. And yet today I still found a hole in my favourite blue striped scoop neck Club Monaco t-shirt.
My Club Monaco t-shirt & a Cate & Levi stuffie that moths found tasty.
If you like me are dealing with moths in your home here are the things that I have found work to kill the little buggers diminish their numbers.
1. Use Moth Pheromone Traps; gone are the days of moth balls. They are really toxic and smelly. But the pheromone Moth Traps work great. And today’s casualty of war reminds me that I need to get a new one up.
2. Keep your home cool and dry; Moths love a warm and moist environment. Which is why you seem to see alot more of them in the summer months. The moth cycle actually slows down through the colder winter months which is why you might think they are gone for good. Trust me they aren’t.
3. Keep your home clean. Ok I am terrible at this one, but it makes sense. Moths don’t just lay eggs in clothing but in carpets and couches. So keep the dust and dirt down.
4. Lavender and Cedar Work; as long as they are really smelly. I have strong-smelling lavender soaps (thanks Mom!) in most of my drawers and it seems to work as a deterrant. Of course the drawer with my latest casualty (RIP) did not have a lavender soap. Cedar is great too but make sure it is fresh. You might have to sand it down or rub with Cedar Oil to keep its potency.
5. Keep off-season items, or clothing that isn’t being worn in Plastic; I learnt this the hard way, but keeping winter sweaters, knitted gloves and hats in a plastic tub or giant Ziploc bag keeps them safe over the months they are going unworn and lay idle in your closet. The last think you want when you go to wear them the first day of the next season is to have holes.
I have found that thin knits and soft cottons are the most likely to get “eaten”. Merino Wool and Cashmere are the most sought after but even Tencel and cotton have ended up with holes. The thicker the fabric the less likely to be affected.
The best way to deal with a holy item is to get it out of the house because you don’t know if there will be more eggs/larvae. But if you must keep the item and plan on repairing it make sure to kill the eggs. Putting the item in the freezer for a week can work but what I have found is that the offending item is often a repeat target.
Have you had to deal with Moths? Do you have any tricks?
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