How To Control Clothes Moths | Pest Control Direct (2024)

We are happy to be able to offer a spray specifically to use on clothing (woollens, cashmere) We have waited a long time for this product to come to market, so now we have it.

Acana Clothing Spray 275ml

Some natural products will deter moths, such as lavender and cedar but once you have moth activity, you will need a killer to deal with them. One natural product that is effective is diatomaceous earth however, this would not really be appropriate to apply to your clothing unless you could leave the clothes unused for around four weeks in order for the dust to have a good effect. It is messy but non-toxic to humans.

Let’s get down to business then.

Carrying Out a Treatment Against Clothes Moth

Initial whole room treatment.

There may be moth around in the room that is affected, not just in the clothes. A pre or post-treatment that can be effective at killing moths that may be hiding under the bed or behind the curtains is to use an insecticidal smoke to smoke fumigate the roomPro-Active Midi Smoke.

Open drawers and wardrobe doors, close windows, seal open fireplaces and turn off fire alarms, then place sufficient smoke canisters onto an upturned dinner plate in the centre of the room, light, and watch from the door to ensure the smoke canisters burn out totally without falling over, close the door and seal with masking tape. Re-open after four hours, and open windows to ventilate for 15 minutes, the room can then be used straight away.

PHEROMONES

Exosex/InsectracClothes Moth Pheromone tablets, attract the male Webbing Clothes Moths, which approach to mate with the tablet and in the process, pick up the female pheromone on their bodies, this disrupts their ability to locate a female moth and this, therefore, significantly reduces the number of eggs being produced by the moth. Males with the pheromone on them will also spread it to other males. They provide total confusion as to where the real female moths are!!

You Have Clothes Moth in Your Wardrobes and Drawers

Remove all the clothes, where possible freeze natural fibre clothes for 72 hours in polythene bags with as much air squeezed out as possible. We have suitable freezer bags that can be frozen, thawed and then used for long term protection of the clothes within. These bags come with a moth killer product for post freezing use but can be used, (sometimes less successfully) without the freezing procedure. You can use anti-moth sweater bags for this task and for future prevention.

Freezing the clothes kills all stages of clothes moth immediately, whereas if you do not freeze clothes, the damage being caused may continue for a couple of weeks before the moth killer strip takes full effect. You could schedule the freezing over a couple of weeks providing you keep pre-frozen items in the mothproof bags linked above until all the clothes have had the cold shoulder treatment!

So, you have emptied the drawers and wardrobe, separated out the natural fibre clothes and either frozen those or placed them in the anti-moth SWEATER BAGS with a moth killer sachet. You now need to treat the actual furniture in order that any moths venturing inside the furniture are be killed.

Remove all drawers and carefully vacuum or brush down both the drawers and the inside of the clothes storage cabinet, then applyPro-Active C to all internal surfaces of the furniture, plus the rear outside panels if you can access them. Spray to “point of runoff” which is a term that essentially means, spray to the point that the liquid is about to start to run down the item, avoiding getting past the run point. A little practice will teach you how much to spray without the insecticide running off like the water on the walls of a shower!

Ongoing Moth Protection For the Drawers

After returning clothing to the drawers, place Rentokil Moth Killer SheetsorAcana Moth Killer Sachets into the drawers (1 x Rentokil Moth Killer Stripor 1 x Acana Clothes Moth Killer and Clothes Freshener sachet per single drawer). Place the strips/sachets at the front of the drawer and do not cover them with clothes.

Ongoing Clothes Moth Protection for the Wardrobes

We will assume you have sprayed the internal surfaces of the wardrobe. You can now hang eitherRentokil Moth Killer CassetteorAcana Moth Killer and Clothes Fresheneronto the clothes rail to create a moth free atmosphere within the wardrobe. Once these are installed you can return your clothing to the wardrobe. By spraying the furniture inside, you are ensuring that any moth hiding in cracks and crevices will be killed over the coming weeks, the hanging units will deter new moths from entering the wardrobe. Remember to replace these at 6 monthly intervals.

Clothes Moth Monitoring

To monitor your success, we haveClothes Moth Pheromone Traps. These come in packs of 10 and you can purchase a Demi-Diamond Pad Holder to assist in locating the traps around your property. Many of our customers use these moth traps as a control measure but they do not appear able to totally eradicate an existing moth problem as some customers have been buying clothes moth pheromone traps from us for over 5 years. These moth traps are useful to monitor whether or not new moths are entering your property. Most infestations begin from adult moths flying in through open windows in the summer months. If using Exosex/Insectrac, the sticky pheromones must not be within 2 meters of the tablets due to a conflict of pheromones.

Pack of Products

We have a pack ofWebbing Clothes Moth Products prepared to make ordering simple, however, products may vary slightly from what is described above.

How To Control Clothes Moths | Pest Control Direct (2024)

FAQs

How To Control Clothes Moths | Pest Control Direct? ›

You Have Clothes Moth in Your Wardrobes and Drawers

How do exterminators get rid of clothing moths? ›

To kill moths, one option is to use pheromone moth traps, which attract and kill moths with a sticky substance they cannot escape from. Washing any infested clothes or linens and drying them on high heat will kill moth eggs.

How do you get rid of clothes moths fast? ›

You can remove clothes moth larvae from clothes and other fabric items by washing them in a clothes washer in very hot water over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 2 A more effective method is to dry clean the items, and this is necessary with many wool, silk, and delicate items to prevent damage to the fabric.

How do professionals get rid of moths? ›

Moth Control Treatments

Our range of expert treatments offer targeted solutions, to ensure we get rid of your moth problem is eliminated quickly and effectively. Our treatment options include: Targeted ph neutral insecticide spray treatments. Pesticide free 'heat pod' treatments.

How do you control moths effectively? ›

Thorough treatment of carpet edges and infested areas under furniture with a residual insecticide such as permethrin can be effective, although repeated treatment may be necessary to catch any survivors. A desiccant dust can be used in floorboard or skirting board gaps and other dead spaces.

Can exterminators spray for moths? ›

Pest control providers now offer seasonal contracts for certain flying insects such as mosquitoes, but more of them are getting on board with providing moth control as well.

Can an exterminator get rid of moths in the house? ›

There are a variety of strategies an exterminator can use to get rid of moths. Connect with an Orkin Pro to create an effective moths treatment plan for your home.

What is the most effective moth repellent? ›

Cedar wood rings in your wardrobe or drawers can help deter moths. Spritz carpets with lavender. Make a natural repellent by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to water in a spray bottle. Shake well then spray your carpet and clothes lightly.

Do I need to wash all my clothes if I have moths? ›

How to solve a clothes moth infestation. Wash all items of clothing that have been affected on a high temperature. Be sure to read labels on all clothes before washing, especially when it comes to wool. Alternatively, put them in the freezer for a few days to kill any eggs.

Do dryer sheets repel moths? ›

Dryer sheets typically contain chemicals such as linalool, beta-citronellol, and geraniol, which are known to have some insect-repellent properties.

How do you fumigate a room for moths? ›

Fumers: Allow a minimum of 4 hours.

If your Kit contains Fumers it will take longer than if without. Although a Fumer will only smoulder for less than a minute, a minimum of 2 hours are required to allow the smoke to permeate, and you will need to allow another 2 hours to ventilate the room after that.

How much does it cost to get rid of moths? ›

How much does pest control cost?
Pest control costsUnitRange - High
Ant removalPer treatment£230
Wasp controlOne nest£200
Squirrel controlTwo visits£300
Moth treatmentPer treatment£2,000
6 more rows
Dec 5, 2023

How do you find a moth nest? ›

Signs you have a moth infestation. Adult moths do not have mouths, so holes in clothes are actually made from larvae. You can look out for webbing and cocoons in the corners of your wardrobe and cupboards, and signs of damage on your clothes will alert you to where the eggs have been laid.

What smells do moths hate the most? ›

Moths, like many insects, simply can't stand the smell of some of the most aromatic herbs, like mint, lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Use this to your advantage to create natural moth repellents in your home.

How do I get rid of moths in my closet without mothballs? ›

Spray or Diffuse Cedar Oil

Other herbs that are repugnant to moths are lavender, rosemary, cloves, bay leaves, and thyme. Essential oils with these scents will also repel them, or you could make a DIY potpourri with them by placing them together into a mesh bag. Then stash it inside your drawer.

What kills all moths? ›

10 tips for getting rid of moths
  • Regular vacuuming. Dirt and dust can draw moths indoors, so keeping everything clean and dust-free can help discourage moths from entering the house. ...
  • Moth traps. ...
  • Cedarwood. ...
  • Cedar oil. ...
  • Herbs. ...
  • White vinegar. ...
  • Extreme cold. ...
  • Extreme heat.
Nov 25, 2020

How much does it cost to get rid of clothes moths? ›

Average Cost of Moth Extermination by Level of Infestation
Level of InfestationAverage Cost (per Treatment)
Small$90 - $100
Medium$100 - $200
Large$200 - $400
Severe$400 - $500

How long does it take to get rid of moths in clothes? ›

So, clothes moths may live one month, eggs may take less than ten days to hatch, larvae will reach maturity in about a month and the pupate stage will last about two to three weeks. So to get rid of a moth infestation, you would need to hammer all stages for at least four to five weeks to break the life cycle.

Does fumigation work for clothes moths? ›

A pest control professional can provide moth treatments and fumigation is the most effective way to completely eradicate them. If you decide to use moth-deterring balls, flakes, or crystals, be sure to carefully read and follow label directions as these are pesticides.

Do foggers work on clothes moths? ›

For the most part, yes. The formula used to create most bug bombs and fumigators will work on moths of all kinds as well. The reason for this is the ingredients used within the bug fogger or bomb.

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