Clothes moths can wreak havoc on your clothes and linens in no time. If your house is infested with these critters, turning to moth balls and other smelly chemicals might seem to be the only viable option.
However, there's no need to use harmful disinfectants and chemicals toget rid of clothes moths. If you'relooking for green solutionsto say goodbye to clothes moths, this post has 4 natural ingredients you can use!
VINEGAR
This common kitchen ingredient can be usedto clean and sanitizealmost all areas of your house, including your wardrobe! So get started on cleaning all surfaces of your wardrobe with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Don't forget to wipe inside cabinets and drawers, drawer slides and liners, and undersides of shelves. Also go over hooks, grooves, and edges meticulously.
Additionally, spray the vinegar-water solution in cabinets and drawers to prevent moth infestations.
PHEROMONE TRAPS
Pheromones are natural compounds created by insects, which they use to communicate with each other. Pheromone traps make use of such compounds to lure pests and eliminate them. They are simple in function-you only have to place them correctly so as to attract the males and kill them. Without male moths, the population will crash, and the females will eventually die without reproducing other moths.
Just keep these points in mind:
- Placing too many traps than required can lead to failure. This is because the overdose of pheromones can cause moths to lose sense of direction, thereby preventing them from reaching the traps.
- Avoid placing traps in closed pantries or cabinets for the same reason as above. Moreover, this will prevent moths in other areas of the house from reaching the trap.
- There are different traps to deal with all types of pests, so make sure you're using the right one.
Using pheromone traps is a natural way to get rid of pests, and there are quite a few environment-friendly brands that you can purchase. If you want to employ a home remedy, simply apply edible oil on both sides of a paper and hang it in your wardrobe or kitchen rack. You can consider using fish oil too!
Further to this, use a mixture of 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of molasses to attract moths and eliminate them.
CEDAR
Cedar contains natural oils that can kill moth larvae. While it doesn't eliminate eggs and older moths, using cedar along with other pest control methods will yield positive results. Cedar is also a better alternative to using mothballs as it not only is natural, but leaves clothes smelling pleasant.
- Wrap clean clothes in cotton and store in a cedar chest. Do this for out-of-season clothes too to keep them pest-free through the year.
- Use cedar balls, blocks, chips, or shavings to keep moths away. Place these on wardrobe shelves, and inside cabinets, drawers, and suitcases.
- Use cedar clothes hangersto hang clothes and keep them moth-free.
Cedar can lose its scent and effectiveness over a period of time. To revive the scent, just sand cedar balls and blocks lightly, once every six months. If using shavings, revitalize the sachet by squeezing or rolling it gently between your palms. Using a cedar spray or dabbing some cedar oil on cedar balls, blocks, and sachets can also help.
HERBS AND SPICES
Apart from using cedar sachets, there are various herbs and spices that you can use to repel and eliminate clothes moths. So buy a bunch of fabric pouches and make your own moth repellent sachets!
- Make a potpourri of herbs like rosemary, thyme, ginseng, and mint plus any other herb or spice listed here to keep clothes moths at bay.
- Lavender helps repel moths plus leaves behind a pleasant scent. Fill pouches with lavender or lace them with lavender oil and leave them in your wardrobe and drawers. Alternatively, sprinkle dry lavender flowers on shelves or spray lavender oil on wardrobe surfaces and inside drawers.
- Place fresh leaves of Indian lilac or cotton balls soaked in its oil on shelves and in corners to eliminate moths. Also dust a dry powder of this herb on shelves.
- Add bay leaves to potpourris or sprinkle them directly on surfaces to control moth infestations.
- Place cloves in a thick bundle of tissues before placing near or on clothes so as to protect from stains.
- Place cinnamon pouches in wardrobes, drawers, and garment bags to drive away moths. As with cloves, protect clothes from stains and pungent smells by wrapping the spice in layers of tissue.
CONCLUSION
If you've spotted a clothes moth or two in your house, or have been observing symptoms like tiny holes in clothing, a dusty layer on top of garments, or spongy web-like layers on wardrobe surfaces, you need to act now before the moth infestation gets out of hand. This doesn't mean you have to turn to harmful and strong-smelling chemicals though; with the information provided in this post, you now know some natural ingredients that you can use to control clothes moths.
So get started on these tips right away to eliminate clothes moths from your house and to prevent future moth infestations!
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FAQs
Vacuum your closet thoroughly and wash and dry all clothing on a high temperature to dispose of eggs and larvae. Cedar: Moths have an impeccable sense of smell, so using strong scents to disorient them and repel them away from your home can really work if using a powerful concentrate.
How do I get rid of clothes moths naturally? ›
Vacuum your closet thoroughly and wash and dry all clothing on a high temperature to dispose of eggs and larvae. Cedar: Moths have an impeccable sense of smell, so using strong scents to disorient them and repel them away from your home can really work if using a powerful concentrate.
What is the best natural clothes moth repellent? ›
Moths tend to dislike lavender and Cedar. Although lavender smells great to humans, it is highly repellent to insects like moths. Cedar is another great choice. Cedar masks the smell of natural fabrics and also gives clothing and linens a fresh, fragrant aroma.
What is a non toxic alternative to mothballs? ›
Known as the organic moth ball alternative, cedar blocks act as a powerful natural repellent! Lavender bags also work a treat. Filling your closet with dried lavender during your spring clean or autumn declutter will also keep the moths at bay, and your clothes will smell delightful all season long.
Does vinegar actually kill moths? ›
Vinegar is a fantastic natural moth-killing option because its acidity makes it capable of killing moth eggs and removing lingering pheromones. You can also safely spray a vinegar and water solution on most fabrics, although you might want to do a spot test first to make sure that any fabric dyes will not be affected.
How do you get rid of clothes moths permanently? ›
Clean up
- Discard particularly infested items. If the clothing is extremely damaged, it may be impossible to repair. ...
- Thoroughly clean the clothes you do keep. ...
- Clean your closet. ...
- Air, heat, or freeze items you don't dry-clean or wash.
It is also the simplest and easiest solution, trapping moths long after you have set it and walked away. To create a vinegar trap for moths, place a small bowl or jar near the affected area and fill it with a mixture of apple cider vinegar, available at Walmart, and a few drops of dish soap.
What is the natural enemy of the clothes moth? ›
T-gramma (Trichogramma) are tiny, parasitic wasps (less than 0.5mm) that are natural antagonists of the clothes/food moths. They feel most comfortable at temperatures above 20°C and are then most effective.
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.
What scent drives moths away? ›
Moths and other insects are repelled by the pheromones in cedar. Combine dried, crushed, and powdered herbs. Combine the following in a bag that you can hang anywhere you keep clothes or food: lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Moths also hate the odors of these herbs.
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 is a good alternative to mothballs for moths? ›
Cedar chips are a natural moth deterrent and a useful alternative for protecting your closet's contents from insects. Cedar comes in a variety of options from hanging cedar blocks to cedar chip balls to small plastic containers filled with cedar chips.
Why is it illegal to put mothballs outside? ›
Another misunderstanding is the use of mothballs in outdoor areas to repel rodents, squirrels, bats, snakes or other wildlife. Mothballs are ineffective for this use and can contaminate soil and water. Using mothballs as animal repellants is not appropriate and can be illegal.
Does Dawn dish soap kill moths? ›
I have found that just a small amount of dishwashing liquid in a squeeze-spray-misting type bottle will nicely bring down moths and mosquitos as well.
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 I get rid of moths ASAP? ›
Scrub areas you suspect to be infested - using an effective moth killer spray, scrub and clean including crevices and corners. Remove infested items - Items that can't be cleaned should be discarded. Dust and vacuum - floors, crevices and anywhere you suspect moth activity.
What scent keeps moths away? ›
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.
Why do I suddenly have clothes moths? ›
One frequent source of moth infestations is old clothing or furniture purchased at yard sales. Inspect any used clothing or furniture carefully for moths before bringing them into the house. It may be best to have them cleaned first as a preventative measure. Do not accumulate woolens that are not used.
Do clothes moths ever go away on their own? ›
Once you've identified you have a moth issue, it's time to take action. It's hard to pinpoint how these things get indoors in the first place, but they do not go away on their own, says Suiter.
What smells repel clothes moths? ›
The best natural moth-repellent essential oil is cedar. Cedar oil is strong and effective and the moths don't like it! Other good essential oils to repel moths include lavender, rosemary, lemon, bergamot, sage, and mint.
