Fecking moths

[jalopy]

Last year we had an infestation of food moths in our kitchen. We had to clear every cupboard, throw packaged food stuffs away, disinfect absolutely everything, use every conceivable product known to man to disrupt the moth cycle, etc. It took months to clear.

We now seem to have an infestation of house moths. We have been using moth-deterents products in every room for the past few months but now the milder weather has arrived, the blighters keep multiplying.

Any effective way to clear them? Is it worth getting out Rentakil?

[PigletJohn]

"every conceivable product known to man"

please list what you used, and when you last used them.

When you say "deterrent," do you mean "scent" or do you mean "killer?"

[Quodlibet]

I have fought the clothes moths too. The only way I know to beat them is a multi-pronged attack in a short space of time. They really do get into a lot of places so its a question of rooting out all the possible places they could be lurking and hatching.

• Hoover and spray all carpets with Zero spray, including under all furniture
  
• hot wash or freeze all natural fabrics. Check all clothes/blankets/fabric for telltale pale cocoons or black specks and wash/freeze/dry clean any that are suspect
  
• here's the killer bit: empty all boxes/baskets/drawers/cupboards of stuff that have been siting around accumulating any dust. We have in the past tracked down lingering moth infestations to a set of old tennis balls (yep) and on another occasion a felt necklace. Seriously, they get everywhere. Empty out cupboards and drawers and wipe clean of dust everywhere. If you see moths flying about they are likely to be near the source so make use of that to track them down.
  
• hang those sticky zero things in wardrobes
  
• sachets in clothes drawer/baskets/anywhere that's not regularly moved about or aired
  
• put jumpers, blankets etc that you don't use regularly in ziplock plastic vacuum bags. You want to minimise the places that attrack them.
  
• keep up a hoovering regime that includes under furniture etc
  
• you may have to repeat as necessary/replace products when they lose effectiveness.
  

In my opinion rentokill aren't going to do half of that for you so even if they spray/fumigate you'll still have dusty forgotten places where they will be dwelling. I hate the little bastards.

[nohalfmeasures]

Interesting programme on radio 4 last year about them.
Now that a lot of pesticides have been banned they are a major issue, especially in museums with old clothing & tapestries
Quodlibet's advice is great. We found them in our wardrobe last year. Luckily we have a large chest freezer so gradually all our clothes wen in there. Then I sprayed with Indorex- it's for fleas and lasts 9mths so I reckoned it would have some effect.
I check with a torch every 3 months and still occasionally find pupa cases. Sandalwood is meant to deter them.
We have just discovered them in DS1's carpet- bald patches found, along with pupa cases stuck to the back of his chest of drawers. I don't think you ever get rid of them.

[jalopy]

Pigletjohn - Have used all the Zensect products from Robert Dyas store. This included killer sprays, cupboard hanging devices, moths balls, scented-adhesive stickers to stop moth cycle, sandalwood and home-made clove balls. To be honest, even the killer spray does nothing, even if sprayed on them directly. What a waste of money.

All the products are within expiry date and are 'active'. We've used all the products in one go. This is now the start of our third session to eradicate them.

Thank you so much for your advice, Quod and Nohalf, will try all your suggestions.