Somehow, I have moths.....how to get rid/prevent more damage?

[Earlybird]

Well, I am , as I have just discovered three moth holes in one of my special jumpers (you know the kind you no longer have the cash for now that you're a mum!). I don't know how it's happened as I have several anti-moth protectors hanging in the closet, and change them 2 or 3 times a year. The ones I have are the natural lavender ones - are they no good?

I think the jumper can be mended so the holes will not be obvious. But, now I'm paranoid the little blighters are invisibly chomping on other things. What else I can do to prevent a "holey" wardrobe? And if I take this jumper on holiday with me, am I likely to "infect" my friend's closet with moths?

Hi there!
If you find a good cure, please let me know. Moths have slowly but surely munched their way through the carpets in this house Hate them.

Welcome to the Moth-Eaten Clothes-Owners Club, Earlybird!
Sorry about your jumpers.
I seem to remember the thing that's crucial with moth-chomping prevention is to keep getting your stuff out and moving it about. Moths like dark, undisturbed corners.
I don't know about your lavender things - we use these and they seem to do the business.

Hi Posey - will keep bumping this thread in the hopes that some answers surface. (hope you have a nice holiday break - we're flying tomorrow, so should be packing really instead of posting...)

Porpoise - those are exactly what I've got. The purple ones in your link are in my wardrobe at the moment. How often do you change yours? Maybe I don't do it frequently enough, or maybe I need to rearrange my jumpers periodically to disturb anything lurking....

Any other ideas from anyone?

Earlybird, We don't change them that often - certianly, not more often than you.
But we did have a real 'go' at getting rid of the moths before we hung up the sachets. (You may find this advice helpful.)
And I do make a point of regularly rearranging jumpers! (As if I haven't got anything better to do!)

You need to empty your closet and clean all the stuff
Woolens you can stick in the freezer instead of washing as 30 deg won't kill the larvae

Porpoise - thanks for that link. Interesting and full of practical suggestions. Did you follow the advice to get rid before hanging the sachets?

TheBlonde - how long in the freezer? Porpoise's link says a week??!! And when you say "clean all the stuff" - what exactly do you mean (wash/dry clean the wool items?), and how should it be done?

I'm still amazed at where they came from/how they got here....

You need to hotwash what you can, and dry clean what you cannot hotwash. That means all the clothes/linen in that room.

You need to give the wardrobes and drawers and carpets in teh room in question a thorough cleaning and spray with insecticide.

It may be worth contacting a pest control company to get a "free quote" which would identify whether it is moth or carpet beetle (unless you have actually seen the things) and gain some advice and tips without taking them up on their quote.

Have a fab break. Away for long? See you in the new year in Regents Park (did 6 miles on Monday) but need to step it up a bit.
Have a lovely Christmas.

Several days in the freezer apparently
I just went for the washing and dry cleaning option
Plus we moved house which helped as the moths were everywhere

more info

We have a nightmare moth situation in our house - have never been able to eradicate them as they fly in from other flats.

Dry cleaning kills them, as does freezing and hot washes but they do not attack regularly worn items.

My solution is now to wear jumpers regularly all winter then in the spring dry clean them and then vacuum pack them (in those vac pack bags you get from Lakeland Plastic - if you don't know what I mean let me know and I'll do a link). Then at least they are safe for 6 months.

IME if moths are really endemic in an area you can't get them out, even professionals can only treat your house and it quickly gets reinfested. Horrid things.