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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Clothes moths!

59 replies

Baileys20 · 01/09/2020 22:46

If you have won the battle against moths permanently tell me how!

Over the last several years I’ve tried everything moth smoke bombs, spray, clothes protectors, boil washing/dry cleaning, glue traps, daily hoovering, only freshly laundered clothes go in wardrobes and drawers. No animals to drop hair, only have carpet (it is wool!) on the stairs, albeit even after several years no sign of them homing in on it. They tend to be more prevalent in spare bedroom and in my wardrobe (literally last year they had no shame and would casually be walking up the arm of my clothes every time I opened the door -resolves with smoke bomb but next season they are back! as they have a fancy for my clothes, and less so other family members stuff.

Have never been able to identify a single source of the problem, and find it hard to believe there is one in our case based on the fore mentioned. I don’t have anything wool, and will not buy anything Wool, silk etc due to moths.

Would consider changing the carpet to man made if it would guarantee success. Bought the carpet when we moved in and it was an expensive one and fear that If I do so It won’t make a difference and we still will have the problem as nothing has made a sustained difference to date and they are not problematic in the stairs area.

I’ve been obsessed about them at various points. To being more casual about it but I have had enough of living with them and want them gone permanently, not just till the next breeding cycle starts.

I’m fed up of their larvae chewing my cotton items even when they are spotlessly clean from a boil wash, and in some cases new!

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Cynderella · 01/09/2020 23:06

Hell's bells, I've only just started on a battle. I feel I'm winning because I'm getting fewer and fewer on the sticky traps everywhere upstairs. I have been vacuuming thoroughly daily for weeks and weeks now, and although I still see the little fuckers here and there,

I can cope with things as they are now because I don't see any damage (we do have clothes with holes in and bald patches in our wool carpets from before The Discovery) of late.

It's depressing to think that they're going to be staying with us for years!

Baileys20 · 01/09/2020 23:20

I know, every time I think I’ve made progress I get a moth boom. Other than smoke bombing repetitively for several weeks, which I don’t like to do to often for fear of any residual stuff left in the air, I’m out of ideas.

Hopefully someone will be along to give us confidence that it is possible to win the battle in time.

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BrigitsBigKnickers · 01/09/2020 23:26

We had a problem with the little blighters eating holes in the carpet.Tried everything but they still kept appearing. DH finally bought one of these blue light zapper things and the problem seems to have been solved. We keep it on at night downstairs ( make sure all the lights are off) and it seems to have killed them all off- haven't seen one of the moths for a few months now! Was about £30

Baileys20 · 02/09/2020 07:49

Which make and model did he get?.... happy to give it a try!

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Cynderella · 02/09/2020 12:05

Oooh, I like the look of that!

BrigitsBigKnickers · 02/09/2020 12:16

Yeah it's really good- makes you jump when a buzzy thing gets stuck in it
It and the minute the lights go off it goes nuts!

Cynderella · 02/09/2020 12:19

Maybe not ... review points out that carpet/clothes moths like the dark and not attracted to light. Sigh.

TweeBree · 02/09/2020 12:30

We had a bad infestation from previous tenants. We changed the carpets and started off spraying everyday for two weeks, then once a week, then once a month. I spray inside the closets and wardrobes too, shutting the door and leaving them overnight. We hoover very thoroughly and move all furniture regularly. It's an ongoing process but seems to be working.

The sprays don't seem to kill eggs so that's probably why you're getting a reoccurrence. They could be in the walls/behind the skirting boards. I would personally get rid of the wardrobe if you're seeing a reoccurrence there despite spraying. Council will usually collect bulky furniture for a nominal fee (ours is £10).

Baileys20 · 02/09/2020 13:33

Thanks - wardrobe is destined to go within the next few days, I’m on the verge of getting rid of most of the furniture in there with the exception of the bed. So hopefully that will help, and will make it easier to reside myself to a similar routine.

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BrigitsBigKnickers · 02/09/2020 14:21

Cynderella surprised to hear that as loads have been caught in our zapper and we no longer have a problem?

Cynderella · 02/09/2020 14:29

One thing that has helped (I hope) is clearing all the stuff from under beds - our worst spots were under a divan (going next week) and under my bed where I had boxes and suitcases. Gradually dealing with all of their potential hiding places.

The zapper does look good because I'd be able to move it around, and to be honest, if I feel they're coming back in numbers, I'd try anything non chemical!

Baileys20 · 06/09/2020 00:24

Just seen one fluttering past!!!! and now trying to track it down. Smile

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Baileys20 · 06/09/2020 00:27

Sorted Grin

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Tatapie · 06/09/2020 00:52

I did get rid of an infestation, within the season though and so hasn't recurred since thank goodness.
I got rid of the offending carpet ASAP and the Ikea furniture they'd eaten into. Got professional pest control in to spray. Replaced with nylon carpet. Laundered/ hoovered EVERYTHING and sealed in bags. Regular spray with Lakeland anti moth stuff plus hanging things in wardrobe etc.
Kill all live moths. I was a nutter! Good luck!

Baileys20 · 06/09/2020 14:37

How long have they been gone now?

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DemolitionBarbie · 06/09/2020 14:41

I've kind of learned to live with them, if you get rid of them, your neighbours might not and it only takes one to start the whole thing back up again.

AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings · 06/09/2020 15:25

I've bought parasitic wasps that eat their eggs. Seems to be working

Pegase · 06/09/2020 15:42

Do you use the moth balls and hangers from Zensect (orange box). Never had them back since have those in wardrobes and drawers. They have serious insecticide in them.

Pegase · 06/09/2020 15:43

Also I sprayed the walls with Raid so if they landed on a wall they died

Baileys20 · 06/09/2020 20:37

Interesting - have considered these but have not tried them. Can you tell me more. Struggle with the concept of just letting them lose to do their work. What happens with the wasp over time so I don’t end up with them around the place instead of moths?

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Baileys20 · 06/09/2020 20:42

I’ve been using the Lakeland’s ones for several years, and will give the suggested ones a try next time I order more. Thanks.

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AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings · 07/09/2020 14:07

@Baileys20

Interesting - have considered these but have not tried them. Can you tell me more. Struggle with the concept of just letting them lose to do their work. What happens with the wasp over time so I don’t end up with them around the place instead of moths?
Wasps are basically so small that they're invisible. Once there's no more moth eggs they'll either die out (because they've got nowhere to lay their eggs) or fly away to find more in another home
Gingernaut · 07/09/2020 14:18

The moths are a signal you've got a caterpillar problem.

Believe it or not, the moths aren't the ones doing the damage, it's their young.

It's the larvae you need to find.

Reduce your wardrobe to the absolute minimum.

Do not put away anything unless it's been washed or dry cleaned.

The larvae love your skin cells, fine leathers, feathers, pure wool, silks, cottons and so on.

Do not allow dust to gather

Expose everything to daylight as you go through and examine duvets, pillows, blankets and clothes.

Don't leave anything tucked into the back of drawers - pull stuff out, examine it, clean out the drawers, decide if you want to keep it and rotate it if you do want it.

Don't keep wearing your favourites, don't have a 'go to' item - rotate everything.

Gingernaut · 07/09/2020 14:20

Thoroughly freeze anything that can't be washed at 60 degrees.

Move the furniture back and forth - the larvae work in dark, airless places