Think a clothes moth had eaten my jumper. How do I clean my wardrobe without infesting the rest of the house?

[NCTDN]

So my merino top looks like it’s been eaten by moths. It’s now in the bin. Luckily I don’t have anything else in the wardrobe with natural fibres I don’t think. I’m going to get some spray or traps but know I need to thoroughly clean the wardrobe.
My concern is that as I lift things out, will I be spreading the moths to the rest of the room ? If so how do I clean inside the wardrobe ?

The moths will go where they like so it will make absolutely no difference. If you have anything else with natural fibres put in a plastic bag and in the freezer for 48 hrs.

I wouldn't bother with spray. Freezer and traps is all you need.

Should I put the traps in and leave for a few days before emptying everything out ? The wardrobe is very full!

Yes you can get them in straight away. And get anything natural into the freezer. Clean it out as soon as you can though

Ok so I’ve emptied and cleaned the whole wardrobe. No sign whatsoever of any moths so guessing I was wrong on the moth front. It’s made me have a big sort out of clothes though !

I wouldn’t assume just because you can’t see them they’re not lurking!

You very rarely see evidence of moths in a cupboard. Its the larvae that eat into your clothes. If you've got holes in wool or silk, with no other explanation, its very likely that's what it is.

If the moth has eaten a whole jumper, it will be really, really big and so you should just be able to pick it up in both hands and just put it outside.

lol!

Parasite wasps are good

www.amazon.co.uk/Dragonfli-Clothes-Moth-Killer-Sachets/dp/B0B6Q9QSP5

😂😂😂.

You have no other clothes made of natural fibres?

Well I have two wool coats which are perfectly intact. There’s a silk top in perfect condition too.
btw never said the whole jumper had got holes in it

I have never known moths eat silk myself, and have had one wool coat hanging right next to another. One nibbled at in lots of places, the other untouched. Same with jumpers. I don't know why they eat some things and not others. But if you have random holes in a jumper with no other explanation, that's what it is!

Are the holes in the stomach area of the jumper? I have realised that a t-shirt or jumper rubbing against a granite worktop causes small holes, especially if wearing jeans.

Depending on the room temp, you might find that the moths/larvae/eggs are just hibernating. We have clothes on a rack in a spare room. We have central heating, but in the winter, that room is much cooler. I have traps but haven't seen a moth flying for months. Come the warmer weather, I do see moths flying about everywhere in there!

Personally, I'd clear out anything with holes that can't be repaired, wash and clean- then wait till summer to see what you get. Just because you can't see flying moths currently, doesn't mean they won't re-emerge next year.

I have two wool blankets which are hand knitted by me. Both use lots of colours.

Some time ago I noticed that something had been nibbling in various places on one of them, and realised that all the holes are in the red wool. I checked the other blanket, different wool, again only the red bits.

I use the sticky moth traps, but they only attract the male moths.

Well I’ve put a couple of traps in so will keep an eye on them.