Protecting cashmere and other clothes from moths

[MoriaRoseForever]

What is the best products for keeping moths away from clothes? We have jumpers in drawers and clothes hanging on open rails rather than a wardrobe and I think we have had some moths .

Also just bought some cashmere and not sure how to protect it . Lots of different advice online as to what products will protect without damaging.

Any advice gratefully received.

Good point about not leaving clothes to long hanging around to be washed. Am guilty of piles and things ending up at bottom for a long time.

Items that are worn frequently don’t tend to get moth. It’s the ones sitting in the wardrobe or hung on a peg for months. Or carpet under furniture, or underside of rugs.

I put precious or rarely worn items in ziplock bags and do a check through drawers every few months looking for signs of moth. You’ll see cocoons earlier than holes. The cocoons look like little white cobwebby clusters with a tiny tunnel inside. Sometimes the actual larvae .

Anything I find with cocoons gets instantly nuked on a 60 wash or if that’s not possible, binned.

I had moths for years and tended to find one new cluster every year, we also had wooden floors by the way. Only a huge back to brick renovation got rid of them. Personally I think once you have them it’s a question of managing rather than eradicating…

I regularly spray all surfaces with vinegar, I tumbledry dry cashmere and wool and everything in the drawers - it dehydrates and kills everything - you need to do it for 30mins and as long as the fabric is dry beforehand I have not had any shrinkage - we put stuff in the freezer too.

I use Hovex camphor in hangers on the clothes rail. Bulk by it Aldi when it comes in. Spray woollen, etc clothes inside out with solution of Zoflora after every wear and leave hanging on hooks in the walk in wardrobe.

Never leave the wardrobe door open and no clothes left on chairs, etc.

I’m fortunate that, living in Australia, all windows have flyscreens, so less chance of the critters getting in.

I have open wardrobe rails and they are in the room I WFH in. I saw its got insecticide in and not supposed to breathe in. So would it be safe ?

Just keep cashmere in sealed bags., You can hang them or keep them in a drawer. For heavens sake don’t spray anything. It’s not needed. Clothing bags are just fine. Also, why not get a wardrobe? Rails take up space. Neat wardrobe doors are much nicer.

Not quite sure why we got the rails ! But am thinking wardrobes would be better !

So are moths more likely to attack clothes on hanging rails that are open than a closed wardrobe ?

I have open rails .

Are moth killers safe as they have insecticide ? Cedar etc prevents, things like Acana and moth balls kill but have insecticide.

thanks everyone who has answered . I’ts really helpful.

They only work in a confined air space actually. Sorry, didn’t think about the open rails.

unless you spray the clothes directly (which I wouldn’t personally) I’m not sure how you can protect clothes hanging in an open space.

The jumpers will be in drawers/in bags. So that is safe I presume re fumes. I could use hanging bags for the rails and they would be enclosed .

That might be a way round.

Moths prefer wardrobes as they like to be in the dark and undisturbed...so I'm sure open rails can be helpful too. Spray clothes with white vinegar - once it's dry it doesn't smell and the acidity stops them from going anywhere near your clothes, I add some lavender or geranium and rose essential oils.

Lavender bags seem to work

Ziplock bags, sometimes with a separate lavender scented plastic bag inside. Both from Lakeland.

Moth deterrent 'blocks' in the wardrobe.
I've read cedar balls are a myth (I have some but not sure they work but I have several, between my coats.
Homemade lavender bags can help.

My understanding is they like the smell of humans, so the advice is never put back worn wool, always wash it first.

I find the Rentokil moth papers brilliant. I’ve got lots of wool and none has been eaten while using those

Urgh I hate moths. After one infestation about 5 years ago I am now fanatical about cleaning out drawers regularly and vacuuming and use air tight bags and use a lot of Zero In moth papers in everything including the wardrobe. Swap them for new papers every 6 months. So far this has stopped all further infestations. Just reading this thread makes me want to go and check.