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Home overrun with moths.
9 Answers
Can anyone help? My sisters house has been overrun for the last 4 years. She has a spotless home and even vacuums her loft (mad I know).
They have searched for the Larvae and can not find it anywhere.
They have bought all kinds of stuff to kill the ones they see but more just arrive.
The house is about to be empty for a month and She is dreading what she will come back to.
All I can find on the inter-net is how to kill the ones flying not how to find the eggs.
Could they be in the cavity walls?
They have searched for the Larvae and can not find it anywhere.
They have bought all kinds of stuff to kill the ones they see but more just arrive.
The house is about to be empty for a month and She is dreading what she will come back to.
All I can find on the inter-net is how to kill the ones flying not how to find the eggs.
Could they be in the cavity walls?
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Here are the experts’ top tips for a moth-free home...
Turn off the heat
Turn off radiators as soon as possible and open all the windows regularly to allow air to circulate.
Beware bargains
Our national love of an eBay or charity shop bargain could be contributing to the problem, as old furniture, clothes and upholstery can contain moths, or their larvae — recognisable as inch-long, silvery threads.
Keep all second-hand fabrics in sealed plastic bags until they’ve been thoroughly washed or dry-cleaned.
Shake them off
The moth life cycle is around three weeks, so if you shake out your clothing in the daylight once or twice a month, you’ll disturb them and dislodge their larvae.
Don’t ignore upholstery and furnishings either — rugs and cushions can harbour eggs, so if you suspect a moth invasion, give them a good beating and hang them on the washing line in the sun.
‘Brushing destroys eggs and exposes larvae,’ advises a spokesmen for pest experts Rentokil. ‘Larvae are strongly repelled by light, and will fall from clothing when they cannot find protection.
Deep clean
A powerful vacuum can shift eggs from fibres, but you’ll need to remove the collected dust or hoover bags from the house immediately, or, having hatched inside the machine and merrily feasted on the dust, they’ll simply fly out again.
It’s vital to vacuum regularly under beds, carpets and behind radiators too, to prevent moths settling in. ‘Give your wardrobe and drawers a good clean before unpacking the new season’s clothes, too,’ advises clothing maintenance expert Julia Dee, of the clothing website Total Wardrobe Care.
‘Take everything out and wash, dust and vacuum the area.’
Boil wash
The biggest draw for a hungry moth is stained clothing. Sweat, dried-in food particles and oil from make-up or hair products are like a delicious buffet for moths, so if you’re tempted to skimp on dry cleaning, you’re asking for trouble.
‘It’s vital to clean your clothes thoroughly before storing them,’ warns Julia Dee.
And when you wash items yourself, make sure the water is above 48 degrees centigrade — and the wash programme lasts for at least half an hour — to be certain that every stage of the insect’s life cycle has been killed off.
Seal and store
Once clean, the simplest moth-proof way to store clothes such as coats and suits is in sealed plastic storage bags.
When it comes to caring for very pricey items, such as cashmere and pure silk, ‘wrap your washed cashmere in acid-free tissue or put it in breathable bags’, says Julia Dee.
You can also try freezing garments that can’t be washed. Wrap them in plastic and freeze them for at least 12 hours, to kill off the eggs and larvae.
Mothball to the max
The obvious solution, popular with the Victorians, and still flying off the shelves at homeware store Robert Dyas. Famed for their eye-wateringly unpleasant smell, they contain the moth-repelling chemicals naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene and release other noxious vapours which slowly kill insects.
But unless the area is sealed, the fumes can be too weak to kill sturdy adult moths, and will also make everything you wear smell like an elderly great-aunt. The scent is almost impossible to remove, too, and the balls are poisonous.
‘I wouldn’t recommend them,’ says Dr Randle. ‘They emit toxic particles onto your clothes, so why would you want that next to your skin?’
Go natural
Cedar balls are an increasingly popular natural deterrent. On the downside, although small eggs and larvae will die off, adult moths can become immune to the smell — plus the cedar’s properties fade after a few months.
Instead, try the Moth Box (£6 from totalwardrobecare.co.uk), which stops the breeding cycle by attracting male moths onto an adhesive strip impregnated with female moth pheromones.
/Cont ........
Here are the experts’ top tips for a moth-free home...
Turn off the heat
Turn off radiators as soon as possible and open all the windows regularly to allow air to circulate.
Beware bargains
Our national love of an eBay or charity shop bargain could be contributing to the problem, as old furniture, clothes and upholstery can contain moths, or their larvae — recognisable as inch-long, silvery threads.
Keep all second-hand fabrics in sealed plastic bags until they’ve been thoroughly washed or dry-cleaned.
Shake them off
The moth life cycle is around three weeks, so if you shake out your clothing in the daylight once or twice a month, you’ll disturb them and dislodge their larvae.
Don’t ignore upholstery and furnishings either — rugs and cushions can harbour eggs, so if you suspect a moth invasion, give them a good beating and hang them on the washing line in the sun.
‘Brushing destroys eggs and exposes larvae,’ advises a spokesmen for pest experts Rentokil. ‘Larvae are strongly repelled by light, and will fall from clothing when they cannot find protection.
Deep clean
A powerful vacuum can shift eggs from fibres, but you’ll need to remove the collected dust or hoover bags from the house immediately, or, having hatched inside the machine and merrily feasted on the dust, they’ll simply fly out again.
It’s vital to vacuum regularly under beds, carpets and behind radiators too, to prevent moths settling in. ‘Give your wardrobe and drawers a good clean before unpacking the new season’s clothes, too,’ advises clothing maintenance expert Julia Dee, of the clothing website Total Wardrobe Care.
‘Take everything out and wash, dust and vacuum the area.’
Boil wash
The biggest draw for a hungry moth is stained clothing. Sweat, dried-in food particles and oil from make-up or hair products are like a delicious buffet for moths, so if you’re tempted to skimp on dry cleaning, you’re asking for trouble.
‘It’s vital to clean your clothes thoroughly before storing them,’ warns Julia Dee.
And when you wash items yourself, make sure the water is above 48 degrees centigrade — and the wash programme lasts for at least half an hour — to be certain that every stage of the insect’s life cycle has been killed off.
Seal and store
Once clean, the simplest moth-proof way to store clothes such as coats and suits is in sealed plastic storage bags.
When it comes to caring for very pricey items, such as cashmere and pure silk, ‘wrap your washed cashmere in acid-free tissue or put it in breathable bags’, says Julia Dee.
You can also try freezing garments that can’t be washed. Wrap them in plastic and freeze them for at least 12 hours, to kill off the eggs and larvae.
Mothball to the max
The obvious solution, popular with the Victorians, and still flying off the shelves at homeware store Robert Dyas. Famed for their eye-wateringly unpleasant smell, they contain the moth-repelling chemicals naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene and release other noxious vapours which slowly kill insects.
But unless the area is sealed, the fumes can be too weak to kill sturdy adult moths, and will also make everything you wear smell like an elderly great-aunt. The scent is almost impossible to remove, too, and the balls are poisonous.
‘I wouldn’t recommend them,’ says Dr Randle. ‘They emit toxic particles onto your clothes, so why would you want that next to your skin?’
Go natural
Cedar balls are an increasingly popular natural deterrent. On the downside, although small eggs and larvae will die off, adult moths can become immune to the smell — plus the cedar’s properties fade after a few months.
Instead, try the Moth Box (£6 from totalwardrobecare.co.uk), which stops the breeding cycle by attracting male moths onto an adhesive strip impregnated with female moth pheromones.
/Cont ........
Out with the old
‘For every new item of clothing you buy, throw out something old,’ says Julia Dee. ‘Take it to a charity shop or sell it on eBay. It’s a lot easier to keep your wardrobe moth-free if it’s kept in good order.’
Update your armoury
‘It's important to replace your anti-moth products regularly, throwing them away if they have been in the wardrobe for more than a year,’ explains Julia Dee. ‘Also, refill lavender bags — they’re a cheap moth deterrent that keeps your clothes smelling fresh.’
If all else fails . . .
Call in the experts. Pest control companies will fumigate your house — but at a price.
Costs for fumigation depend on the size and number of rooms treated, but most charge upwards of £100 per room for a full treatment, and you — and your pets — will have to move out for a few days.
But be warned, most firms won’t guarantee against re-infestation after a month.
Try Rentokil, 0800 917 1984, rentokil.co.uk; Cleankill (South-East), 0800 056 5477, cleankill.co.uk, or Environ, 0207 384 4501, environpestcontrol.co.uk
‘For every new item of clothing you buy, throw out something old,’ says Julia Dee. ‘Take it to a charity shop or sell it on eBay. It’s a lot easier to keep your wardrobe moth-free if it’s kept in good order.’
Update your armoury
‘It's important to replace your anti-moth products regularly, throwing them away if they have been in the wardrobe for more than a year,’ explains Julia Dee. ‘Also, refill lavender bags — they’re a cheap moth deterrent that keeps your clothes smelling fresh.’
If all else fails . . .
Call in the experts. Pest control companies will fumigate your house — but at a price.
Costs for fumigation depend on the size and number of rooms treated, but most charge upwards of £100 per room for a full treatment, and you — and your pets — will have to move out for a few days.
But be warned, most firms won’t guarantee against re-infestation after a month.
Try Rentokil, 0800 917 1984, rentokil.co.uk; Cleankill (South-East), 0800 056 5477, cleankill.co.uk, or Environ, 0207 384 4501, environpestcontrol.co.uk
Here is a link for you to look at.
http://www.rentokil.c...ects/moths/index.html
This must be very distressing for your sister and I really think she needs help from someone who knows how to deal with the situation and get rid of them for good. I do understand that cost may be a problem, but perhaps she could contact them initially for professional advice. They may be able to supply or recommend DIY products in the first instance. Or perhaps her local council may have a pest controller who can help.
http://www.rentokil.c...ects/moths/index.html
This must be very distressing for your sister and I really think she needs help from someone who knows how to deal with the situation and get rid of them for good. I do understand that cost may be a problem, but perhaps she could contact them initially for professional advice. They may be able to supply or recommend DIY products in the first instance. Or perhaps her local council may have a pest controller who can help.
This would be my bet, the carpet moth, they will usually be found in the corners of rooms eating away at the natural fibres in the carpets also the larvae will be found on the underside of furniture. I wouldn't use Rentokil as they are rip off merchants and charge 10 times more than anybody else. Its no good ripping up floorboards, you wont find them down there. Get in a reputable pest control company, when I was trading I would normally charge about £130 to treat a 3 bed house.
http://www.google.co....5&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:36
http://www.google.co....5&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:36
ladybird, thewinner and ratter thank you so much for all your help, sorry I went to bed.
After reading all your replies I think the problem seemed to start around the time she got 2 new leather sofas, I read that they like suede and fur so maybe, who knows.
They are having another deep clean today. I also read to keep the killing stuff all over the house for up to a year should stop the cycle.
So fingers crossed.
thank you all again..
After reading all your replies I think the problem seemed to start around the time she got 2 new leather sofas, I read that they like suede and fur so maybe, who knows.
They are having another deep clean today. I also read to keep the killing stuff all over the house for up to a year should stop the cycle.
So fingers crossed.
thank you all again..
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