- Follow us:
There are just a few homes that do not have clothes moths. If you have not yet experienced having to worry about clothes moths, then you’re quite lucky. These critters have destroyed many clothing and textiles in many homes. They ruin garments to the point that they are no longer usable. For these reasons, you have to make sure that your home is free from such pests.
The usual clothes moth species is the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the casemaking clothes moth(Tinea pellionella). The adult species for both types come with golden wings and measure about .25”.
The webbing species come with a reddish hair tuft. The casemaking species are easy to spot because of their wings’ dark spots. Both are capable of fluttering their wings.
Clothes moths do not just go to any type of textile. They are often attracted to clothes that have been soiled with urine, food or sweat. Since this is so, cleanliness is believed to be the number one deterrence for their occurrence. But even the neat freaks can still get clothes moths especially those who have moved to a new home that hasn’t been cleaned by its previous owners.
One of the best ways to deter these ravaging insects is to be able to spot the telltale signs that an infestation is already happening. You also need to fight off an infestation the moment you discover that you have it in your home.
To be able to fight off these pests, you have to know what they love to eat. It is the female moth that typically eats the cloth fibers such as cashmere, silk, fur, wool or angora. These are materials that often have keratin.
Picture this – a female moth makes a deposit of fertilized eggs (roughly 50 to 1,000 eggs per deposit) into a single piece of clothing. There are also moths that feed on feather and leathers so they can possibly be found the couch and the pillows, too.
Here’s a tip – moths do not eat synthetic materials so that spandex of yours is totally safe.
Be sure to have your clothes treated the moment they are affected. They can be washed in either freezing or hot water.You can also take them to the dry cleaners. If you’re not sure if the moth has laid eggs throughout the contents of your closet, then it is best to have everything washed and treated.
Freezing the items also works. To do this, you can put them inside plastic bags, seal them, make sure to squeeze out the air, and then freeze the bagged items for a few days.
When you’re ready to use your clothes once more, take them out, and allow them to return to the normal temperature. If you want to repeat the process to make sure that the pests are dead, then you can do so.
For bigger pieces such as carpets and couches, you can already call a pest control firm.
If you choose to do this method, then make sure that you vacuum every nook of your closet. Female moths and their larvae love the dark crevices and corners of your wardrobe.
After vacuuming, be sure to remove the bag right away then discard because this definitely contains larvae and eggs. You can also use a carpet steamer if you want to deep clean your clothes. To be on the safe side, you might want to have your items dry-cleaned also.
After you have done the preventive measures, you can inspect your wardrobe and chests at least once each year.
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
