Any tips on getting rid of moths? (Without using toxic balls.) May 22, 2012 04:13 8 Comments
Albuquerque is aswarm with moths this year. I've been doing online research to find safe ways to repel them, and I came across this tidbit from pestexterminator.com:
Spices like cloves, bay leaves, and eucalyptus can be placed on cupboard and pantry shelves to ward off moths and keep them from infesting cereal boxes, flour bags, and other dried food products.
Has anyone tried this? If so, let me know if it works! Please. I don't want our clothes to provide a culinary delight for them! Several local sources say miller moths don't eat clothes, but I'm skeptical. In Prescott, moths dined on several of my favorite woolens. So, be peaches, and share your moth elimination tips with me.
Comments
Bunny on May 20, 2015 11:32
I have used sachets of lavender buds for years tucked in my wools and so far no problem. It really works.
Mary Calder on May 20, 2015 11:32
Always love the vintage paterns… Yes Albuquerque and surroundig areas have lots of moths for a little while in the spring but these seem to be mostly outdoor critters and not so much after your food and clothing. I live in the east mountains and we have them also.
Rachelle on May 20, 2015 11:32
There are 2 different types of moth; the pantry moth has no interest in clothing and the “case making clothes moth” has no interest in either dried food or cellulose fibre; it loves protein fibres (wool, cashmere, silk etc).
I put either fresh soaps or strong smelling herbs in with my fibre stash to mask the smell of their food. It doesn’t stop them if they’re already there, but it’ll mean they don’t fly in and smell food straight away. If you do get some in your stash what I do is to biff the source of the infestation, and then cycle anything within several feet of that in and out of the freezer about 3 times; 5 days in, 3 days out to kill live ones and encourage eggs to hatch. Freezing doesn’t kill the eggs which is why the cycles.
Carpet beetles also like protein fibres and I believe that silverfish are partial to cellulose fibre.
Jennifer G. Miller on May 20, 2015 11:32
Yes, those traps worked for me, too. And if you don’t have an infestation yet, clean down your pantry and wrap up anything that has cardboard or open packages. If you already do have the pantry moths, then I recommend cleaning thoroughly, with bleach even.
Ann Morrison on May 20, 2015 11:32
try these traps from Gardens Alive:
http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8909
they really work for pantry moths
Deborah Gyug on May 20, 2015 11:32
I’ve been using sachets that I fill with aromatic cedar for years. I buy the cedar shavings that are used as Hamster Cage bedding. I store several sachets in each drawer, or storage box that contains any protein fiber – including furs and feathers. So far – it seems to be working.
- Deborah in Vancouver
Denise on May 20, 2015 11:32
Thanks so much for the tips. I shall try soap and lavender. I love these ideas. I haven’t a clue what kind of moth — but I can say that they are in the bedrooms, not the kitchen.
Keep those comments coming! They make me feel so loved.
JustGail on May 20, 2015 11:32
If they are pantry moths, don’t forget to purge the garage, basement or any other locations attached to the house of bird food and dry pet foods, or make sure they are in tightly covered containers. We couldn’t figure out where the blasted things were coming from, until I walked into the garage one night after dark to turn off the light that had been left on.