Moths that thrive in your closet can pretty much ruin your entire wardrobe. This is because they lay their eggs on your cardigans and turtlenecks, and other pieces of your clothing that are particularly made of wool, to which their larvae feed on. It is then a wise move to prevent moth infestation in your closet early on by exerting an extra effort of implementing proactive measures, rather than focusing on this problem only when it occurs. MothPerevention can  be done using different products available in the market.

Things You Can Use

• Moth Balls

The classic way to prevent moth infestation is by using moth balls strategically placed in your closet. With moth balls, you will be guaranteed that your clothes are free from the damages brought about by the moths. However, the downside of this is that your clothes will also be left with a strong smell from the mothballs. Fortunately, there are still other ways on how you can keep moths from flourishing in your closet.

• Moth Traps

One of the best ways to mitigate moths in your closet is by using moth traps. Moth traps monitor the presence and activity of these pests and reduce their population immediately. Keep in mind however that the design of these clothes moth traps, as well as their placement in your closet, are important aspects in terms of their effectiveness. This is the reason why you need to consider those that are natural, non-toxic, and safe with specifically engineered pheromones.

• Storage Bags

Moths love humid environments, which is why it is important that you keep vulnerable clothing in breathable cotton canvas bags to keep them dry and secure. This is because the larvae of moths tend to feed on clothes that are made from animal fibers such as silk, wool, cashmere, angora, or fur, but moths cannot feed through cotton. Fortunately, you can choose from several variants of storage bags such as those zippered ones that you can store under your bed or a laundress hanging storage and garment bag.

• Lavender Sachets

You can also use lavender pouches that you can attach to the hangers of your clothes or left in your drawers. Lavender is known to have bug-repelling properties that are effective for numerous insects, including moths. This is because of the terpene compounds of lavender, such as linalool, linalyl acetate, cineole, and camphor that can keep moths away. The great thing about using lavender pouches is that you don’t need to worry about foul odor sticking to your clothes.

Things You Can Do

• Wash Your Clothes Before Storage

It is a good practice to wash your clothes clean and dry before you put them in your closet, especially if you tend to keep them for a long period of time. For instance, your thick cardigans are usually worn during the winter or the cold season, such that when summer kicks in, you tend to put away these clothing items for a while. Before you do so, make sure to load them in the laundry for a hygienic wash. A temperature of 100degF can potentially destroy any larvae attached to your clothes. After which, ensure that they are properly dried before you store them in your closet. It goes without saying that once you do spot moth infestation in your closet, it is important to wash all your clothes to help prevent it from spreading even more.

• Keep Your Closet Dry

Since moths thrive in moist and humid environments, make sure that your closet, as well as other storage areas for your clothes, are dry. Thus, it is best to avoid placing your storage closets in basements or garages, which can be exposed to extreme weather changes. Rather, it is best if your closets are indoors, particularly in your room, or even in the attic.

• Brush Your Clothes After You Wear Them Outside

After wearing fur or wool, brush them, especially if you intend to wear them again for another time. This is because moth eggs can infiltrate your closet through clothes that you have worn previously, particularly those made of wool and fur. Mitigate this by scraping off moth eggs that could possibly be attached on your clothes.

It is a good idea to employ preventive measures to ensure that your closet will be free from moth infestation. This way, you wouldn’t experience having to wear cardigans with holes in them because of moths that ruined your wardrobe. Thereby, apart from mothballs, you can also utilize moth traps or storage bags in your closet, as well as lavender scents to keep those moths at bay.