How to keep moths away from winter clothes
• Find out how to prevent your winter clothes, jumpers and coats from moths.
• Follow these tips on how to pack away and store clothes and jumpers to keep them moth- and insect-free.
• With moth breeding season from May to October, read about a new all-natural moth prevention kit.
As soon as the sun comes out, it's time to pack away our big, bulky winter jumpers and, while doing so, we need to take preventative steps to make sure they remain moth-free.
With moth breeding season almost upon us, from May to October, we need to prevent a moth infestation through the summer months and keep our jumpers safe from unwanted holes.
Julia Dee, founder of Total Wardrobe Care, a natural anti-moth product collection and clothing storage range, shares her tips on how to store winter clothes to keep them free from moth damage during the summer...
1. How to store winter clothes
The female moth is looking for a dark, undisturbed place to eat, mate and lay eggs during the summer, so make sure your clothes are not put away dirty at the end of the winter season.
Always dry clean cashmere before storing.
For long term storage, use sealed breathable boxes and bags.
Hang larger garments in breathable bags with Velcro necks that close tightly around the tops of the coat hangers.
BUY NOW – Foldable under bed clothing storage bag, £13.90
2. How to tackle a suspected infestation
If you suspect moths in your clothes and see the tell-tale signs – holes, little white trails or tiny rice-like cocoons – use a chrysanthemum moth spray in every room and dry clean/launder all clothes.
How to use spray:
Close all windows and doors, remove any fish tanks, pets and children.
Spray all areas thoroughly. Under furniture, behind curtains and around the edges of the carpet.
Take out all your clothes from the wardrobe and drawers and spray inside. Leave your clothes in the room and this will also kill any moths in your clothes.
Wait four hours and then open the door and wait another four hours until the room is ready to use.
Putting clothes in bags and freezing for a couple of days also works to kill any larvae, but it doesn't remove their food source of skin, hair and food particles. This is why washing is so essential.
BUY NOW – Spray, £22
Why chrysanthemum?
Chrysanthemum flowers contain the ingredient pyrethrum, which acts as a "natural insecticide", according to Julia. It attacks the nervous system of moths and kills them in five seconds.
3. How to protect clothes all year round
To give continual protection all year round, use a moth box and moth decoy in each room and replace every three months. The moth decoy only attracts male moths and covers them in a powder that puts off the females and so the breeding cycle is interrupted. Place on a shelf or chest of drawers, but not in a draft.
BUY NOW – Moth Decoy, £15
At the opposite end of the room, place the moth box, under a chest of drawers, chair, or bed, somewhere dark and undisturbed. This has a sticky pheromone paper in a special box and this also attracts the male moth but he gets stuck to the paper. These two methods complement one another and help to protect your room.
Female moths don't like a strong smell so add repellents to your wardrobes and drawers. Lavender, cedar-wood, patchouli, lemongrass clove, laurel, rosemary and thyme are all good repellants as essential oils.
Julia Dee recommends...
The Total Wardrobe Care anti-moth DIY kit includes one bottle of chrysanthemum spray, one moth box, one moth decoy, one wardrobe sachet and one essential oil with wooden diffuser.
BUY NOW – DIY kit, £55
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