Clothes and Carpet Moth Treatment and Prevention - PEST UK

Providing pest control services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Midlands, West Sussex, Wiltshire. Est. 1985.

Clothes and Carpet Moth Treatment and Prevention

In Pests

Clothes and Carpet Moths can wreak havoc in the home, destroying clothing, rugs, carpets and curtains. We field many calls regarding the prevention and treatment of moths. Prevention should always be a first and foremost measure, but often treatment is required. If not controlled they can increase in number incredibly quickly, furthering damage which can be both costly and unsightly.

A regular and thorough cleaning program will help minimise the risk of clothes and carpet moth larvae infestation, but this is much easier said than done.

 

What Do Carpet And Clothes Moths Feed On?

It’s important to remember that it is not Carpet or Clothes Moths that are doing damage in your home, but their larvae feeding on your fabrics in order to grow. Eliminating airborne moths in the home for example, while pleasing, is a false economy, as it is not where the damage is being done!

In the climate that we have here in the UK, Carpet Moth larvae can live for up to three years!  That’s potentially three years eating your home fabrics and textiles. Larvae are often found in quiet, undisturbed areas, on carpets or rugs, on clothes that have not been worn for a long time. If Carpet and Clothes Moths lie undetected for long periods they can multiply unseen. The larvae can cause damage before you have noticed them.

Often when a piece of furniture is moved you will notice damage to fabrics or carpets that were hidden from view. The same can be said for clothing, perhaps stored away dependent on the season. A common cause of Moth infestation is when people store off cuts of carpets or bags of clothes in loft spaces or cupboards. Moths much prefer dark, little used areas.

But it is not just fabrics that the larvae feed on. Grains, cereals and dried pet food are highly sought after food sources too. Consuming larvae in contaminated food is not advisable.

If you suspect you have an infestation of any type of moth, this is where PEST UK can help your professionally and efficiently.

 

Prior To Treatment

All areas in and around the suspected infestation should be thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed. Ensure that furniture is moved in the process in order to clean deeply and properly. Should you find larvae in food stuffs, this must be removed to an outside bin. Cupboard areas must be cleaned with a kitchen spray.

If an infestation is known or suspected, the contents of the vacuum cleaner should be disposed of immediately. It is important this is to an outside bin to prevent transfer between rooms.

Treatment

Our technicians will use a residual insecticide that will be sprayed onto carpets, wardrobes and drawers in the infested and surrounding areas. All insecticides used are biodegradable, almost odourless, non-tainting and do not corrode or stain. They are not toxic towards mammals but are extremely toxic to all types of moths.

After The Treatment

Do not wash down or vacuum treated areas for at least one month. When vacuuming it is important to be extremely thorough, this will help prevent re-infestation in the future.

All areas, including carpet areas under standing furniture, must be vacuumed on a regular basis following the one month pause after treatment.

Bedding places of pets should be kept clean.

Small numbers of adult and larvae forms may be present for some time after treatment. This is dependent on temperature and the extent and amount of infestation. Complete eradication may never occur as small numbers may breed under carpets where they will not come into contact with the insecticide. Moths that are in the pupa stage at the time of treatment may still hatch into adults. However will only live for 2-7 days (depending on temperature). The moths emerging from the pupa may do so over a period of several weeks depending on temperature & the time of year. Insecticide treatments will only work on clean surfaces.

Guarantee

We guarantee to reduce the infestation to a level that further damage stops for one month after the initial treatment. This is providing the advice on vacuuming & general hygiene is adhered to.

 

PESTUK

PESTUK are full members of the BPCA, the governing body for pest control in the UK. Using a BPCA member company ensures you have a qualified, fully insured company treating your pest problem.

PESTUK have offices in BalhamOxfordGuildfordEnfield, Potters Bar, Reading,  SheppertonWantage,  SalisburySt Albans, Stevenage and Ware.

Call us on 0330 100 2811 to book an appointment regarding clothes moths and carpet moths, or any other pest problem you may have.

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