How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths

How to get rid of clothes moths

Finding strange holes in your clothes and/or your carpets? This is damage caused by clothes moths or carpet moths. If not treated properly or straight away their numbers can increase and cause more damage. One of the most commonly asked questions we see this time of year is ‘how to get rid of clothes moths’.

What do they feed on?

A common cause of moth infestation is when people store offcuts of carpets or bags of clothes in loft spaces or cupboards. They will feed on carpets and clothes with high wool content. When a piece of standing furniture is moved you may notice damage or when a not often used item of clothing is removed from storage damage is noticed. Adult moths don’t usually feed at all, just mate, lay eggs and then die. It is the larvae of all species that cause the damage, if the adults do feed it will be on pollen and the nectar of flowers.

What to do

If an infestation is suspected we advise that the contents of the vacuum cleaner be emptied into an outside bin. This will prevent a transfer of the infestation from one part of the house to another. Abandoned nests of birds, rodents, and insects, such as bees and wasps, that are in or near the house should also be removed. The larvae of the moths may feed on any insect remains that may be inside.

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 highly toxic towards mammals but are extremely so to all forms of crawling and flying public health pests. How to get rid of clothes moths

After the treatment

It is important that you do not wash or vacuum treated areas for at least one month. Or until you stop seeing dead or dying moths or their larvae. Once this time is up it is important to be very thorough when vacuuming especially in the undisturbed areas, not often stepped on. This will help prevent re-infestation in the future. We advise that when cleaning (after the 2 week period), close attention should be given to rugs and carpets, upholstered furniture, closets, radiators and heaters, corners, cracks, baseboards, mouldings, and other hard-to-reach places. All areas, including carpet areas under standing furniture, must be vacuumed on a regular basis.

Small numbers of adult and larvae forms may be present for some time after the treatment depending on the temperature the extent and the 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.

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 Balham, Oxford, Guildford, Enfield, Potters Bar, Reading, Shepperton, Wantage, Salisbury, St Albans, Stevenage and Ware.