Clothes and Carpet Moths
Prices from £90 +VAT
To get rid of clothes or carpet moths from your home or business premises call 0800 026 0308
Guarantee
We guarantee to reduce the infestation to a level that further damage stops for 1-month after the initial treatment, only if the correct preparation and aftercare have been carried out.
An infestation of moths causes irreparable damage to clothes, upholstery, carpets and rugs. The larvae of clothes and carpet moths feed on keratin found in animal-based fibres such as wool, cashmere, silk, feathers and fur as well as in dust which contains human skin cells and hair. Adult moths don’t usually feed at all, just mate, lay eggs and then die. It’s often undisturbed areas of carpets or clothes that have not been worn for a long time that are attacked. If they are not controlled moths will increase in number exponentially.
Preparation you must undertake prior to treatment
- Clear all clutter from the floors (toys, books, boxes, DVDs, posters, shoes etc).
- Remove the contents of wardrobes, cupboards and drawers.
- Vacuum all the floors including under furniture, with particular attention to the edges of carpets.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture including under the cushions where debris will have collected.
- Vacuum and clean the interiors of wardrobes, cupboards and drawers.
- After vacuuming remove the vacuum bag and place in an outside bin.
- Clean all surfaces.
- Ensure cutlery, food, clothes, towels, toothbrushes etc are covered.
Aftercare
- Immediately after treatment let the spray dry; don’t clean or wipe up any puddles.
- Don’t touch the treated surfaces or let pets into the treated area until dry.
- If you do get the insecticide on your skin wash it off immediately.
- Reduce the humidity by opening windows and increase the heat to allow the treatment to work most effectively.
- Don’t vacuum for at least 1-month.
- For the first week of vacuuming, thoroughly vacuum at least once a day but preferably twice, paying particular attention to the edges of carpets and areas which are usually undisturbed.
- After vacuuming remove the vacuum bag and place in an outside bin.
- Don’t clean surfaces for at least 1-month.
- After 1-month thoroughly clean wardrobes, cupboards, drawers, radiators, corners, cracks, skirting boards, mouldings and hard-to-reach places.
- Ongoing it is essential to continue thoroughly vacuuming, paying particular attention to the edges of carpets and areas which are usually undisturbed as small numbers may continue to breed under carpets where they will not come into contact with the insecticide.
How our treatment works
Our treatment targets the larvae of moths as they cause damage to clothing, upholstery, carpets and rugs. They feed on keratin found in animal-based fibres such as wool, cashmere, silk, feathers and fur as well as in dust which contains human skin cells and hair.
The technician will apply a residual insecticide to all the carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, throws and other soft furnishings, insides of wardrobes, drawers, drawer runners and under furniture. The larvae will absorb the insecticide. You may see moths for up to a month after the treatment as some moths may have been in the pupa stage at the time of treatment and will emerge at different times.
Products we use
The technician will state which repellent has been used on the report they give you after they have completed the treatment. Click each product to access its safety data sheet. All insecticides are biodegradable, almost odourless, non-tainting and don’t corrode or stain.
Insecticide sprays
Insecticide powder
Insecticide fogging
Facts about moths
The case making clothes moth can be found throughout the country, but is most common in the southern counties. It is particularly capable of damaging hair and feathers, but will also feed on spices, tobacco, hemp, and skins. The moth derives its common name from the small silken case that the larva spins about its body and carries about wherever it feeds, thrusting its head and legs out in front (see picture below).
Sometimes in a severe infestation, larvae may crawl up on a wall in large numbers, dragging their cases behind them. In domestic situations the first time you may notice moth damage is when a piece of standing furniture is moved. Moth damage usually occurs in carpets on undisturbed areas.
Description:
Adult case making clothes moths have a 1/2-inch wingspread. The adult is small and light brown, and has 3 dark spots on the wings, but the spots become less discernible if the wing scales are worn off. Hind wings are smaller, lighter, and fringed with hair and scales. The males are smaller and lighter in colour than the females, and are active fliers. The females are sluggish, and fly only for short distances. The first thoracic segment of the larva, at first brown, later becomes black, and is divided by a longitudinal band.
Females live about 30 days and lay 100 to 300 eggs. The larva stage lasts 50 or more days, (depending on temperature) and the pupa stage is passed in the case or cocoon. There are about 2 generations a year. The larva can turn within its case and feed on food material at either end without altering the position of the case. If the case is removed from the larva when it is very near pupation, the larva will die. Rarely will the larva spin a web directly on the material on which it is feeding, but will usually attach its case to the material by means of silken threads. Pupation takes place within the case after both ends have been sealed with silk. There were found to be 3 or 4 generations a year at 26 ° ± 8 °C (79 °F) and 82% ± 10% relative humidity when larvae were fed on woollen fabrics impregnated with 5% yeast (CChem, 1956).
Image credits:
ID165558293 dreamstime.com ©Chernetskaya
ID252886559 dreamstime.com ©Roberto Junior