There’s nothing worse this time of year than busting open your favorite seasonal garments, stowed away since last year, only to find them ruined by moths. How could you have let this happen to your favorite cashmere sweater?! It’s really quite simple. And so are the preventative steps you can take to keep this from happening next year.
Clean Before You Store
This is truly key. While I like to get more than one wear out some of garments before washing, when you’re packing them up for a seasonal slumber it’s crucial you launder them first. Moths are not only attracted to but also nourished by garments that are stored away unclean. Food spills and perspiration can feel like a Christmas dinner to these pesky insects so make sure you wash and store your garments properly. A hot-water wash cycle of at least 120 degrees, or a trip to the dry cleaners will ensure you’ve killed any moth larvae or other active insects before you give your garments a break.
Speaking Of “Other Active Insects”…
Moths deserve their bad rap but they aren’t alone in wreaking havoc. Carpet beetles are also to blame and are often more prevalent than moths in many areas of the country. And it isn’t the full grown insect that’s ravaging your textiles either but the larvae. Beetle larvae can feast for up to one year on clothes, while moth larvae only stays active for a couple of months.
Proper Storage
It’s pretty crazy the tight spaces these little guys can work their way into. The best method for storage is to use heavy duty Ziploc bags inside tight sealing plastic boxes. As an extra step, wrap your garments in lengths of cotton that will help prevent condensation and further deter pests. Then, seal the edges with packing tape. Moths are only attracted to animal hair based fibers like wool, cashmere and fur, not so much synthetics or cotton.
Cedar
Cedar blocks not only help in keeping drawers and closets smelling fresh but they can also aid in killing moth larvae. Make sure to switch out your blocks from time to time, or lightly sand and dab them with cedar oil as cedar is only toxic to moths in high concentrations. Also keep in mind this alone will not totally prevent an infestation and will only kill young larvae, not older eggs.
The Truth About Mothballs
We’ve weighed the pros and cons for you on this one and the verdict: Skip them. Sure they can curb an infestation, but they work by releasing fumigant gas that is harmful to people and pets. No thank you!
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