Best Way to Kill Moths in Your House

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Moths are a mutual household problem in both pantries, where they feast on grains and cereals, and closets, where they're attracted to wool, silk, and other fabric. Getting rid of moths for proficient requires a two-pronged approach: starting time treat the immediate moth event using moth traps, vinegar solutions, and thorough cleaning, then use preventative measures like mothballs and proper storage techniques to make certain the moths don't come back.

Household Solutions

Moths can be very subversive, just you tin can get rid of them with items you may have laying effectually the house already:

• Employ flypaper and fish oil to make a homemade moth trap.
• Use a vinegar solution to make clean your closets and kitchen.
• Put cedar in your closet to repel moths.
• Use bundles of rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender, or bay leaves to keep moths away.

1. i

   Know the signs. If you've seen a moth or two fluttering around but aren't sure if y'all accept an all-out infestation, wait for these signs:

   • Tiny holes in your sweaters or other items of clothing. If you see holes in one sweater, y'all'll probably notice more. Check all of your clothes made with wool, feathers, fur, and silk.
   • Clothing that looks dusty or discolored, or has a musty aroma.
   • Webbing in corners of the cupboard or on habiliment.

2. 2

   Set out moth traps. To accept care of the immediate trouble of moths in your cupboard, trap them with pheromone moth traps, which attract and kill them with a sticky substance that they tin can't escape once they touch.

   • Y'all tin make your own moth traps with flypaper and fish oil, which attracts moths. Dab a bit on some flypaper and hang information technology in your closet.^[1]
   • Traps designed to catch mice are besides constructive for catching moths. In particular, look for zapper way traps with infrared sensors, equally these will sense the moth approaching and zap it when information technology nears the bait.^[2]

   Good TIP

   Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest command service based in Seattle. He is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his BA from the Academy of Washington in 2012.

   

   Chris Parker
   Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

   Our Skillful Agrees: If you've just discovered a bunch of moths you want to offset and end the procedure with sticky traps. Lay them down in the cupboard and let the moths die that mode, then offset cleaning. And when you are done, set them back in in that location as extra protection against them coming back.

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3. 3

   Wash your wearing apparel. It'due south important to wash every item of article of clothing to become rid of eggs the moths may have laid.

   • Wash the items according to their intendance instructions. If possible, put them through a hot dryer. Items that cannot exist dried on high heat can be placed in the freezer for a few days to kill any eggs.
   • Wash linens, towels, and any other material items stored in your closet.
   • Remove suitcases, numberless and other containers, and wash these as well.

4. 4

   Clean the closet. Now that everything has been removed from your closet, it'south fourth dimension to scour it from pinnacle to lesser to get rid of moth eggs that might still be lurking in that location.

   • Apply soapy water or a vinegar and water solution to clean the cupboard floor and walls. Dip a sponge scrubber into the solution and scrub the walls to scratch off all the eggs. Clean peculiarly well in cracks and crevices.^[3]
   • Vacuum well. Utilise a loftier-powered vacuum to clean the carpet in your closet. While you're at information technology, vacuum the bedroom area, too, since moths may have laid eggs there.

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1. one

   Brush clothing made from wool, fur or feathers subsequently you clothing information technology. Moth eggs commonly enter closest by way of clothing that has been worn outside.^[iv]

2. 2

   Keep your habiliment make clean. Moths are attracted to wool, merely they're especially apt to enter your closet if your wearable has stains from food and other items that they like to eat. Make sure you wash your dress before hanging them up. Dry clean wool items before storing them.

3. 3

   Store clothing properly. Clothes you don't vesture often, peculiarly wool winter wear, should be stored in an closed place.^[five]

   • Protect wool coats and sweaters with plastic bags.^[half-dozen]
   • Shop winter vesture in plastic storage bags, plastic bins, or airtight metal containers.

4. 4

   Keep your cupboard absurd and well-ventilated. Moths are attracted to humid spaces, so it'south important to keep the air circulating and on the absurd side so they don't determine to nest there.^[vii]

5. five

   Air out your clothing often. Let your wool items go some sunday, especially if you're taking them out at the beginning of fall or winter after they've been in storage.

6. 6

   Employ cedar in your closet. Moths are repelled past cedar, so it's a adept thought to hang wool items on cedar hangers.^[8]

   • You can as well purchase ball-shaped pieces of cedar to hang in your closet, or make full a sachet bag with cedar chips and hang information technology up.
   • Try placing cedar-scented items in the pockets of your wool items for extra protection.

7. seven

   Endeavor mothballs or a natural alternative. Placing mothballs in your closet is an effective manner to kill moths, but the chemicals mothballs are made with are toxic to humans, and they leave a strong scent in your closet and on your clothes. Effort these alternatives:

   • Sachets made with stale rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavander, or bay leaves. But fill a modest textile pocketbook with these ingredients, tie it with a string, and hang information technology upwardly.
   • Essential oils fabricated from these herbs tin be sprinkled in your cupboard or on your clothing as an effective moth deterrent.

8. 8

   For extreme cases, call an exterminator. Moth problems can usually be solved with these unproblematic solutions, merely if you find that moths keep returning, they may be laying eggs in a place you tin can't attain with a vacuum or sponge. Call a pest control professional to fumigate the area and impale the moth eggs.

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1. 1

   Know the signs. Moths exit behind secretions, webbing and other signs of their presence. You probably take an infestation if y'all find these signs:

   • Food items that are stuck together or seem slightly sticky. This could be acquired by moth secretions.
   • Food items that aroma musty or "off," even if they oasis't reached their expiration date or been exposed to weather condition that would make them stale.
   • Lite webbing around boxes or bags in your pantry.
   • The presence of caterpillars or full-grown moths in your pantry is a sure sign that information technology'due south fourth dimension to take action.

2. 2

   Throw away the infested food. Don't effort to save it; information technology's not good for you to eat food infested by moths. Toss out the following items:^[ix]

   • Bulk food items, such as grains, nuts, and rice, should exist thrown away since moths eat and lay their eggs in these foods.
   • Moths tin can eat through paper-thin boxes. If you see tiny holes in your pantry items, throw them out.
   • Moths can likewise get into tiny spaces. Anything that has been opened before, fifty-fifty a plastic bag of chocolate chips or basics, should probably be tossed.
   • Dispose of food in a sealed garbage purse and remove it from your business firm immediately.

3. 3

   Trap the moths. If there are notwithstanding moths left in your kitchen after y'all've thrown away their nutrient sources, ready out pheromone moth traps to concenter and impale them with a sticky substance that they can't escape once they touch. Throw away the traps in a sealed container once you've caught all the moths in your kitchen.^[10]

4. 4

   Scour the kitchen. At present that you lot've addressed the immediate problem, it's time to clean the kitchen from top to bottom, focusing on the pantry, to get rid of whatsoever eggs the moths may have left behind.

   • Use soapy h2o or a vinegar and h2o solution equally your detergent. You lot can also use a stronger chemical cleaner.
   • Dip a sponge scrubber or steel wool into the solution and scour the cabinets, pantry, and other corners and cracks in your kitchen. Make sure you really scrub the surfaces to make sure the moth eggs are removed.

5. 5

   Consider calling a pest control professional. If moths reappear after you've taken these measures, they may be laying eggs in the walls or another place you can't become to with a sponge. Make an appointment with an exterminator, who will use heavy-duty products to get rid of the problem.

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1. 1

   Examine your food sources. Moths commonly enter kitchens past fashion of food that is already infested. Bulk items like oatmeal, dried grains or nuts may take eggs on them when you bring them dwelling house. Still, even nutrient that has been packaged and sealed can bring in moth eggs.^[11]

2. 2

   Place items in the freezer when yous bring them home. You lot don't have to stop buying bulk food items; try putting them in the freezer to kill any eggs they might contain before placing them in your pantry. Simply clear a place in the freezer and shop the food at that place for 3-4 days earlier using it as usual.

3. 3

   Store food in air-tight containers. Proper food storage is probably the best preventative measure out you can take.

   • Choose glass or plastic containers for bulk food items. Make sure they have tight-plumbing equipment lids.
   • Instead of putting half-used boxes and bags of non-perishable items dorsum into the pantry, pour the remaining food into sealable containers. Moths tin eat correct through cardboard and light plastic.

4. iv

   Control temperature and humidity in the kitchen. Moths thrive in warm, humid temperatures, and then if your kitchen is often on the muggy side, you may be creating an inviting home for moths.

   • Keep windows and doors closed when your air conditioner is running.
   • Make sure the pantry and food storage areas are well ventilated.

5. v

   Seal cracks and crevices. At that place are a lot of great hiding places for moths in a kitchen. Do your all-time to seal off the places you aren't able to regularly make clean, like cracks in the back of the pantry, spaces between shelving and the wall, and cracks where cabinets attach to the wall.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Do electric bug zappers work on these moths?

  

  Aye! I've caught moths in a pocket-size bug zapper that sits on the counter or tin be hung. I've as well caught smaller ones in a mini-zapper that plugs in like a night lite. It must have a UV light and non a blueish LED; the UV is necessary.

• Question

  What color are moth eggs and dry cocoons? What do they expect like?

  

  The moths I have in my house are aureate when they are grown, but the eggs and cocoons are white. They look like grains of rice sticking to my clothes.

• Question

  Is at that place a spray for moths?

  

  As is mentioned above, essential oils tin exist used. So a spray bottle with some water and a few drops of lavander could exist a expert thing to spray around a clothes or the broom closet. For the food areas, try spraying a tea with rosemary, thyme, cloves, and bay leaves.

• Question

  I'm afraid of moths. What should I do if I have to walk by moths?

  

  Take a deep breath, remember that the moths won't injure you, and move rapidly. Focus on something in the altitude instead of the moths around yous.

• Question

  What can I put in my drawers to kill moths?

  

  Karen Hennessy

  Community Reply

  Lavender is very adept to place in drawers, you tin can purchase little sachets for this, or better nevertheless make your own. Get some fresh lavander and a small pocketbook, identify it in the bag and necktie information technology up, so identify it in your drawers. This should practise the flim-flam, and your clothes volition smell nice besides.

• Question

  Can moths attack the cotton cloth likewise?

  

  Tiny moths cannot, and larger moths can. Keep whatever cotton, or cloth away from a nest.

• Question

  Is there a common household deterrent for moths, ants, spiders, silverfish and mice?

  

  Peppermint essential oil helps with spiders, mice, and ants. You can use google as a reference for means to use it to deter the pests.

• Question

  How do I get rid of moths?

  

  You tin can follow the steps that are listed in this article to get rid of the moths.

• Question

  What do I do if moths are eating my Oriental rugs?

  

  I had this event likewise. Carpet cleaning services would not accept my area rugs unless I had them fumigated start to rid them of whatever eggs or larvae. Unfortunately the pest control chemicals are toxic, so this treatment requires y'all vacate the business firm during the procedure for however long the pest control agency recommends (and longer if anyone in your family unit has health/breathing issues). Then have your Oriental rugs to the carpet cleaners.

• Question

  I just started to find small black moths in my living room and dining room. They tend to stay on the walls near the ceiling. They don't seem to go to the lights. How can I become rid of them?

  

  Impale any y'all tin reach, and become moth traps for ones yous can't. Check your pantry area as well for any larva or webbing in or around nutrient, especially rice and pastas. They can get into almost whatsoever factory-sealed particular.

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• Mothballs are poisonous to humans. Brand certain children and pets don't become about your closet if you're using them.^[12]

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Article Summary X

To become rid of moths in your cupboard, remove the clothes from the closet and place sticky moth traps by hanging them on clip hangers. Once the traps are set, wash every particular of clothing that was in the cupboard co-ordinate to the care instructions, and, if possible, dry out on the highest heat setting to kill any eggs the moths may take laid. While your clothes are being cleaned, use soapy water to clean the floors, walls, shelves, and whatever other surfaces in the cupboard. Complete your cleaning by vacuuming the unabridged closet before re-hanging your make clean clothes. If yous desire to get rid of moths you find in your kitchen, continue reading!

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