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Moth Entered Wardrobe - We're Going on Holiday. Any Quick Ideas, Please? Help...

(32 Posts)
Candelle Sat 28-May-16 09:53:34

Dear GN-ers

Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with our problem: I saw a moth go into a wardrobe last night. I just couldn't get to it in time and it disappeared. We are about to go on a longish trip and I fear my clothes will be no more on our return.

Any ideas? Please don't say take everything out as this wardrobe is packed to the gunwales and more. I think it would be impossible to find the moth - or its prodigy.

I'd be very grateful if anyone has had experience of this and what to do in a day (whilst packing etc!).

Many thanks.

Candelle Tue 28-Jun-16 00:00:07

Just a brief update should anyone be in a similar position.

We rushed out and bought some of Rent*kill's Clothes Moth Killer Papers and stuck them in all our wardrobes.

We have been away a little over three weeks and on checking my woolens, including a fair few cashmere sweaters.... no holes or nibbled bits!

It may be too early to crow as the little blighters are probably devious and just waiting until I relax but... at first glance this seems to have worked and I do feel I can recommend them.

They were oh so easy to use and if they last the six months that is promised, I think this is an excellent product.

Rapunzel100, many thanks for your kind advice. I am very grateful.

AnnieGran Tue 31-May-16 12:55:34

Interesting, Elrel.
My daughter's carpets are being chomped away at from the edges inwards, she won't use chemicals in case they poison the cat, even though a new cat is cheaper than new carpets. Joke.

I had a wardrobe problem and some of my vintage Laura Ashley woollens (waiting for me to be slim enough to wear them again) were being feasted upon. A magazine's advice column said have EVERYTHING dry cleaned. Yeah, like anyone normal can afford that.

There was another thread here about housework, where Borax was mentioned, non toxic, kills moths. I expect it is now sold out all over the parts of the world where Gransnet is read.

Elrel Tue 31-May-16 12:26:00

eGJ - will try that website as I've seen a couple this week. Had an infestation a few years ago and shall never again buy a wool carpet. So many nibbled corners under bookcases and behind heavier furniture, so many odd little holes in stored clothes.
There really has been a recent moth resurgence (as Lynda Snell might say) and the old fashioned mothballs were toxic.

eGJ Tue 31-May-16 11:59:00

www.historyonics.com/order.htm All their products are wonderful and really work. smile They supply museums and you can see them working as the pherenome traps do just that! grin

annodomini Mon 30-May-16 16:28:42

My woollen and cashmere garments are stored in ziplock bags after washing.

Newquay Mon 30-May-16 16:24:53

Oh spiders-I've just fainted! How do you get rid of them then?

GandTea Mon 30-May-16 15:56:05

If you don't like the spiders, a bird will eat them (now how do we get rid of the bird ? )

Jenty61 Mon 30-May-16 15:52:14

Spiders!!!!! I'd rather have the moths...?

Pamish Mon 30-May-16 13:04:00

Get some spiders. The bigger the better. Mmmm lunch.
.

cavaliermum Mon 30-May-16 12:36:53

Cedar Balls are the way to go
And defo work
.....

oznan Mon 30-May-16 10:21:57

I find the best moth repellant to be cedar balls which you can buy on Amazon,at John Lewis or in dry cleaners.Natural too-no nasty chemicals sprayed around your clothes and bedroom.

HannahLoisLuke Mon 30-May-16 10:14:46

Ive had this problem in the past, in wardrobes and carpet under furniture. Now paranoid and Hoover the bejasus out of everything then spray liberally with moth killer.
I spray everything every couple of months and also hang moth killers in the wardrobes. Lavender doesn't kill them, just puts them off.
I still see the occasional moth and they're very easy to swat as they don't move much.

puppytoe Mon 30-May-16 09:21:16

They hate lavender. I had a problem several years ago. I always have one those lavender air fresheners in the utility room by the laundry basket and lavender scents in the wardrobes. I even used lavender scented washing powder for a while. I no longer have any problems.

J52 Mon 30-May-16 08:50:42

Our DS1 brought them back from his Uni halls of residence. They were living in a little worn wool jacket. By the time I found them they had completely eaten a sleeve. Fortunately this kept them fed, so they didn't move on!

We cleared the fitted wardrobe, washed it in disinfectant, then painted the interior and sprayed it with moth killer. Before anything was put back it was inspected. Then I put loads of moth repellent and the sticky traps. It worked, I only caught one very, very small moth on the traps.

I am paranoid about moths now!
x

PRINTMISS Mon 30-May-16 07:55:52

Whenever I come across this thread when "browsing", I always read "Mother entered wardrobe"! No idea why, and the vision of a mother entering a wardrobe amuses me almost like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!

Jane10 Mon 30-May-16 07:36:18

I don't know falconbird but I do know we had an absolute infestation in one room at our last house. When we opened the door there was a carpet of them on the floor. Don't know how they got in or it all started. It was DSs room before he left home. Anyway its left us extremely concerned about moths as I'm sure you'll understand!

J52 Mon 30-May-16 07:35:33

There is an epidemic of clothes moths, mainly due to over warm houses, fitted carpets and warmer winters.
I googled the topic a while back and found discussions where people had carpets and upholstered furniture eaten by them!!

Everyone in our house has had 'destroy on sight' training! That involves identification, the use of a rolled up magazine and not squashing onto walls! grin

X

Falconbird Mon 30-May-16 06:47:58

Good grief - I thought moths were things of the past. I remember then when I was a child and the smell of the mothballs.

I wonder why moths are back????

Jane10 Sun 29-May-16 16:53:31

I read this and panicked-we'd seen 2 of the little b*****ds yesterday. We went to Homebase today and bought the impregnated papers mentioned above and also little cartridges to hang in the wardrobe. Fingers crossed!

Jenty61 Sun 29-May-16 11:38:44

hang a lavender bag in your wardrobe that will get rid of moths...

Icyalittle Sun 29-May-16 09:40:09

If you google 'Moth killer impregnated paper' the product comes up. Either as R****kil Clothes Moths Killer Papers or Moth Killer Strips (I'm sure others are available!)

tiredoldwoman Sun 29-May-16 09:28:24

Act fast - Rentokil do a good spray but I would do my best to find the little bugger before it lays eggs !

absent Sun 29-May-16 08:14:00

Are you sure that the offending creature is a clothes moth? If it isn't, you don't have to worry. You could always try shoving some bundles (or sachets) of lavender in the wardrobe, just as a precaution.

dramatictessa Sun 29-May-16 08:08:40

Let the moth and its progeny eat whatever they like...then you've got an --excuse- reason for buying a whole new wardrobe. grin

janeainsworth Sun 29-May-16 08:03:33

I got some things from John Lewis to hang in the wardrobe.
Also a can of spray which I use from time to time.
I keep my best things in polythene wrappers.