Gransnet forums

Chat

*&$%!@ Moths! Or was it the spin dryer?

(11 Posts)
Doodledog Fri 04-Aug-23 20:12:36

I'm going away for a week, and as the forecast isn't great decided to pack a cashmere jumper. It has been packed away since the winter, so I washed it by hand, decided to run an iron over it, and discovered three (3!!) moth holes in the front. 😡😡

I have darned them as best I can, but the holes were round, so you can see where the mends are as the fabric has puckered, although it won't be noticeable when the jumper is worn, and I'm not going to throw it away, as it was expensive and it would be a waste.

It's maddening. It is a black Jaeger jumper, and so useful for all sorts of occasions. I'd swear it was ok when it was put away. I hand washed it, but put it in the washer for a spin dry, and wonder if that could have caused the holes, but it was in on its own, so I doubt it. Has anyone known a spin dry to cause damage that looks like moth holes, or do you think it's been munched?

Enid101 Fri 04-Aug-23 20:22:26

I think it’s been eaten. I took my cashmere cardigan out of the wardrobe today and it has two holes in it. So frustrating!

Doodledog Fri 04-Aug-23 20:44:45

Pesky little blighters! I hope they haven't been eating my other winter things, but the chances are that they will have, won't they? 😡

Primrose53 Fri 04-Aug-23 20:46:52

Moths love cashmere and pure wool. Last summer I discovered a very expensive pure wool coat by Masai in my wardrobe had a hole in the front. After further checking I found about 16! All down the sleeves, back etc.

You need to empty the wardrobe, hoover it out thoroughly, every nook and cranny, throw out any other affected clothes (they will ignore acrylics etc) and put fresh lavender in there or a moth repellant if you prefer. I did the whole bedroom, the mattress etc.

Regarding the odd holes in your jumpers you can buy little embroidered flowers, shapes etc at craft/wool shops which you could sew over. One might look odd so add a few extra so they look like a pattern or they are meant to be there.

Before doing that put the jumper in a poly bag in freezer to kill off any eggs.

Doodledog Fri 04-Aug-23 20:50:47

My train leaves at 7.45 tomorrow morning, so any wardrobe cleaning will have to wait till I get back. I really hope this was a one-off.

Namsnanny Fri 04-Aug-23 21:14:35

Once you have them they are incredibly hard to get rid of.

We had a problem with wool carpets in the house. Led to my cashmere clothes and silk scarves and knitting wool being nibbled.

We got rid of the carpets and some of the worst affected clothing.

We used every type of moth repellent from chemical to natural lavender.

Seemed to work for a while, but now they are back.

Apparently they will make do with any natural fibre, if wool etc,
isn't available.

The only way I've found of protecting my clothes is by freezing smaller items, and putting all vulnerable clothing in vacuum sealed bags.

Have a good break Dd smile

Doodledog Fri 04-Aug-23 22:02:29

Thanks😀.

Witzend Sat 05-Aug-23 11:31:02

Sympathies, OP. An expensive alpaca intarsia cardigan of mine was attacked by moths - I did manage to mend it after a fashion though.
I now keep anything made of wool, cashmere or alpaca in plastic bags, with a good squirt of moth killer for good measure.

At least one cashmere jumper of dh’s - my 🎄presents - has been similarly attacked. If it’s in an area that doesn’t show too much I’ve made some sort of repair, but one had to be binned.🙁
The little buggers have chewed holes in our mostly-wool carpets, too. They do really need replacing, but I’m putting it off until the youngest Gdc is past the messiest stage.

Primrose53 Sat 05-Aug-23 11:45:08

Witzend

Sympathies, OP. An expensive alpaca intarsia cardigan of mine was attacked by moths - I did manage to mend it after a fashion though.
I now keep anything made of wool, cashmere or alpaca in plastic bags, with a good squirt of moth killer for good measure.

At least one cashmere jumper of dh’s - my 🎄presents - has been similarly attacked. If it’s in an area that doesn’t show too much I’ve made some sort of repair, but one had to be binned.🙁
The little buggers have chewed holes in our mostly-wool carpets, too. They do really need replacing, but I’m putting it off until the youngest Gdc is past the messiest stage.

More likely to be carpet beetles! Horrible things.

NotSpaghetti Sat 05-Aug-23 11:49:32

content.ces.ncsu.edu/clothes-moths-carpet-beetles-controlling-fabric-pests

This is a good article.

Witzend Sat 05-Aug-23 13:30:30

I’m pretty sure it’s moths, Primrose53. Despite sundry remedies - including sticky things in every room which attract them with pheromes (sp?) and do catch quite a few, we still see them fairly often.