Gransnet forums

House and home

MOTHS

(8 Posts)
Ngaio1 Sat 12-Jun-21 22:40:17

we have had an infestation of the little blighters. I thought that I was rid of them but tonight there were about fifteen of them upstairs. What can I do, please, to get rid of them. We have had anti moth thingys on the hangers but I shall buy more. I found out , tonight, that they had also attacked a carpet.

NotSpaghetti Sat 12-Jun-21 22:50:32

It’s a big job if you have an infestation.
First, know your enemy!
This may be helpful…
ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7435.html

Callistemon Sat 12-Jun-21 22:55:17

They're in the increase and there were threads about them a while ago.
It takes a lot of persistence to get rid of them.

If you see what look like grains of rice behind furniture, around the edges of fitted carpets, they are the larvae of the carpet moth.

Shandy57 Sat 12-Jun-21 23:05:52

I was a bit shocked to find one flying about in my car! Got it out of the window ... next day another one was flying around.

SpringyChicken Sat 12-Jun-21 23:17:16

Don't despair, you can be rid of them quite cheaply with a product sold on Amazon for £12.99 inc postage. It's in a spray bottle (500ml) with a black and yellow label, sold by Rugremedy and called 'carpet moth killer'. It's water based, odourless and really does work. Takes about half an hour to dry.

We had an infestation in the lounge and dining room. We had to pull out the furniture and spray all around the edge of the carpets. The grubs can be anywhere dark so you also need to spray under chairs and sofas, the backs of furniture, under rugs, pouffes, check also behind pictures and mirrors on the wall and inside and on the back of wooden furniture. Look at the backs of your curtains and also between the fabric and linings.
One bottle was sufficient to do downstairs but as a precaution, I bought two and treated upstairs aswell. It was hard work but worth it. Several friends use it now, we all find it excellent. I keep a bottle in the house and spray my carpets one a year, never had a problem since.

Nonogran Sun 13-Jun-21 07:36:37

Yep, as above, regularly move spare beds, sideboards, cabinets & other furniture to vacuum underneath. Stick nozzle all along skirting between carpet and board to suck up eggs laid there. Regularly point vacuum nozzle into wardrobes because actually those spaces get really dusty. Buy the spray and use as recommended above.
I’ve never had a moth problem, but in my experience of hearing from others who have, move and hoover absolutely everywhere. Do that regularly, moths or no moths.
If not cured, call in the experts!

vegansrock Sun 13-Jun-21 07:36:49

Those sticky moth traps to hang in cupboards are useful, get a load and hang them up. Hang clothes up in plastic garment covers, check any woollens or cashmere garments and give them a wash, air or put in freezer for 24 hours. Pack in plastic bags. An opportunity to overhaul the wardrobe. Hoover the back as well as the front of rugs. Hoover the inside of wardrobes and around the edges of carpets.

NotSpaghetti Sun 13-Jun-21 09:53:49

Please beware of the rug remedy product recommended above if you have cats. Maybe there’s a chemist here who knows better than me but permethrin can be severely toxic to cats even in small doses. It is tolerated better by dogs but still, it’s a neurotoxin.

I am not sure of the difference between permethrin and cypermethrin (the ingredient in the rugremedy product) but I think it may be that it’s designed to attack a different range of insects?