Moths can be pretty to look at—as long as they stay outside
If you see a moth flying around in your house once in a while, chances are it’s harmless. But if too many of them are making a home out of your home, investigate if they flew in from the outside or (gulp!) you have an infestation. Moths can wreak havoc on your home by ruining clothing, getting into your food, and even causing health problems. Here's how to get rid of moths for good.
Most moth species are related to butterflies, nocturnal by nature, and—most importantly—harmless. The problem usually isn't the insect flying around in your home, it's the caterpillars and larvae. There are a couple of different moth types you might find in your house.
Pantry moths, also called flour moths, enter your home through food like cereal and grains when a store fails to identify an infestation in time to get rid of the eggs. If you see a moth in your pantry, chances are more are hiding in there in various stages of development. If you find moths in your pantry, you may also find webbing or tiny caterpillars in your crackers and grains. Pantry moths are roughly twice the size of clothing moths and are gray and bronze.
Clothing moths are small and white, and they eat natural fibers like linen, wool, and silk, which is why they like to raid your closet. These moths enter your home through windows and doors or hitch a ride on (primarily secondhand) store-bought clothing. While they prefer natural materials for food, they’ll chew through synthetic fibers to get to a food source.
Moths don't just ruin your clothing and food. According to the Cleveland Clinic, contact with their caterpillars can cause health problems. You may get symptoms like itching, blisters, and rashes if you accidentally touch one. Some adult moths and caterpillars even produce a substance called glycoprotein that can cause an allergic reaction when inhaled leading to respiratory problems.
There are a few ways to identify whether or not you have a moth infestation in your home.
You see adult moths flying around in your home. If you see them, they've likely laid eggs somewhere inside that are waiting to hatch.
There are caterpillars or webs in your crackers, grains, cereal, or other stored foods.
You find holes in your silk, wool, cotton, or fur clothing.
Any fur items you have begin to shed excessively.
You have many options for moth removal, whether you prefer to use chemicals or go the natural route.
If you suspect that you have flour moths in your pantry, throw away anything they could feast on to get rid of these pantry pests, and get those garbage bags out of your house, stat.
Airtight plastic or glass storage containers protect against moths more effectively than cardboard boxes or paper bags in your pantry.
Moths don't like the smell of cedar, which is why it's a popular choice for closet construction. Hang cedar-scented sachets in your closet or spray your home with cedar oil diluted in water to help get rid of these bugs. Also, store any clothing you don't regularly wear in sealed plastic bags or bins for your closet.
Sticky traps are also effective but will only work with adult moths. Place the sticky traps in areas you’ve noticed moths—the pantry and closets are safe bets. Make sure you get some moth pheromones with your trap so they’re attracted to them. Once they're stuck, they’ll eventually die.
You can also get rid of moth larvae and caterpillars on your clothing by putting the items in the freezer for at least 24 hours. They can't survive in low temperatures, and you'll rid your clothing of them.
Call a local exterminator if you don't feel like battling your moth problem on your own anymore. The cost of pest control services averages between $200 and $600, but it may be more or less depending on the extent of the moth issue and where you live.
Odorous, chemical-ridden mothballs aren’t your only option for getting rid of moths. Here are some natural ways to kill and repel the insects:
Place cedar chips or hangers in closets to naturally repel moths.
Make dried herb sachets out of mint, cloves, thyme, or rosemary (moths can’t stand the smell of these herbs).
Soak cotton pads in mint or lavender essential oils and place them around closets and other moth-ridden areas.
Use sticky traps with moth pheromones to attract and trap the insects.
Launder or dry clean clothing in infested areas.
Wash surfaces with vinegar to kill off eggs and larvae.
Once you've gotten rid of the moths, you should do a few things to ensure they don't come back.
Once you've disposed of affected items and cleaned any contaminated areas, vacuum everything—the carpet, walls, baseboards, and shelves. Really get into the nooks and crannies. Wash your vacuum filter and dust receptacle thoroughly with hot water. After vacuuming, make a mixture of either a few drops of dish soap and water or a half water-half vinegar mixture to wash your shelves, walls, and other hard surfaces.
For issues related to clothing moths, wash fabrics in hot water and then dry on the hottest setting to kill the larvae. Dry cleaning also kills larvae, so get your clothes to the cleaners pronto.
Along with that, here are some of the best ways to keep moths out of your clothes:
Launder clothing before putting it into storage.
Place stored clothing in sealed bags or airtight bins.
Check storage closets once a month for signs of moths.
Use a brush or lint roller to scrape fur and wool clothing after wearing it outdoors (this helps remove hidden moth eggs and larvae).
Store clothing in a dry, temperature-controlled space.
