Are you tired of your seasonal bouts against moths? Have you had enough of seeing them ravage your cooking ingredients or clothes? Then you need to learn the most effective ways in moth prevention.
Getting rid of moths is not the same as eliminating small bugs and insects. It involves certain techniques and considerations that go through future prevention.
Unfortunately, not every household knows how to keep these pests away. This leads them to hire professional pest control. Though there’s nothing wrong with going that route, it can potentially cost you a lot.
The national average for pest control services is $173. This can go up to $500 depending on the severity of the infestation.
So how exactly do you kill moths? How can you curb moth infestation in your house? Continue reading below for the answers.
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Moth Prevention: 7 Ways to Prevent Months
For your moth prevention methods to become more effective, you must first understand where these moths love to wreak havoc. Incidentally, their favorites are your kitchen and your closet.
Just recently, there was a spike in moth infestations in the United States. As for the damages, they can gnaw on your carpets. They can chew on your clothes and leave nasty holes.
Thankfully, there are effective ways of killing moths. They are strategies you can use to keep them from coming back. Let’s take a look at seven of the most effective ones below:
1. Identify the Signs
To beat moth infestation, you need to learn the signs that confirm the infestation. Seeing a couple of moths flying in your kitchen is not enough to determine infestation. The first thing you should do is to check if your food items are slightly sticky.
If you see them sticking together, it may be a sign because of secretions coming from the moths. Moreover, give your food items a good smell. If they have yet to reach expiration but smell “off,” it may be because of moths.
Also, check the boxes in your pantry. See if there are webbing’s around. Additionally, sightings of full-grown moths or caterpillars in your kitchen are tell-tale signs of infestation.
As for your cabinets, carefully inspect your clothes and sweaters. See if you find tiny holes especially on your clothes that feature silk, fur, or feathers. Also, smell your clothes if they have a musty scent.
Additionally, check for webbing around the corners of your closet.
2. Practice Proper Food Disposal
After examining your food items, separate the infected ones from the rest. You don’t want to save the items that have been in contact with the moths. Instead, throw them away.
Generally, moths love eating bulk food items. These include your rice, nuts, and grains. Apart from feasting on these items, they also lay their eggs in them.
Furthermore, throw the cardboard boxes in your kitchen. Moths also love eating them. When discarding these items, make sure to put them in a garbage bag and seal it after.
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3. Scour the Kitchen
Taking out the infested items is good, but it is only half the battle. You need to make sure that your kitchen is clean. Scour your kitchen from top to bottom and from the inside out.
Check your pantry and see if there are any eggs that you missed. When cleaning the spaces, use a water and vinegar solution. You may also go for soapy water or a much stronger cleaner.
Get a new sponge scrubber and dip it into your solution. Use the sponge to clean your entire pantry. Focus on the areas where you removed the moth eggs.
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Furthermore, check for any cracks and crevices in your kitchen. Usually, you will find these openings in the spaces between the wall and the shelves. You will also see them in the back of your pantry.
These spaces are perfect spots where moths can hide. Thus, seal up these cracks accordingly.
Moreover, you need to control the temperature in your kitchen. Moths love warm and humid temperatures. An active kitchen can easily develop humidity.
When cooking, turn on your air conditioner and close your doors and windows. Additionally, ensure that the areas where you store your food receive ample ventilation.
4. Proper Food Storage
Speaking of proper food storage, keep them inside air-tight containers. Invest in a few pieces of plastic or glass food containers. Transfer your bulk food items inside and secure the lids tightly.
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As we mentioned earlier, discard those cardboard boxes in your pantry. Thereafter, transfer your leftovers inside seal-able containers. These heavy-duty containers are sturdy enough for moths to chew on.
When taking home food, don’t leave them on the counter top. Instead, place them inside the freezer for about three to four days.
The freezer’s temperature is enough to kill any moth eggs that may be present in the food items. Thereafter, you can transfer them to your air-tight containers before placing them in your pantry.
5. Wash and Protect Your Clothes
When it comes to your clothes, take out every item from your cabinet. This covers everything from your favorite dress to your undergarments. Dump them all into your washing machine and start washing away.
Your goal is to eliminate any eggs that may be hiding deep within the fabrics. If you can, place your clothes inside a hot dryer. But make sure it is safe for certain clothes.
Separate the ones that are not for the hot dryer and place them inside your freezer for about three days. As we earlier said, the extreme temperature of your freezer kills moth eggs.
Furthermore, take out all your bags, suitcases, and containers where you keep your other clothes. Wash all of them thoroughly.
As for the closets and cabinets, scour them the way you did with your pantry. Clean every surface and space from top to bottom. Use the same solution that you used for cleaning the kitchen.
Let the cabinets and closets air-dry. Thereafter, give them a couple of rounds of vacuuming. Make sure there are no dust residues after you vacuum.
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Additionally, extend your vacuuming to your entire bedroom area. Go over your furniture and turn them upside-down. Vacuum the underside of your chairs and tables where moth invasion can start.
Use your cleaning solution to spray your cushions, carpets, and other forms of fabrics.
You will never know if the moths also laid some eggs in other spaces.
6. Proper Clothing Care and Storage
After wearing your clothes, make sure to brush them carefully. This applies to your clothes that feature fur, wool, or feather.
Also, never store clothes if you see any food stains. Always wash them first before storing them.
As for proper storage, separate the clothes that rarely wear. Invest in air-tight plastic bins and keep them inside the container. This is also the perfect place to keep your winter clothes that feature wool.
Alternatively, you can keep your wool clothing inside plastic storage bags. For your other clothes, take them outside of the closet and give them air more often.
You also want to keep your closet and cabinets well-ventilated. As we mentioned, humidity is the moth’s best friend. Hence, ensure proper air circulation and keep your room temperature cool as often as possible.
You may also consider replacing your old hangers with new cedar hangers. Cedar is an excellent insect repellent. If you still want to use traditional hangers, throw in a few pieces of cedar chips inside your closet.
Also, you can use other herbs such as cloves, thyme, lavender, rosemary, and bay leaves as alternatives. These are also natural moth repellents.
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7. Invest in Moth Traps
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Last but not least, invest in some quality moth traps. This is effective if the methods above still do not work.
Buy a moth trap that comes with a tested formulation. Find a trap that features potent pheromones as its active ingredient. These pheromones work by attracting moths toward the trap.
After enticing the moths, they will come in contact with a sticky mixture that will spell their doom. Moreover, go for a trap that is non-toxic and eco-friendly. You want the trap to be pesticide-free to ensure the safety of your family.
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You also want something easy to set-up. This will save you a lot of time.
If you fail to control an infestation with moth prevention techniques, they can also pose different health issues to your family. Medical experts note that moths can cause rashes, itching, and blisters when their hairs come in contact with your skin.
In more serious cases, they can cause contact dermatitis, blisters, and scaly skin.
Practice Proper Moth Prevention Today!
Moth prevention is something that every household must take seriously. You need to practice the right methods and cover all bases to ensure success. And if you’re searching for the best moth control solutions, we have them all for you.
We offer high-quality, Eco-friendly moth traps at affordable prices. Contact us today and tell us about your needs. Let us discuss the best options that will solve your pest infestation.
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Let’s get rid of those pesky moths, today!
