There are several ways to prevent or eliminate a moth infestation, including vacuuming regularly, using cedar products, and storing clothes in cool, dry, well-ventilated areas.
Turn Off Lights: Moths are attracted to light, so turning off the lights can help reduce their activity. Open Windows and Doors: Create an exit route for the moth by opening windows or doors. This may encourage it to leave on its own. Use a Jar: If the moth doesn't leave, you can gently trap it using a jar.
Peppermint oil has been known to effectively repel Pantry Moths. So, you may want to wipe down your shelves with this fragrant oil. Rosemary, clove, lavender, thyme, and Eucalyptus may also be helpful. Each of these natural repellents for pantry moths is safe to use around food items!
You can make sachets with lavender and other dried plants like bay leaves, peppermint, lemon balm and/or rosemary. You can even add some cedar shavings, too. Place a couple of spoons of these ingredients in an old sock or a dry tea bag.
Vinegar: Vinegar really can be used for anything. And when it comes to cleaning out your closet or storage box to repel moths, it does the job. The strong acidic smell of vinegar will repel moths away from the area as well as cleanse the area from dirt, dust, moth eggs and larvae.
It turns out that soap and alcohol—the two main ingredients in Dawn Powerwash—are both great at killing insects. The soap clogs up insects' breathing tubes, essentially drowning them. Alcohol dries them out as well.
Lavender — Lavender is a widely-loved moth repellent for good reason. Its floral scent is delightful to humans but repulsive to moths. Our 'Protect Me' Scent Bags can be placed in closets and drawers to protect your garments. Plus, they impart a lovely fragrance to all surrounding clothes.
Dryer sheets typically contain chemicals such as linalool, beta-citronellol, and geraniol, which are known to have some insect-repellent properties.
The most common and effective method for killing all stages of clothes moths in clothing, blankets, and other washable articles is to thoroughly launder them for 20 to 30 minutes in water that is at least 120°F.
When combined with vinegar, baking soda can kill Carpet Moth Larvae and eggs. However, baking soda on its own, is not the most effective method to eliminate Carpet Moths from your home.
Using Citronella Oils for Moth Prevention
Use this handy trick to keep moths and other pests away from your outdoor areas. In the morning spray or paint some citronella oils on your light bulbs. As night falls they should be dry.
How do moths get into the house? If you find a single moth in your home, it's likely that it has come through the window. But if you're inundated with them it's likely that the larvae has been brought into the home through somebody's shopping or clothes.
You can use lavender sachets or essential oil to keep moths away. Eucalyptus: The scent of eucalyptus is also a natural moth repellent. You can use eucalyptus essential oil or place eucalyptus leaves in your closet or drawers. Citronella: Citronella is a natural insect repellent that can also keep moths away.
Carolina chickadees, for example, require 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars to rear a single clutch of four to six offspring. Bats are perhaps the most well-known predators of adult moths, though some moths have evolved tricks to evade the predators.
Thoroughly clean the clothes you do keep.
Dry cleaning is the most effective method of killing moth larvae, and it's worth the expense for wool sweaters and jackets you don't want to risk ruining.
-Natural oils such as cedar oils and cedar chests are said to repel clothing moths, but the University of California at Davis Integrated Pest management center says there is little research to support this fact. You can try various natural oils, especially cedar, to repel moths.
Cedar oil (or cedarwood oil) is an essential oil derived from conifer trees, and moths hate the scent of it. Spray cedar oil into the corners of your closet, or pour some cedar oil into a diffuser. Other herbs that are repugnant to moths are lavender, rosemary, cloves, bay leaves, and thyme.
Cedar oil is strong and effective and the moths don't like it! Other good essential oils to repel moths include lavender, rosemary, lemon, bergamot, sage, and mint.
For the fabric moth pests, non-chemical methods e.g. vacuuming/sanitation, proper storage, and conventional materials e.g. liquid sprays and dusts are commonly used. Monitoring using various traps including pheromone traps where applicable is done thereafter to ensure moth problems do not persist.
Moths won't respond to a yellow light if they are at a distance as it appears very faint. Therefore, most people buy yellow light bulbs as there will be fewer moths in their homes.