How To Get Rid of Moths (and Prevent Them, too) (2024)

FAQs

How To Get Rid of Moths (and Prevent Them, too)? ›

Thoroughly vacuum your closet. Moths and larvae love dark corners and crevices. Remove the vacuum bag and discard it outside immediately, because it will probably be full of eggs and larvae. You may also consider using a dry cleaning service or a carpet steamer to do a deep clean of any rugs made of natural fibers.

Cedar is a wonderful natural moth repellent. Add some cedarwood essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water to spread the scent of cedar in your closet.

An easy trap to make is to suspend a light bulb over a bucket partially filled with soapy water. Moths attracted to the light often will fall into the water and be killed. (If this is attempted some wetting agent, such as soap or detergent, must be added or many moths will escape.

Moths feed on the dirt of knits, so when they are clean it is unlikely to attract them. They despise lavender and others smells, so you can use a bit of cotton or a tissue soaked in essentials oils (lavender, mint, eucalyptus or thyme are the best options) that you put in your dresser.

Dryer sheets typically contain chemicals such as linalool, beta-citronellol, and geraniol, which are known to have some insect-repellent properties.

Set out moth traps.

To take care of the immediate problem of moths in your closet, trap them with pheromone moth traps, which attract and kill them with a sticky substance that they can't escape once they touch. You can make your own moth traps with flypaper and fish oil, which attracts moths.

Clothes Moths detest the scent of cedar. They also dislike rosemary, thyme, sage, mint, bergamot, and lavender. Rosemary, thyme, and peppermint oils can be great for keeping Pantry Moths away.

Moths are attracted to warm, humid spaces, so open your wardrobe door regularly to increase airflow. Cedar is a natural moth repellant, so switching from plastic hangers to cedar can do wonders to prevent moths. Top tip: Put extra cedar items, such as these pest rings, in the pockets of garments if they are long.

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.

What is a moth natural enemy? ›

“Not only do birds and bats consume moths at every stage of the insects' life cycle, so do lizards, small rodents, skunks and even bears,” Mizejewski says. Other insects, including hornets and ants, prey on moth caterpillars, and both spiders and beetles feed on moth pupae tucked away in their cocoons.

If you notice moths in your house and don't know where they are coming from, you may want to check your attic, garage, or pantry. Moths also sometimes live underneath carpets or inside of walls. If you see many small moths fluttering about, it might be time to go through your pantry goods.

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.

Here are the steps to create your own homemade moth trap: Pour about an inch of apple cider vinegar into your small bowl or jar. Add a few drops of dish soap to the vinegar and mix it in. The dish soap will break the surface tension of the vinegar and make it easier for the moths to sink into the liquid.

These insects may be active at any time of the year. However, many species of moths are most active during the spring and summer months. So, start preparing your home starting in March\April time and stay vigilant until the end of August. Or, just pay attention to when the weather warms up and use that as your guide.

"Clothes moths can enter homes by hiding out in clothing, furniture or home goods purchased from thrift stores, garage sales or consignment shops; and pantry moths can enter via eggs laid in foods like flour, cereal, beans and dried fruit," added Tucker.

Pantry goods attract moth species that lay their eggs in stored grains and processed products. These pests often come into homes inside infested food packages. Once inside, their eggs hatch into larvae that eat grains, dried nuts, cereals, and a variety of processed products.