Ilkeston has plenty of older houses with deep cupboards and wool carpets, which is exactly where clothes moth larvae settle. Here is how to stop them.
Few people see clothes moth larvae feeding. What they notice instead is a jumper pulled from a drawer with a ragged edge, or a coat with a patch of thin fabric on the shoulder. By then, the larvae may have been working for months, in a drawer you did not open or a box under the bed.
Ilkeston sits just across the county border in Derbyshire, and it is a former mining and lace-industry town with many Victorian terraces and later estates. Terraced houses often have understairs cupboards, deep alcoves and floorboards with gaps beneath, all quiet places where dust and fibres collect. Clothing handed down through a family, or brought home from a house clearance, can carry eggs without any sign.
Take everything out of the affected space and inspect each item. Launder or dry clean anything that is safe to, and freeze small items in sealed bags for several days if they cannot be washed. Vacuum the shelves, corners and the floor nearby, then wipe surfaces. It is dull work, but the larvae can sit in the smallest crack, so a thorough job is worth it.
Return clothes only when they are clean and dry, and use sealed boxes or breathable garment bags for knitwear you will not wear for a while. Adding items to the wardrobe that smell strongly of lavender or cedar may deter adults, but it will not kill larvae already present.
If you have inherited or bought old rugs, blankets or coats, treat them as suspect until checked. Shake them outdoors, inspect the backs and folds, and wash or freeze what you can before it goes near your own clothes. Many infestations begin with a single secondhand item.
Keep an eye on warm, still rooms. Larvae develop faster in warmth, so a spare bedroom over a kitchen is a more likely home than a cold box room.
If new damage keeps turning up after a deep clean, there is probably a source you have missed. This might be a wool rug in a spare room, an old fur collar, a dead bird nest in a chimney void or a stash of natural-fibre insulation. A professional can trace it, treat the affected rooms and advise on keeping numbers low. How long it takes will depend on the extent of the problem.
Regular airing of wardrobes, brushing wool garments and avoiding long periods of storing unwashed clothes all reduce the chance of larvae taking hold.
We can identify the insect, treat the affected rooms and tell you what to change. Free advice comes with all treatments, and we offer appointments to suit you. Call 0115 937 5117.
Larvae prefer natural fibres and items carrying sweat or food stains. Synthetic fabrics and freshly washed garments are less attractive, so damage can be patchy even in the same wardrobe.
They can deter adult moths but are unpleasant and not a reliable cure for larvae in carpet and furniture. Cleaning, proper storage and, where needed, professional treatment are more dependable.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
