The majority of people don’t consider moths a problem and are inclined to ignore signs of these pesky insects. However, it’s extremely important to try and eliminate these creatures at the first sign of infestation.

Moth Infestations

The most common type of moth to infest British homes is the clothes moth, referred to in scientific terms as Tineolla Biselliella. These yellow/brown coloured insects grow to around 5mm long and are rarely seen flying as they prefer to stay in dark, undisturbed places around the home.     

Clothes moths can cause many problems, largely due to their expensive taste for woollen or silk garments. This includes your finest jumpers, coats, dresses, blankets, carpets and seat covers.

Last summer, the Daily Mail published an article warning readers of the dangers of letting moths spread across the home. The paper told the story of Lizzie, a woman whose London home had a moth infestation that was so bad she had to replace all the contents of her wardrobe and re-carpet her entire house. Lizzie tried everything to try and stop the moths from ruining her home, including putting down lavender sachets (a natural moth repellent), storing all clothes in sealed bags, and using ultra violet plug in lights, which are designed to catch and electrocute moths. Unfortunately, the infestation had gotten too severe for any of the home remedy techniques to be of use.

Clothes moth infestations are becoming more and more common due to the increasing use of central heating. Years ago, moths were only seen in the summer, but these days our warm and cosy homes give them an appealing place to stay and breed.

How to prevent a moth infestation

• Clean, clean, clean: Regularly deep cleaning your home, including all carpets, coats, furnishings and other garments, will remove any moth eggs from fibres. Try to avoid putting away clothing which has been worn, as moths are attracted to garments which smell of sweat, perfume, makeup, hair or food products.

• Bag it, seal it, store it: Once cleaned, you should ensure all fine clothing and winter coats are stored in specialist clothes bags. This will stop moths eating you out of house and home, and also ensure your garments are kept clean.

• Out with the old, in with the new: For every new piece of clothing you bring into the home, try and clear out some old garments or sell them on eBay.

At the end of your tether with moths? Time to call in the experts. At Terminex, we offer professional pest control services and are full members of the BPCA (British Pest Control Association). Our experienced, friendly technicians will happily visit your home or commercial property to ascertain the level of your infestation and discuss how we can go about successfully treating the problem.

For more information or to raise any queries about moth infestations, contact us today.