So I’m in the middle of a major spring cleaning here at home. I try to refresh the home once a year, but this cleaning has been major. I got rid of about half my clothing, things I’ve been holding on to for years, thinking– “maybe someday I will be a size 2 again.” No, Tori, you won’t be. Frankly, I don’t even want to be a size 2 anymore. I’ve learned to love my curves. I’ve earned them! The good news is our friend’s daughter will fit into the size 2 stuff just fine. She is very happy that I’ve started “The Great Closet Purging of 2014.”
As I was going through all of my sweaters to pack them away for spring and summer, I was shocked to discover a moth infestation. Some of my prettiest sweaters – cashmere pieces that I’ve invested in hoping they’d last me a lifetime – were full of little holes. I began to research it online, and apparently those naughty moths have a taste for the finer fabrics in life. That means your nicest sweaters, scarves and wraps are their number one target. Awesome.
I’ve separated the moth-eaten clothing from the rest of my closet. Now I’m wondering about the best way to deal with it. Have any of you had this problem in the past? I’ve made sure that no sweaters are moved to my friend’s house until they’re completely moth-free. I don’t want to share moths with her closet! There is a lot of conflicting advice online about how to handle this. I’m not sure how effective moth balls would be in this situation, and really, who wants that smell lingering on their clothing? A natural solution would be preferable to me. I’ve read that moths are repelled by the smell of cedar and lavender, which is intriguing.
Have any of you dealt with a moth infestation before? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Josephine says
Not much you can do about the holes but you might consider hiding them with motifs cut from lace (by lace trim). I’ve repaired garments that had small holes or stains with cotton lace for more substantial garments or knits but lighter nylon or poly lace would be better on delicate knits. Voila! A new, customized sweater!
Posey Salem says
Hi Tori,
I love your new website and really love the header! Pomegranates are my favorite motif.
I am a professional knitwear designer [only one hat that I wear :-)] and this means I have lots of sweaters and accessories that I invested huge amounts of time to craft. I only use high quality yarns that increase the investment. I don’t like moths eating my hard work and I’m not fond of chemicals.
I wrote a blog post about this very subject and how to make moth deterrent sachets. Here is the biggest tip I can give you…clean your clothes before you put them away for the warm weather!
Body oils, left over fragrances, tiny food particles or lingering odors, makeup, etc. are all attractants. If I hand wash or dry clean my precious woolens and fine fiber clothes and then use a natural moth deterrent I don’t have problems.
Tori Avey says
Thank you for the tip Posey!
Carol says
I put my clothes in a vacuum sealed plastic bag and store them in the freezer. I used to do moth balls couldnt take the smell and I didnt find cedar blocks effective but the freezer is great except that it diminishes your freezer space
L says
So very sorry for you recent experience, Tori. I have had that experience myself and found that both reweaving and knit repair have been amazingly undetectable done at a nice men’s clothing store in my area, even though I’m not male nor do I shop there. Both silks and woolens.
~ Appreciating all the prevention suggestions. Wondering if putting woolen items in sunlight for a few hours will kill larvae?
~ Love the boiled wool hot water bottle idea. Would love to do that and tea cozies, too.