How to Kill Moths

Moths are a problem that almost every household encounters. Moths are often found in kitchens (where they eat grains and nuts) and closets (where they are attracted to wool, silk, and other fabrics). Permanent moth eradication requires two stages: the first is to deal with immediate moth problems using traps, a vinegar solution, and a thorough cleaning; then, take precautions such as camphor and proper storage to ensure moths do not return.

Table of Contents

Solution at home

Moths are destructive, but you can get rid of them with items spread around the house:

Use fly paper and fish oil to make a moth trap at home.
Use vinegar solution to clean wardrobe and kitchen..
Put cedar wood in the closet to prevent moths.
Use bunches of rosemary , thyme , cloves , lavender , or bay leaves to repel moths.

Kill moths in the wardrobe

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Recognize signs. If you see 1-2 moths flying around your home but aren’t sure if they’ve actually entered your home, you can watch for the following signs:

Small holes in sweaters or other clothing. If you see holes in one sweater, you’ll likely find holes in many other pieces of clothing. Check all clothes from wool, leather, fur and silk.
Clothes look dusty, discolored, or have a musty smell.
Film in the corners of the closet or on the clothes.

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Set moth traps. For an immediate wardrobe moth problem, you can trap them with a pheromone trap to attract and kill the moths with a sticky substance they can’t get rid of when touched.

You can make your own moth trap from fly paper and fish oil (which attracts moths). Dab some fish oil on the fly paper and hang it in the closet.
Mouse traps are also effective for catching moths. In particular, you should look to buy a trap with an infrared sensor, because this trap will detect the approaching moths and knock them down when they come close to the bait. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Chris Parker

Founder of Parker Eco Pest Contrp

Chris Parker is the founder of Parker Eco Pest Contrp, a sustainable pest control service based in Seattle. He is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Application Specialist in Washington State and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in 2012.

Chris Parker
Founder of Parker Eco Pest Contrp

Experts agree: If you only have one group of moths, you can use sticky traps to catch them. Place traps under kitchen cabinets and wait for moths to be destroyed, then start cleaning. Once you’re done cleaning, put these traps back in place to prevent them from coming back.

Prevent moth infestation in the wardrobe

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Brush off wool, fur, or leather clothing after wearing. Moth eggs can enter the closet through the clothes you wear outside.

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Keep clothes clean. Moths are attracted to wool, but also especially like to crawl into closets if their clothes are soiled with food or other things they like to eat. Therefore, you need to wash the clothes before hanging them. Dry clean woolen clothing before storing.

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Store clothes properly. You should store clothes you don’t wear often (especially winter woolen clothes) in an airtight place.

Store wool coats and sweaters in a plastic bag.
Store winter clothing in an airtight plastic bag, plastic or metal container.

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Keep your wardrobe cool and ventilated. Moths are attracted to damp places, so you need to improve air circulation and keep them cool in the closet so they don’t nest inside.

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Hang clothes out in the air regularly. Expose woolen garments to some sunlight, especially if taken outside in early fall or early winter, after being stored.

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Put cedar wood in the closet. Cedar wood can repel moths, so you can hang woolen clothes on cedar clothes hangers.

You can buy spherical cedar wood to hang in a closet or put cedar wood chips in a fragrant bag and hang it up.
Try placing a cedar-scented item in the pocket of a wool garment for extra protection.

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Try camphor or a natural alternative. Putting camphor in the closet is an effective way to kill moths. However, the chemicals in camphor are toxic to humans, and leave a strong scent in closets and on clothes. You can try these alternatives:

Scented sachets of rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender or dried cinnamon leaves. You just need to put these ingredients in a small cloth bag, tie it tightly with a string and hang it up.
You can put essential oils from these herbs in your closet or on your clothes as an effective moth repellent.

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For severe cases, you should call an exterminator. These simple solutions above can handle the problem of moths. However, if the moths still return, they can lay eggs in places that you can’t handle with a vacuum cleaner or sponge. In that case, you should call a pest control professional to disinfect the area and kill the moth eggs.

Kill moths in the kitchen

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Recognize signs. Moths leave secretions, membranes, and other signs of their presence. Signs of moth infestations include:

Food sticks together or looks a bit sticky. It could be due to the secretions of moths.
Food that smells musty or “spoiled,” even if it hasn’t expired or been exposed to conditions that spoil the food.
Thin film around a box or bag in the kitchen.
The appearance of caterpillars or moths fully grown in the kitchen is a sure sign that you need to take action.

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Throw away contaminated food. Do not try to keep it because eating food contaminated by moths is not good for health. You should throw away the following foods:

Food in large quantities such as grains, seeds, rice because moths eat and lay eggs in any food.
Moths can eat through cardboard boxes. If you see small holes in the boxes in the kitchen, you should throw them away.
Moths can also invade small spaces. Throw away anything that has been opened, even plastic bags containing chocolate chips or nuts.
Dispose of food in a sealed garbage bag and leave the house immediately.

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Moth trap. If there are still moths left in the kitchen after disposing of their food source, you should set up a pheromone moth trap to attract and kill them with a sticky substance they can’t get rid of when touched. Dispose of the moth trap in an airtight container after catching all the moths in the kitchen.

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Clean up the kitchen. Once the immediate problem is resolved, it’s time to clean the kitchen from top to bottom, focusing on the counters, to remove any leftover moth eggs (if any).

Use soapy water or a mixture of vinegar and water as a cleaning agent. Alternatively, you can use a stronger chemical cleaner.
Dip a cleaning sponge or mop in the mixture and then scrub the cabinets, counters and corners and cracks in the kitchen. Be sure to scrub surfaces to remove moth eggs.

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Consider calling a pest control professional. Moths that still reappear after you have applied the above measures may be because they have laid eggs on walls or other places that you cannot handle with a sponge. Therefore, you should call an exterminator to use strong products to get rid of the moths.

Prevent moths from invading the kitchen

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Check the food source. Moths often enter the kitchen through contaminated food. Bulk foods such as oats, dry cereals or nuts can carry moth eggs when you bring them home. On the other hand, even packaged and sealed foods can carry moth eggs.

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Put food in the freezer when you bring it home. It is not necessary to stop buying food in bulk; instead, just pop it in the freezer to kill the moth eggs (if any) before placing them on the kitchen counter. Clear a place in the freezer to store freshly purchased food for about 3-4 days before using it as usual.

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Store food in airtight containers. Proper food storage can be the best preventive measure.

Choose glass or plastic containers to store food in bulk. Make sure the jar has a tight fitting lid.
Instead of placing cans and containers of long-lasting leftovers on the counter, pour leftovers into a sealable container. Moths can eat through cardboard boxes and thin plastic bags.

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Control the temperature and humidity in the kitchen. Moths thrive in warm, humid environments, so a kitchen that is often sultry can create a favorable environment for moths.

Close windows and doors when opening the air conditioner,
Make sure the kitchen and food storage area are well ventilated.

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Seal crevices and cracks. In the kitchen there are many shelters ideal for moths. You need to find ways to seal off places that can’t be cleaned often, such as the gap behind the kitchen counter, the space between the cabinet and the wall, the gap between the cupboard and the wall.

Warning

Camphor is toxic to humans. Do not allow children and pets near the closet if camphor is used.