HOW TO REPEL CLOTHES MOTHS NATURALLY AND PROTECT WOOL AND CASHMERE
This morning I opened my storage trunk and found moth holes in one of my favourite woollen jumpers. Then another. And another. Not holes of the charming snagged it on a rose bush variety either. These were small, irregular and suspiciously deliberate. Somewhere in that trunk, a moth had apparently been enjoying a very expensive breakfast.
There are few things quite as irritating as discovering that something you have lovingly washed, folded and put away has quietly become an all you can eat buffet.
The first thing to know is that clothes moths have excellent taste. They are particularly fond of natural fibres such as wool, cashmere and silk. Those small, irregular holes with slightly frayed edges are a fairly good indication that they have moved in. And moths are sneaky. By the time you discover the damage, they may already be considerably more settled than you would like.
So there I was, standing over the trunk with the expression of someone who had just discovered an extremely small burglary.
The only sensible thing to do was empty it.
Out came every woollen scarf, every cashmere cardigan and several things I had entirely forgotten I owned. This is important because if you find moth holes in one garment, you need to check everything nearby. Moths are not known for exercising portion control.
Anything suspicious needs dealing with immediately. And this is where things become rather pleasingly dramatic.
Freeze it.
Wash the affected garments, place them inside airtight bags and put them in the freezer for 72 hours. While your cashmere is enjoying its unexpectedly Arctic mini break, thoroughly clean the storage trunk and any wardrobes, drawers or cupboards where you keep natural fibres. It is also worth deep cleaning the washing machine after washing affected clothes.
There is something faintly ridiculous about opening the freezer and finding a favourite jumper sitting beside the frozen peas but needs must.
With the immediate crisis dealt with, attention turns to making sure the moths do not come back.
This is the point at which cedar suddenly becomes much more interesting than cedar has any right to be.
Clothes moths dislike its fresh, woody scent. This makes cedar a wonderfully simple, natural way to help deter moths from wool, cashmere and other delicate natural fibres.
And unlike traditional mothballs, which tend to announce themselves before you have even opened the cupboard door, cedar smells rather lovely. More importantly, it does not harm the moths. It simply persuades them that dinner might be better elsewhere.
Our Cedar Balls can be tucked amongst clothes in a storage trunk or placed in wardrobes, drawers and linen cupboards. I put them liberally amongst my woollens. At this point the moths were getting no mixed messages.
Keeping clothes clean and fresh matters too.
Between washes, I mist delicate woollens with our Cashmere Refresher. It is plant derived and scented with Cedar, Eucalyptus and Bergamot essential oils. It naturally deodorises the fibres while maintaining that woody cedar scent moths prefer to avoid.
It also makes opening the storage trunk considerably nicer which after discovering somebody has been eating its contents feels like the least one deserves.
Then comes washing.
I know. Nobody wants to be told that the answer involves more laundry.
But moths are another good reason not to put worn woollens away and forget about them. Anything going into long term storage should be properly cleaned and completely dry first.
I wash my delicate woollens with our Cashmere Shampoo. It is gently scented with warming Cedarwood, another scent moths dislike and is designed for delicate fibres such as cashmere, merino and mohair. There is no bleach or harsh chemical assault involved. Your favourite jumper has already been eaten. It does not need further punishment.
Then everything has to go back into storage.
For long term storage, avoid plastic and cardboard. Moths are surprisingly partial to cardboard and plastic can trap humidity, which may lead to staining. Clean, completely dry garments are much happier stored in breathable cotton or canvas pouches.
The location of the storage matters too. A damp attic may seem like the obvious place to put winter clothes until you need them again but dark, humid and undisturbed is essentially a moth’s idea of a boutique hotel.
Keep wool and cashmere somewhere cool and dry. Check on them occasionally. Store them clean. Use breathable pouches and tuck Cedar Balls amongst them.
The irritating truth is that moths are much easier to discourage than evict. Clean clothes, dry storage and cedar are considerably simpler than the forensic operation I conducted before breakfast.
As for the jumper, it is currently contemplating its life choices from inside the freezer.
The trunk has been emptied and cleaned. Everything has been inspected. The Cedar Balls are ready and no cashmere is going back into storage until I am absolutely certain it is clean, dry and no longer of interest to anyone with wings.
I may have lost a jumper.
The moths have lost a restaurant.
If you cannot face assembling a tiny anti moth task force item by item, there is also our Cashmere Care Set. It contains the Cashmere Shampoo, Cedar Balls and a Wool and Cashmere Comb for dealing with bobbles and pilling, which are of course another small indignity inflicted on perfectly nice knitwear.
It is essentially everything you need to make a tired jumper look cared for again while also making it considerably less inviting to moths. Clean it. De-bobble it. Add cedar. Put it away properly. A surprisingly satisfying little rehabilitation programme for cashmere.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does cedar repel clothes moths?
Yes. Clothes moths dislike the natural, woody scent of cedar. Cedar Balls are therefore a simple, natural way to help deter them from wool, cashmere and other natural fibres stored in trunks, wardrobes, drawers and linen cupboards.
How long should you freeze clothes for moths?
Wash affected garments, place them inside airtight bags and freeze them for 72 hours. While the clothes are in the freezer, thoroughly clean the trunk, wardrobe or drawers where they were stored.
What do moth holes look like?
Moth damage often appears as small, irregular holes with slightly frayed edges. Pay particular attention to garments made from natural fibres such as wool, cashmere and silk.
How do you store wool and cashmere to prevent moths?
Always store wool and cashmere clean and completely dry. Choose breathable cotton or canvas pouches rather than plastic or cardboard and keep them somewhere cool and dry. Adding Cedar Balls can help deter clothes moths naturally.
How can you protect wool from moths naturally?
Regular cleaning, careful storage and cedar are a good place to start. Check natural fibres regularly, wash garments before storing them and keep storage areas clean and dry. Cedar Balls and a cedar scented garment refresher can also help maintain the woody scent that clothes moths prefer to avoid.
Talk Soon,
Bella
Founder of NNL