THE DEFINITIVE WAY TO CLEAN YOUR KILT by Joshua Brown

[The Wizard of BC]

Moth balls work because they are made from crystallized naphthalene that evaporates slowly. When stored in an enclosed space they asphyxiate the moth larvae. If stored in an open container the fumes just escape and do nothing but smell up your house.

Cedar is a really myth filled subject but just know that there are true Cedars and others which are commonly called Cedar but are not Cedars. Of all of these only two, the Eastern Aromatic Cedar, (Juniperus virginiana) (which is actually a Juniper) and Red Cedar AKA Cuban Cedar, or Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) (which is actually in the Chinaberry family) are effective against clothes moths. I have seen all types of woods for sale including Western Red and White Cedar. These do nothing but give off a nice smell in your closet.

I have even seen California Redwood sold a Aromatic Cedar.

[tundramanq]

The oil I use on my cedar blocks is Texas Cedar wood oil Juniperus mexicana. Seems to work - so far...

[ThistleDown]

I lined my kilt closet in Vancouver with Eastern juniper, but even that's just a deterrent in that it disguises, for a while, what is most appealing to moths for egg-laying and a good start to life for larvae: wool. Moving air is still the best thing as a repellant because even the deterrent quality of aromatic cedar has a life-span. There are small balls of aromatic cedar available for those not interested whole-closet lining, but you need a lot of them. Remember cedar chests, also called 'Hope' chests? Usually lined with Spanish Cedar in the UK. Wonderful smell when they were opened.

[tundramanq]

I use the red cedar rings on my hanger hooks inside the kilt or coat cover bag. Keeps the cedar out of direct contact with the clothes. I sand and re-oil about twice a year.
I have found that the redwood lumber scraps left over from my porch and that I keep on the floor of the closet will take up a lot of this oil and keep the closet absolutely reeking of cedar for a long while.

[ThistleDown]

What oil are you using? I used Giles & Kendall in a previous closet.

[tundramanq]

I am using "Something Cedar" Texas Cedar Wood Essential Oil Juniperus Mexicana. A pure Steam distillation of Texas Red Cedar. For reinvigorating all unfinished cedar wood surfaces. An 8 oz. bottle cost around $20.

For the smaller items that I do, I use rubber gloves and cotton balls to apply. Then I put the balls in a glass I keep in my wool hose drawer. Not going to throw the balls away until the oil is dead. Thinking about walls, the oil takes a couple days to soak in to the point it will not transfer to clothes that may brush against it. The slow soak means it hasn't been thinned with solvents.