moths?

[thomsec]

I know that the issue of hangers has been dealt with, but I'm wondering what you do to prevent moth damage. I've got a few months to figure it out as I jones for my Bear MacBitseach.
Thanks, Charlie

[MacConnachie]

There was a recent thread on the various means used to store kilts, whether hanging, or rolled and/or placed in a cedar chest. There were several suggestions offered, relating to moth-proofing or moth-protecting woolen garments.

Try a search, using the keyword "moth" or "moths." That thread and probably others will come up.

Welcome to the forum, and to "jonesing" for fine gentlemanly attire, as well.

[Sherry]

Wool Fabric, Clothing, and Blanket Storage

• To prevent the invasion of the clothes moth, brush wool with a fabric brush before storing.

• Clean the garment or blanket. Food stains and body oils attract moths. Dry cleaning or laundering kills moth eggs and larvae.

• Store cleaned wool fabric in airtight bags or containers with tight-fitting lids. When folding, add white tissue paper between folds to prevent wrinkling.

• Add mothballs to the container. Do NOT put them directly on the fabric. Hang them in small loosely woven cloth bags near the fabric. Clothing will need to be aired out after removing from storage to remove the mothball odor

I get the impression that regularly worn clothing has a smaller chance of getting eaten on than stored clothing.

Sherry

[furrycelt]

That reminds me. I was wanting to ask everyone's opinion about that sort of thing. I know that "moth balls" are reliable for keeping the hungry creatures out of one's closets, but they stink. I can't stand the smell of moth balls, and I don't want that chemical around my pets and kids. My dad was raised on a good ole fashion country farm, and he says that cedar is just as effective.

If I could afford it, I would store all our import cloth items in a nice cedar lined trunk. Or better, have a cedar lined closet! In a standard ubiquitous home-improvement store, I came across these cedar disks that you loop onto your hangers. They lost their smell quickly, and probably their efficacy.

Opinions and suggestions welcome.

[Sherry]

You can add a few drops of cedar essential oil that you can buy at the health food store or online. Don't get the oil on the clothes, though.

Sherry

[mddock58]

Give it a light sanding will renew the smell as well.

[Nick Fiddes]

From my own personal experience of having once lost a whole generation of woolly sweaters to the little blighters at home, I can add just two pieces of advice. One, if you see a clothes moth either in flight or on a surface, be ruthless! Kill kill kill! Sorry if this offends any animal rights activists, but I suspect the Buddha himself might have invoked an exemption for these horrors.

Second, if you find an infestation (it's the tiny black eggs that do the damage when they hatch, not the moths themselves) and don't want to trash the garment, put it in a sealed plastic bag and then in the deep freeze. I believe this kills them, and nothing else seems to work. Hope this helps.

[Mike n NC]

I hadn't given it much thought but what Nick said about freezing makes sense! Being a cigar collector and having something near 1K cigars in storage I have learned some things.
When or if my cigar storage temperatures get above 70 F the chance of tobacco beetle infestation is always there. The way to get rid of them, the only way that I know of, is to freeze them. I would think that using the same proceedure for woolen items would work. As he said, wrap the item in plastic and place it in a freezer for 24-48 hours, the colder the better. I usually use my chest type freezer that maintains -10 F. That takes care of the little buggers! You guys that live up in the frozen wasteland can just toss it outside I guess.
One more thing...If you see one, there are many more you don't see. Let caution be your guide.

Mike

[Big Paul]

I fear those little buggers myself.

[Iolaus]

Here is an excellent article about clothes moths,with photos to help ID them.