Clothes Moths

An infestation of clothes moths causes irreparable damage to clothes, upholstery, carpets and rugs. It’s often undisturbed areas of carpets such as beneath furniture, crevices of upholstered furniture and clothes that have not been worn for a long time that are attacked. Fabrics with food, perspiration, or urine stains are more subject to damage.

If they are not controlled moths will increase in number exponentially. Female moths lay an average of 40 to 50 eggs during a two to three-week period and die once they have completed the egg-laying process. Eggs hatch in 4 to 10-days during warm weather. The larval period lasts 35-days to 2.5-years. Usually, developmental time for the clothes moth from egg to egg is between four to six-months, and there are usually two generations a year.

Moth damage is caused by the larvae. They feed on keratin found in animal-based fibres such as wool, cashmere, silk, feathers and fur as well as in dust which contains human skin cells and hair.

Adult moths are light brown and 6mm long when their wings are closed. They stay in the immediate area of the infestation, and flutter about. They don’t usually feed at all, just mate, lay eggs and then die.

Preparation you must undertake prior to treatment

• Clear all clutter from the floors (toys, books, boxes, DVDs, posters, shoes etc).
• Remove the contents of wardrobes, cupboards and drawers.
• Vacuum all the floors including under furniture, with particular attention to the edges of carpets.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture including under the cushions where debris will have collected.
• Vacuum and clean the interiors of wardrobes, cupboards and drawers.
• After vacuuming remove the vacuum bag and place in an outside bin.
• Clean all surfaces.
• Ensure cutlery, food, clothes, towels, toothbrushes etc are covered.

Aftercare

• Immediately after treatment let the spray dry; don’t clean or wipe up any puddles.
• Don’t touch the treated surfaces or let pets into the treated area until dry. If you do get the insecticide on your skin wash it off immediately.
• Reduce the humidity by opening windows and increase the heat to allow the treatment to work most effectively.
• Don’t vacuum for 2-weeks, then on the 3rd week, thoroughly vacuum at least once a day paying particular attention to the edges of carpets and areas which are usually undisturbed. After vacuuming remove the vacuum bag and place in an outside bin.
• Don’t clean surfaces for at least 1-month.
• After 1-month thoroughly clean wardrobes, cupboards, drawers, radiators, corners, cracks, skirting boards, mouldings and hard-to-reach places.
• Ongoing it is essential to continue thoroughly vacuuming, paying particular attention to the edges of carpets and areas which are usually undisturbed as small numbers may continue to breed under carpets where they will not come into contact with the insecticide.

How our treatment works

Our treatment targets the larvae of moths as they cause damage to clothing, upholstery, carpets and rugs. They feed on keratin found in animal-based fibres such as wool, cashmere, silk, feathers and fur as well as in dust which contains human skin cells and hair.

The technician will apply a residual insecticide to all the carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, throws and other soft furnishings, insides of wardrobes, drawers, drawer runners and under furniture. The larvae will absorb the insecticide. You may see moths for up to a month after the treatment as some moths may have been in the pupa stage at the time of treatment and will emerge at different times.