The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Bodger on August 08, 2013, 09:56:11 am
-
Well almost. ::)
We've sprayed them, we've hung stuff up in the wardrobes and all but nuked them with just about everything you can think of but we're still being plagued by those damned clothes moths. :rant:
It all started a couple of years ago, when one of our sons, who'll remain nameless, returned home from his travels and decided that leaving a moth infested woollen jacket in his rucksack would be a good idea. Ever since then, we've had to fight a constant battle to get rid of an almost a biblical plague of them and we're still struggling. :rant:
Most nights when we go to bed, I have to trip the light fantastic and zap a few of the blighters with the bug bat in our bedroom. Those wardrobes are blinking tall I can tell you and as for hanging from the crystal chandelier with one hand, whilst it can be positively exhilerating, my nightly exercises definitely tend to undo the calming effect of my evening cup of Ovaltine !
Our wardrobes have quite expensive moth killers hanging in them but still the moths are causing a problem. To top it all, my rant has been brought about this morning because when I went to put my favourite jumper on, there was a large hole right through it, just where my left tit would be. :rant:
I've just spoken to Kaz on the phone and we're going to add some good old fashioned camphor moth balls to the armoury. My clothes may end up smelling like they belong to an old woman ( Don't you dare say it ! :innocent: ) but at least they might help me to keep some clothes on my back !
PS. That bdooly son, was our Martin! :rant: If we don't get rid of them soon, I may be forced to consider becoming a naturist. If I were to wear this jumper today, why? I'd be no better than that exhibitionist Janet Jackson ! :roflanim:
I loved that jumper, it really suited me. :'(
-
Aren't they a nuisance - I just hate when I pull out some loved woollen thing and it's got holes in it.
My parents have had a nightmare with them, in their wool carpets.
I'm a (newish) weaver, and I've got stashes of rug wool from the lady I bought my big loom from - I sincerely hope the moths aren't into that!
Cedar ball, camphor balls, lavender bags, mum has sprinkled lavender flowers loose on the carpet under the beds and behind the sofas, in an effort to persuade the little b¥€€£?$ to go away!
-
from time to time, my good lady wife has been known to keep her wool stash in the freezer. :knit:
-
Ha, I could do that at the moment, before the tups go to the butchers :D
-
I went to the woolen mill recently and if you purchased one of the woolen throws they said it had to be put in the freezer for 2 weeks to kill any nastys.
Definitely give it a go if you have freezer space
-
I share your pain Bodger :rant: I have them now too - we found a colony in our feed bin, and they all flew up when I opened the lid, plenty squashed but zillions more of the little devils. So that's what they eat when there's no wool :o
I think maybe the only way to get rid of them is to take everything outside and give it a good shake, leave clothes on the line, and totally fumigate the house. We have so much stuff that's never going to happen all in one day, so I just have to check room by room. Then there's the attic - I bet they've found their way up there too. For years I didn't have any, but now I do. They demolished my best angora jumper before I realised I had them. I'm going through the process of putting all knitwear into ziplok bags, but they can probably chew their way into those too. :knit:
Word is that putting all your clothes through the microwave can work, but apparently it doesn't really, and freezing doesn't - they're indestructible like cockroaches :tired:
I'm wondering if they came in in my Kashkai (sp) rug, or if they were already lurking.
-
You should see my lounge carpet!! great holes in it from where the moth have had their fill, especially under the sofas. I've changed all the other carpets to non natural fibres, broke my heart because i'm a great fan of buying wool stuff being a sheep farmer :-J but i can't live with the blasted moth every night.
Apparently they can come in from changing double glazing (which we did) having old saddles ( which we have) and bringing birds nests in the house??? that's what we were told by the pest control man i spoke to, on how to get rid of them.
I can have my house sprayed at vast cost but he can't guarentee i will get rid of them ( that's a no brainer then) :innocent:
-
Do they only like woollen items or will they make holes in all clothing. :-\
I don't know anything about them (except they made huge holes in my sisters new bedroom carpet) but a small moth flew out of my daughters wardrobe last week :o . Did say to her that I hoped it wasn't a clothes moth ..... wardrobe is full of cuddlies as well as clothes.
Can't deal with any more pests that refuse to die .... the red mite are bad enough.
-
Silk, wool, cashmere, sheepskin, feathers........
-
Apparently you can get some pheromone strips (http://www.totalwardrobecare.co.uk/xcart/Moth-box.html), which attract the males, so disrupting the breeding.
-
Do you really think that Pheromone strips in the bedroom would be a good idea? I might have to up my Ovaltine to two cups in an evening. :love:
-
:roflanim:
-
Had a bad do with them a few years ago and discovered Protector C. It is quite expensive to buy but a little goes a long way and as it is a contact thing it lasts about 6 weeks - more if it is not warm.
I got it in the 5 litre tubs and went all over the house (as you know its a big house). It also sorts out the endless long legged spiders I get plus sprayed round the window sides and shelf it kills the flies which come in. And I do the overhead beams and light fittings where the house flies aimlessly spend their days drifting up and down.
Used it for about 7 years now and pleased with its effectiveness.
-
Recipe:
3 tablespoons southernwood ,
2 tblsp mugwort ,
1 tblsp rosemary leaves ,
1 tblsp chamomile flowers ,
1 tblsp thyme ,
1 teaspoon cinmamon ,
1 tsp ground cloves ,
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg ,
1 tsp salt ,
1 tsp orris root powder ,
oil of cloves , or lavender , or lemon oil .
Crumble the dried herbs into a bowl .
Add the spices , the salt and orris root . Store in a screw-topped jar , away from light , for 2 weeks .
Have little bags ready for filling , and shake enough of the oil on to the herbs to scent them strongly .
Fill the bags and tie closed , place in draw or hand among clothes .
The only jumpers i have are man made fibres , but i haven't worn a jumper in 15 years ! So although the moths are here , nothing for them to eat .
The recipe does work ,
but you need to grow the herbs , as you need them in bulk qty .
-
Rusty that sounds like something i would put in with my Sunday roast! :eyelashes: but the cloves and nutmeg etc would smell lovely.
I'm not sure about pheromone strips either, my old man is frisky enough without making it worse :roflanim:
No there's nothing like chasing the moth around the lounge at night trying to squash them, takes pounds off your muffin tops.
-
We are cursed with them too >:( >:( . I don't buy many nice clothes and, of course, what did they eat? The alpaca and angora jumpers which were supposed to be my 'classic' best clothes. Left all the rubbish for me to wear :'( . The carpets are ruined under the wardrobes, and sideboard in the dining room. :gloomy: . Moth treatments didn't touch them so now everywhere is sprayed with flea spray in an effort to kill any larvae - I will get revenge 8) .
-
Now I am worried. :( I am going to inspect my wardrobe.