Understanding moths
Moths are the plain Jane of the butterfly world. They feed off the fibres in wool and silk and the smell of sweat is particularly attractive to them. So the first rule in storing your winter clothes is to make sure they are clean.
Washing wool
Be sure to wash your woollens gently, avoid twisting or wringing. Gently swirl the wool in water no hotter than 37C (100F) using a soap with a low pH. You can add 14 mm (one tablespoon) of vinegar to lower the acidic content of the detergent. Swirl and gently press the wool, rinse and then press the water out. Never wring. Place the sweater flat, blocking it into shape and let it dry.
Consider investing in some of the wool washes with scents. Eucalan makes lanolin infused no rinse wool wash with lavender. The company offers samples by mail if you send them a self addressed stamped envelope. New York based The Laundress sells a wool & cashmere shampoo with combining cedar extracts.
Once dry, air out your woollens for a few hours before packing them away.
Proper storage the key
Airtight containers can go a long way to stopping moths. Plastic storage bins or ziplock bags are probably the most convenient but since we are all trying to cut down on plastics in our home why not try the old fashioned cedar chest?
Prices range from $150 for a simple bare-bone storage unit. It's the is probably the nicest way to store woollens. Make sure it's airtight since the oil in the wood can kill small larvae but will not affect larger larvae. Air tight will ensure the moths don’t into the wool to start out with.
Stay away from mothballs
The standard practice is to throw in a mothball or two with the winter clothing. But these mini toxic bombs should be avoided altogether since they are made from napthaline or paradichlorobenzine. Both chemicals are neuro-toxic carcinogens and considered extremely dangerous, especially to children and pets who are often attracted by their sickly sweet smell. In fact, mothballs are a leading cause of poisoning.
Paradicholorbenzine can also melt plastic so if you are using ziplock bags to store your clothes you could end up with gooey plastic all over them.
Be safe and use the natural alternatives. As well as being better for your clothes and the environment, they smell way better.
Make your own
Make your own natural moth balls by putting a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and placing it into a small cloth bag alongside your clothing. Lavender, rosemary, clove, cedar wood, mint, thyme and sage are all good repellents. Mix and match the oils to suit your taste. You can also cedar chips placed in a cloth bag. You can also make your own herbal sachets. (See our how-to article: Add some scent to your life with homemade sachets.)
Sensible chemistry
Your local hardware store may sell pheromone moth traps. These enviro-friendly, non-toxic traps use the sex chemicals produced by moths to lure the males onto a sticky trap. These traps are a good way to detect if you have moths or not.
If you do have moths then take any infected clothes and put them in a freezer for 48 hours. Hang them out in the sun -- the bright sunshine will kill the larvae immediately.
Spring clean
The vacuum cleaner is another important tool against moths. Moths love to hang out in warm, dark places, nestling into nooks and crannies. Vacuuming any wooden furniture, along baseboards, heating vents and woollen carpets can go a long way to preventing an outbreak.
Anne Colvey is a regular contributor to Green Living Online. She longs for a completely cashmere wardrobe.
