Folk remedies for moths at home

In nature, there are several types of domestic moths: grain moths, furniture moths, clothes moths and fur moths. All these insects are capable of causing some damage to products and things. Many are familiar with the classic moth, which lives in closets and feeds on items made of fur and natural fabric. This is a small clay-yellow butterfly, from whose eggs many tiny moth larvae emerge. They are the ones who have a good appetite and pose a danger to things. Protecting fur coats, woolen products and food from moths is the task of every caring housewife. There are different methods of pest control, but the safest are folk remedies for moths. Our article will tell you how to get rid of moths using folk remedies.

Citrus peels

Orange or lemon peels are a traditional folk remedy against moths. Their strong smell is not to the liking of adults. Therefore, in every section of the cabinet where orange peels are laid out, butterflies will not dare to lay eggs. Tangerine peels have a similar effect.

Citrus peels

To obtain the desired effect, the peel of a tangerine or orange must be fresh; it is important to prevent it from drying out or developing mold. Since dry citrus peels do not have a strong aroma, they will not protect against pests. Therefore, they need to be changed regularly.

Important! You can use tangerine or orange peels only for preventive purposes, since they are not capable of getting rid of moth larvae that have already settled in a fur coat.

Mint

Melissa and mint have similar characteristics. To prepare the protection, containers and bags filled with mint are used. The bags are placed in places where the maximum number of pests accumulate. As soon as the herb becomes less fragrant, it is replaced. Plants such as marigolds, fir or spruce branches, chestnut, as well as wormwood and decorative chamomile have similar parameters and properties. Using a chestnut or walnut you can easily get rid of grain, clothes or bee moths.

Cloves, thyme, rosemary

Cloves, thyme and rosemary
Having placed bags of thyme, rosemary and cloves around the apartment, you will not know what moths are for several months. The fact is that the insect cannot tolerate the spicy smell of these plants. Therefore, in order to get rid of pests forever, it is necessary to replace old aromatic sets with fresh ones from time to time.

Review
My wife is allergic to many insecticides, so we used traditional methods to fight moths. And after its destruction, bags of cloves were placed in cabinets. And the smell is pleasant, and moths do not bother me.
Oleg, Perm

Grandmother's recipes for fighting moths

Orange peels

Moths cannot tolerate the smell of either fresh orange or orange peels. Therefore, in order to scare it away, it is necessary to place 2-3 fresh orange peels in the largest places where the insect accumulates (cabinets, shelves, various cells).

This remedy is popularly considered the most effective, but to obtain the desired effect, citrus peels should be constantly changed, preventing mold from appearing on them and drying out . This remedy is also good for preventing the appearance of moths. Having felt the strong smell of citrus fruits, the moth will not lay eggs in these places.

Lavender

A plant such as lavender has been widely used by people for many centuries to combat moths. But even today lavender does not lose its relevance. Many modern residents give

preference for this particular fragrant plant with small lilac flowers. Lavender has a very strong, pleasant scent that does not fade for a long time and with great success repels both moth caterpillars and adult butterflies.

To spread the aroma throughout the house, place dried lavender in small bags, in which you need to make several small holes. Unused tea bags to place the plant in are also great for this purpose. Once filled, they are placed in closets, in piles between clothes, in drawers, shelves and other places. House moths are unable to tolerate the smell of lavender and will soon leave your home.

Mint

Mint, like lavender, has a strong aromatic effect. Therefore, the methods for using them are similar: dried mint leaves are packaged in small bags and laid out in places where the greatest concentration of moths is observed.

At the same time, to completely get rid of moths, it is necessary to check from time to time whether the smell of the plant has worn out, and, if necessary, replace the old bags with new ones containing fresh dried plants. For greater effectiveness, dry mint leaves can be stuffed into the pockets of fur coats, coats, jackets and jackets made from natural fabrics.

Geranium

To get rid of annoying moths in an apartment, it is not necessary to use active control methods in

in the form of special preparations and disinfectant procedures. For these purposes, there are also passive, but no less effective means. For example, a remedy such as geranium.

Everyone knows the strong, persistent smell of this plant. To repel moths, just place geraniums on the windowsill. The plant must be old enough. If the room is large, then it is recommended to place several pots with this home flower at once - 1 plant for each room. Geranium is especially effective in combating kitchen and clothes moths.

For better results, wardrobes, clothing and kitchen cabinets should be periodically opened for ventilation.

Caucasian chamomile

To get rid of moths, Caucasian chamomile powder is used, which must be scattered throughout the entire area of the apartment - approximately every 1.5 meters. The amount of total powder scattered should not exceed a few grams.

Pepper and tobacco

Moths perceive the smell of black pepper and tobacco very negatively. To repel it, natural dried tobacco (not from cigarettes) and black peppercorns are used.

Take a small amount of tobacco and a few balls of black pepper. Then place this botanical arrangement at the bottom of your wardrobe.

Laundry soap

Laundry soap is an effective and quite affordable means of combating both clothes moths and kitchen moths. Its only drawback is the unpleasant specific smell, which

when left in the closet for a long time, it is transferred to clothes. But, of course, it is much better to have clothes with an odor that can be easily eliminated by washing or airing than with any damage.

The rules for using laundry soap are very simple: place pieces of fresh-smelling soap in your pockets or in kitchen cabinets. This smell is a good repellent for adult insects, and the larvae, sensing it, become less active.

Laundry soap is great for protecting closets and pantries from moths.

Essential oils

Various essential oils are excellent aromatic moth repellents. Lavender oil, fir oil, patchouli oil, citronella oil and lemongrass oil are especially good for use for this purpose. To fill your apartment with an odor unpleasant to moths, simply open glass vials of oils and place them on cabinets and shelves. You can also use cotton swabs soaked in essential oil for these purposes.

But it is important to remember that these substances cannot be sprayed on clothes, since sunflower or palm oils can be used to make them, which will leave stains that are difficult to remove on textiles.

Rosemary, cloves and thyme

The insect also cannot stand the smell of these spicy plants. Place a combination of spices, or each one individually, in small pouches with holes. Then distribute these aromatic sets evenly throughout the apartment, including in the closets. This method will save you from moths for several months. After this, you can simply replace the old spice bags with new ones.

Among the pests of coniferous plants, the most common are sawflies and bark beetles. Gels against insect bites will provide you with gentle and reliable protection against parasites. You will find a description of the most popular and proven means in this article.

Magnetic mosquito net is excellent protection against mosquitoes. This type of mesh is suitable for windows and balconies. You will find other types of “anti-mosquitoes” at https://stopvreditel.ru/parazity/zashhita/setki/na-okna-i-dveri.html link.

Garlic and vinegar

These products, due to their strong unpleasant odor, are the strongest repellents.

domestic insects, including moths. To combat it, simply place garlic in wardrobes and kitchen cabinets, in bedside tables, on shelves, in pantries and in drawers. When cleaning an apartment, vinegar is added to the water for washing the floor.

In addition to the above remedies, other traditional methods of fighting moths are also known among people. For example, the temperature method. After all, moths, like all living beings, cannot tolerate temperatures that are too high or too low. Therefore, to completely exterminate it, sometimes it is enough to simply ventilate the room well with frosty air or wash contaminated items with water whose temperature is above 50 degrees.

Essential oils

Essential oils are an excellent and very effective folk remedy for repelling moths. In addition to the eucalyptus composition, lavender, fir, clove, lemon and rosemary oils are widely used. Insects do not like their fragrant aroma.

Using essential oils for moths is not difficult at all. It is enough to add a few drops of any oil to a container of water and wipe the shelves in the closets, floors, kitchen surfaces and furniture in the room with it. You can also spray the surface of upholstered furniture with this solution.

Important! To enhance the effect, cotton swabs soaked in oil will help, which should be placed in each room.

Popular anti-moth sprays

A good spray should spray in a thin stream rather than flow out of the head, kill larvae within minutes, and be economical. The following brands meet these conditions.

"Help"

Protects wool and leather items from butterflies, moth larvae, and mosquitoes. The active ingredients are permethrin and hyperonyl butoxide, which penetrate the chitinous shell of butterflies and the respiratory tract of larvae. A 125 ml bottle costs 115 rubles.

"Delicia Contra Insect"»

A German drug that helps get rid of butterflies and moth larvae, other flying insects (flies, wasps, mosquitoes), crawling pests (cockroaches, bedbugs, ants). Contains permethrin and bioallethrin. A 500 ml bottle costs 550 rubles.

"Argus"

One 100 ml bottle is enough to treat 8 square meters. meters of fabric or other surface. Contains permethrin and repellent lavender essential oil. Costs 50 rubles.

Naphthalene

Naphthalene is truly a folk remedy. Its effect in the fight against moths has been known since the time of our grandmothers. However, the latest research has proven that the drug contains carcinogenic substances that are unsafe for human health. Therefore, naphthalene was not used to kill food moths, since the products are capable of absorbing odors.

They began to use naphthalene against moths only in closets, laying it out on shelves, in bags with woolen items, in the pockets of coats and fur coats.

Moth sections

The sections have the appearance of a three-dimensional board and smell of a sweet aroma that is destructive to insects. May have the scent of lavender, orange, fir and others.

Raid. Effectively kills adults, but does not harm insect larvae. One of the advantages is a pleasant smell in the room or closet.

Raptor sections. Buyers claim that the product kills moths very quickly and leaves a pleasant smell. Only positive reviews.

Mosquitall sections. The product protects clothes well, repels and even kills moths. It has a pleasant smell and is effective in combating. Reviews about the section are positive.

Laundry soap

An excellent folk remedy for moths in the closet is laundry soap. Both clothes and kitchen moths are afraid of its smell. The principle of use is quite simple: you need to place bars of scented soap in the closet between things or products. You can also treat all interior surfaces of furniture cabinets with soapy water.

Review
“To get rid of moths, I used laundry soap on the advice of my mother and reviews from a friend. I treated both the closet, which was favored by insects, and other places where clothes were stored for prevention. Afterwards I left small pieces of soap in the cabinets. Moths don’t bother me anymore!”
Inna, Ryazan

Aerosol use

The insecticidal substance is contained in a pressurized can. Thanks to the sprayer, the particles are evenly distributed in the air and then settle on the surfaces of clothing, shoes, and furniture.

Moth sprays destroy not only butterflies, but also larvae. These products act quickly: insects die a few minutes after spraying the can.

However, aerosols contain aggressive components that are harmful to the respiratory system and skin of humans and pets. The products are not suitable for combating grain moths because they can poison the food.

How to use moth spray?

Ask family members and pets to leave the premises. Remove plants and aquarium from the house.
Wear closed clothing, gloves, safety glasses and a mask.
Spray a can of aerosol on the interior shelves and walls of the closet, clothes, shoes at a distance of 20-30 centimeters for 10 seconds.
Leave for an hour. Return and open the room to ventilate for 30 minutes. Place your clothes in the washing machine and wipe your shoes with a damp cloth.
Clean the apartment. Wash the shelves and walls of the cabinet with soapy water and leave to dry. If you find maggots in your shoes, throw away the old boxes.

Other folk methods

Other folk remedies can also help in the fight against moths.

Moths cannot stand the smell of cedar. By placing its branches and pieces of wood in your wardrobe, you will save your fur coat from moths. For the same purpose, you can use a folk remedy such as cedar oil.
There will be no insects in the cabinets if you place tampons soaked in camphor in them.
Black pepper is another folk remedy for controlling household pests. It’s enough to put bags of peas on the shelves, and no one will get into your things.

Black pepper, oil and cedar bark

Review
Irina, Moscow: “Traditional methods did not help in the fight against moths. Perhaps the reason is that there was a lot of it. We had to use chemicals."
Irina, Moscow

Reasons for the appearance of moths in an apartment

Pale butterflies living in the kitchen are food moths, the caterpillars of which eat such products of the human diet as:

cereals, grains and flour products;
Tea coffee;
chocolate, sugar, baked goods;
potato;
food for pets.

Sugar scattered on the table.
At the same time, the larvae ignore spicy and strong-smelling foods: onions, garlic, red or black pepper. The reason for the appearance of such insects is called:

the presence of caterpillars in purchased products;
migration of adult moths through the ventilation system or open windows;
creating conditions in the apartment that are favorable for moth breeding (darkened niches without strong odors).

Many people mistakenly believe that only sloppy housewives get moths. However, statistics show that in 80% of cases, adult insects appear in the apartment due to the dishonesty of manufacturers and sellers of products.

Unsealed packaging allows moths to easily penetrate inside, lay larvae and travel with the buyer over any distance.

The optimal conditions for the reproduction of clothes moths are:

clothing, upholstery or curtains made of wool, fur and other natural materials;
carpets made of natural wool;
woolen or fur shoes (felt boots, high boots, fur-lined boots);
stuffed animals;
book bindings.

Moths on woolen clothes.

In times of famine, moth caterpillars even eat synthetic fabrics, although such materials are more likely to harm the population than ensure its viability.

The most common causes of clothes moths are:

the presence of larvae in purchased clothing or interior items;
migration of moths with old, used clothes or furniture brought into the apartment;
migration of caterpillars on the fur of pets.

Benefits of folk remedies against moths

Many housewives give preference to folk remedies for protection against moths, resorting to radical methods of control only in extreme cases. And this is correct, since folk remedies do not contain harmful substances, therefore they are safe for human health. This is especially true for families with small children.

The advantages of folk remedies for moth control also include their availability and low cost, which is an important factor in modern life.

Do not forget that folk remedies for fighting moths are best used for preventive purposes. The most optimal option for using them, as well as special sections against moths, is before a winged pest appears in the house. If there is a large concentration of pests, complex treatment using insecticidal preparations for moths such as Antimol is necessary.

What is a mole

To effectively fight the enemy, you need to know what he is. A moth is a small butterfly, usually gray in color, whose larvae feed on keratin, which is found in natural fabrics and materials. Other species of these insects feed on foods, usually bulk ones. Accordingly, moths can be divided into two large groups: clothing moths and food moths .

Moth larvae are very voracious and are able to gnaw their way to food even in materials that are inedible for them

It is not the butterfly itself that is dangerous to clothing and food, but its caterpillars. The insects are very prolific: the female is capable of laying 100-150 eggs at a time, from which the larvae then emerge. They make nests closer to food sources, in dark and secluded corners. And the adult individual itself does not like bright light; most often it prefers to live in closets, and you can see flying moths in the dark.

Damaged clothes made from natural materials are a sure sign of the presence of pests in the house

Butterfly larvae are very voracious: in one day, such a caterpillar can gnaw through a sweater or seriously damage a fur coat. The waste products that pests leave behind also cause damage to things. Food moths lay their offspring in cereals, dried fruits, animal feed and other bulk products.

Ways pests enter the house:

a clutch with eggs and insect larvae can be brought along with food or things from the store;
a butterfly can fly into a room through open windows or doors from the street;
pests can come to you from neighbors through ventilation ducts or through cracks.

A butterfly fluttering around the apartment is the surest sign that a moth is going to settle in your house or has been living in it for a long time, and therefore the fight against it must begin immediately. You should also not ignore larvae, eggs or thin cobwebs found in bulk products. Finding insect nests in clothes is more difficult, but if you find holes and waste products of larvae on your favorite sweater, take immediate action.

Adviсe

At the end of the cold season, before storing a fur coat or hat, they must be cleaned and dried well.
To store fur and wool products, it is better to use special cases in which dried herbs or oil-soaked tampons should be placed.
You should regularly audit your wardrobe. Any insect will feel at ease where it is not disturbed. Therefore, regular inspection and cleaning of cabinets will help prevent the appearance of moths. Each fur or wool product must be carefully inspected for the presence of moth larvae.
Fur items should be shaken regularly to prevent damage. After all, the larvae and eggs of insects adhere to them very weakly, and fall off at the slightest shaking. Therefore, during wearing, things are not exposed to insects. Those that sit on the shelf for a long time suffer more.
Warm blankets, blankets, pillows and carpets must be periodically taken out into the fresh air to dry.
If traces of pest activity are detected, all items in the closet should be heat treated against moths. In winter, they can be laid out in the cold or hung in direct sunlight in summer. Items that are subject to hot processing must be washed and ironed. When washing clothes, you can add a few drops of essential oil and vinegar to the water. Folk or chemical anti-moth remedies will not be superfluous.
To prevent moths from infesting winter boots or boots, they must be dried before storing them. You can put any anti-moth remedy inside (a sprig of tansy or lavender, a tampon soaked in essential oil, or tobacco).
To prevent kitchen moths from infesting the house, all bulk products brought home must be stored in glass jars or tightly closed containers.
Regular cleaning and ventilation of the premises are the key to a clean, pest-free home.

Knowledge of folk remedies and the rules for their use will help prevent the appearance of moths in your apartment.

Using a fumigator

A special liquid is poured into the body or a plate (tablet, capsule) with an insecticide is inserted. The device is connected to an outlet. The consumable heats up, the toxic substance begins to slowly evaporate, poisoning butterflies and moth larvae.

The advantages of the fumigator are ease of use and high efficiency. But it also has a number of disadvantages:

dependence on electricity in the house;
the need to use an extension cord for cabinets without an outlet;
the risk of poisoning family members and pets if the recommended dosage of the insecticide and operating time of the device are not observed.

Popular fumigator models include the following.

Heat fumigator "Raptor"

The active ingredient in the plates for the device is transfluthrin. The fumigator destroys not only butterflies and larvae, but also moth eggs. Begins to act 4 hours after connecting to the network. Price – 240 rubles.

"Clean house 3 in 1"

A more budget device costing 120 rubles. Filled with liquid.

Body moth: signs and differences

Clothes, house or furniture moths are a domestic pest from the order Lepidoptera. It is also called clothing, fur coat, carpet. Insects belong to a large family of true moths , differing in size, distribution area and feeding habits.

The area of interest of the clothes moth is clear from the name. Insects actively destroy home textiles : clothing, furniture upholstery, curtains, carpets, as well as products made from natural fur. The main damage is caused by caterpillars; flying individuals are not dangerous .

At home, there are different types of moths: clothes moths, fur moths, food moths and others (read more about the fight against food pests). Butterflies differ slightly in color and size, caterpillars are practically indistinguishable from each other. Adult clothes moths have a rather inexpressive appearance.

What does a moth look like that eats a fur coat? The small insect is colored beige-silver , its narrow wings are abundantly covered with fringe, and whitish fibers are visible on the head.

The moth practically does not fly around the room; it can be detected by accidentally disturbing it in its habitat.

Adult females prefer to hide in folds of fabric and piles of things in preparation for breeding. In secluded corners, moths lay eggs, from which caterpillars hatch, causing major damage to textiles. Fast-growing caterpillars have a developed gnawing mouthpart, which allows them to quickly wear away textile fibers.

Under natural conditions, this type of moth feeds on animal hair, plant fibers, and bird feathers. In apartments, the diet of caterpillars is much richer. Their prey is any textiles, fur products, various fabric pads in furniture, and animal bristles .

Moths feed not only on natural but also synthetic products. Often it damages only the inner layer of tissue, leaving the outer layer intact. Defects can only be detected during wear; in damaged areas, the fabric quickly spreads, forming holes.

You can see what a clothes moth looks like in the photo below:

What else is a moth afraid of?

In the housewife's attempts to find what the moth is afraid of (folk remedies), she may find the following recommendations for use:

indoor plants with a strong odor;
spicy medicinal plants;
some fruits;
essential oils;
synthetic drugs in the form of suspended elements.

When fighting flying pests in an apartment, you should remember that it is not the butterfly that spoils food and things, but its larvae, deposited in secluded places deprived of access to fresh air. You will have to get rid of them yourself or using chemicals.

A variety of folk remedies only repel such insects. If there are already too many of them, you may need to resort to chemical insecticides. The larvae die from them and this guarantees complete disposal of the pest once and for all.

Prevention measures

Many people wonder how to prevent moths from breeding in a private house or apartment. It's simple: you need to try to prevent the insect from entering the house, and also create an environment in which it cannot take root.

All dry foods should be stored in tightly closed jars.

Prevention measures are as follows:

check the products you bring home from the store for contamination with moth larvae;
keep jars of cereals, tea and other groceries tightly closed;
Before storing clothes, thoroughly clean and dry them;
store outerwear on hangers in cases with special insect repellents;
Do wet cleaning regularly;
disassemble closets with clothes at least once every six months, completely removing and shaking things up, as well as wiping and ventilating the shelves;
use hangers made of cedar (moths do not like the smell of this wood);
old wardrobe items (from a flea market or attic) should be steamed or dry cleaned before being placed in a closet;
use natural repellents to repel insects;
place bay leaves in food storage areas;
do not buy a lot of bulk products for future use.

Use a variety of insect repellents

Fighting winged insects is not so difficult, the main thing is to notice them before they have time to cause serious harm. We hope that our tips will help you get rid of moths forever.