In celebration of daffodils, you fling off your cashmere sweater and stow it away, only to find it eaten to within a thread of its life come fall. In concentrated doses, mothballs will kill moths, their eggs, and their larvae. But the smell reminds you of your great aunt (or, worse, an airport bathroom). And a recent study concluded that the fumes of naphthalene, the main ingredient in mothballs, caused cancer in rats. So forget about mothballs. The real key to keeping moths away? Clean clothes, airtight containers.
The Dirt on Moths
Adult moths don't feed on clothing; their larvae do, eating natural fibers such as wool, hair, and feather products, as well as wool blends and, sometimes, silk. But the larvae can't survive on fabric alone, nor are they likely to be attracted to it, unless it's stained. Food, beverages, perfume, sweat, urine, and even dandruff help them grow into big, healthy moths. Moth larvae can live in that stage from about 35 days to as long as 2 1/2 years, munching the whole time. (Sayonara, sweater set.)
Preparing for Battle
"The bottom line to avoiding any insect infestation — whether they be moths, silverfish, crickets, or carpet beetles — is housekeeping," says Jane Rising of the International Fabricare Institute.
Cleaning
Wash or dry-clean clothes according to their care instructions before you store them. If your clothing is clean, moths won't lay eggs on it, because there isn't anything for the larvae to feed on. Keep your home tidy as well: Dust bunnies are also a food source for moths.
Clothes that are regularly worn and washed are much less susceptible to infestation, since moths and larvae are fragile and dislike direct light. Frequent shaking out, brushing, and airing of natural fabrics will help prevent moth damage.
Storage
Moth larvae can crawl through spaces as narrow as 0.1 millimeter (the diameter of sewing thread), so the containers you store clothing in must be tightly sealed. Choose plastic bins designed for home storage, plastic garment and sweater bags, or storage chests made of metal or cedar.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not the scent of cedar chests and closets that keeps clothes free from moth damage. It's the tightness of their seals. A caution: Cedar is acidic and can damage fabrics. Line a cedar chest with an old bedsheet, washed without bleach or fabric softener (these can leach out and damage fabrics), before filling it with clothes.
Don't store off-season clothing in dry-cleaning bags; they trap moisture and can stain fabrics. And plastic garbage bags cannot be closed tightly enough to be effective.
