Stopping the Holes in Your Clothes: Should You Use Mothballs to Get Rid of Your Pesky Moth Problem?

Stopping the Holes in Your Clothes: Should You Use Mothballs to Get Rid of Your Pesky Moth Problem?

10 April 2019
 Categories: , Blog


Moths don't bite or sting, nor do they carry disease. They pose no threat to humans. Your furniture and clothing, however, aren't so lucky—moths lay eggs in natural fabric such as wool and leather, and the larvae that hatch from these eggs will begin to feast on these items. If you notice moths flying around your home or notice holes chewed in your clothing, you may have a moth infestation. Is it time to buy some mothballs to get rid of them? Here's what you should know about using mothballs as DIY pest control for moths.

Should You Use Mothballs to Control Moths?

Mothballs slowly release naphthalene into the air, which is toxic to moths. If you put mothballs in a tightly sealed area such as a box or a closet with a door that shuts tightly, the concentration of naphthalene in the air will eventually become high enough to kill moths and their larvae. Open areas are too well ventilated for mothballs to be effective—there's no point in putting them on your attic floor or on your carpeting.

While mothballs are effective at killing moths, the naphthalene they emit can be toxic to children and pets. Mothballs also have a very strong, distinctive odor that can easily permeate your clothes. You may have to wash or dry clean your clothes in order to completely get rid of the smell, which makes using mothballs for moth control an inconvenient solution. Instead of using mothballs, it's much better to call a professional pest control company to eliminate your moth infestation.

How Do Professional Exterminators Get Rid of Moths?

Professional pest control for moths begins with finding out how moths are invading your home. You may have picked them up from an item of clothing you were given as a gift or purchased at a thrift store, or they may be coming in from outside. In order to prevent moths from coming in from the outside, a professional exterminator will look for any entry points to your home, such as broken window screens, and patch them in order to prevent moths from entering.

Next, the current moth infestation will be dealt with by vacuuming up any eggs that moths lay on your natural fabrics. Afterward, hormone traps will be placed in areas that moths like to nest in, such as dark closets—these attract adult moths and kill them, preventing them from breeding.

Pest control for serious moth infestations involves using heat treatment. Heat treatment is most commonly associated with pest control for bedbugs, but it also works to kill moth eggs. Your entire home will be heated to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill any eggs that moths may have laid in your furniture or on your carpeting. This will completely eliminate the moth infestation inside your home, and it's a good choice if you have numerous items made of natural fabric that could be damaged by moths.

While a moth infestation isn't dangerous to humans, it can cause serious damage to your personal belongings. If you're finding holes chewed in your clothing, in leather furniture, or in your curtains, call pest control for moths. You'll protect your valuable belongings from being severely damaged by the larvae.

About Me
Evaluating Pest Damage

Do you remember the last time you really evaluated your home for pest control problems? Although most people don't think too terribly much about pests, they really can wreak havoc on your home, especially over the span of several years. I began focusing more and more on pest control a few years back, and I came to the conclusion that there were some issues with termites in our basement. This blog is here for anyone who has questions about pest control, since it can help to read articles that address different aspects of keeping pests from running rampant inside your home.

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