Opening the closet in the fall should be a cozy moment. You pull out the good wool sweater, and there it is: a tiny hole, then another.
Clothes moths and carpet beetles love a quiet, undisturbed shelf. University of Maryland Extension and the University of Missouri Extension both explain what these pests go after and how to keep them away, and a lot of it comes down to cleaning before you put things away.
Here are 8 things that deserve a wash or a trip to the cleaners before they go into storage.
Wool Sweaters Should Be Cleaned And Sealed Before Storage
University of Maryland Extension says woolen articles should be cleaned and stored in sealed boxes, with cedar chests, blocks or closets offering protection. Wool is the favorite food of clothes moth larvae, so it tops the list.
The Missouri publication Carpet Beetles and Clothes Moths (G7372, revised 2017) agrees, advising you to dry clean or wash woolens before summer storage and then place them in tightly sealed containers.
If you are short on time, sort the sweaters first and tackle the ones you wore most recently. Those are the ones most likely to carry the body oils and food spills larvae look for.
Soiled Woolens Are Exactly What The Larvae Want
Here is the twist that surprises most people. According to University of Maryland Extension, soiled woolens are the main food of clothes moth larvae, and the larvae cannot finish development on clean wool because they need vitamins found in stained or soiled fabrics.
That means a freshly cleaned sweater is far less appealing than the one you wore last week and tossed in the back of the closet.
Old Furs And Blankets Can Hide An Infestation
Missouri Extension lists fur among the materials that moth and beetle larvae damage. University of Maryland Extension adds that old clothes, blankets and furs stored for long periods may harbor infestations.
Its advice is to inspect them periodically, then protect or remove them. A fur coat that has hung untouched for years deserves a careful look.
The same goes for the wool blanket at the foot of the cedar chest. If it has been folded away for years, shake it out, look it over and wash or clean it before it goes back.
Silk Needs A Clean Start Too
Missouri Extension says clothes moth larvae damage wool, fur, silk and feathers, and that carpet beetle larvae feed on silk as well. Your silk scarves, blouses and ties are not safe just because they are delicate.
Give them the same treatment as wool before storage, and avoid leaving them undisturbed for years.
Feather Items Are On The Menu
Feathers appear on Missouri Extension’s list of materials of animal origin that carpet beetle larvae eat, and clothes moth larvae damage them too. That includes the feather boas, hats and trimmed jackets tucked in a dressing room closet.
Check them from time to time and keep them in a sealed container if they are going into long storage.
Leather Pieces Can Be Attacked Too
Missouri Extension names leather, along with wool, hair, feathers, fur and silk, among the items carpet beetle larvae feed on. A vintage leather jacket or purse in the back of the closet is a possible target.
The publication also recommends avoiding long-term, undisturbed storage of susceptible materials, which is good advice for leather goods.
Cotton And Synthetics Soiled With Sweat Or Body Oils Can Attract Beetles
You might assume only wool is at risk. Missouri Extension says carpet beetles can also attack cotton and synthetic fibers that are soiled with human perspiration or body oils.
So even a plain T-shirt or polyester blouse should be washed before it goes into a box for months.
Anything Stained With Beer, Milk Or Fruit Juice Is At Risk
The same Missouri publication adds beer, milk and fruit juice to the list of soils that can make cotton and synthetic fabric attractive to carpet beetles. A holiday dress with a splash of punch is a good example.
Treat those stains and wash the garment before it is folded away.
Spills that seem to have dried clean can still leave a trace in the fibers, so wash the garment even if the stain looks gone.
A few other steps help. Missouri Extension advises vacuuming wool carpets often, including under seldom-moved furniture and along baseboards, because larvae prefer undisturbed areas.
It also recommends removing abandoned bird, bee and wasp nests from attics, wall voids and eaves, and clearing dead insects from light covers and window sills.
University of Maryland Extension notes that dry cleaning kills all stages of clothes moths but gives no protection against reinfestation, which is why the sealed container matters as much as the cleaning.
It also calls mothballs or flakes a last resort, recommending only naphthalene products in sealed containers and advising against paradichlorobenzene. Missouri Extension describes both naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene crystals as possible deterrents and advises placing paper between the chemical and the articles. Always read the product label before using either one.
Before putting anything away, sort by fabric, clean what needs it, and seal it up. A little effort now keeps next winter’s favorites intact.
More Stories You May Like
- Donating Without A Receipt Could Cost You A Tax Deduction If You Itemize, So Photograph And Document Everything Before You Drop It Off At The Store
- She Dumped Her Entire Wardrobe Onto The Bed After Going Through Three Different Sizes In One Year And Fixed Her Closet During One Nap Time
- Saying Yes To Every Bag Of Hand Me Down Kids Clothes Fills Your House With Things You Never Use, So Here Are Polite Ways To Say No And Sort First