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.
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.
Preventing moths
Now you know exactly how to remove moths from an apartment, but wouldn’t it be better to prevent this problem? It's very easy to do this:
- Freshly purchased cereals need to be calcined in the oven, and then poured into a special container made of glass, metal or plastic. It is better to forget about ziplock packaging or regular bags forever;
- Remember, in a transparent container it is much easier to monitor whether there are moths in the cereals or not;
- Keep the kitchen in order - regularly clean, ventilate, throw away leftover food and do not leave trash;
- Review your inventory, especially if you keep it for a very long time;
- Disassemble all the rubble, stale things and dowry in the form of feather beds, rolled carpets, pillows, scarves and other things. If this is not done, the moth will return to the kitchen;
- Do not store dirty or worn clothes;
- Ventilate the apartment almost daily;
- Treat wool and fur products with anti-moth sprays;
- Pack things in newspaper wrappers.
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
Tansy from moths
The most famous folk remedy for moths is tansy. Its specific smell forces the pest to leave its shelter. But since this plant is poisonous, it is not recommended to use it to get rid of food moths.
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The flowers are especially toxic. In large quantities they are dangerous even for cattle; in small doses, tansy is used as a medicine for many diseases. This herb grows almost everywhere and helps get rid of not only moths, but also other domestic parasites and pests.
Tansy reaches its greatest effectiveness during the flowering period. As soon as yellow inflorescences appear, you can go to harvesting. Plants must be dried before being placed in the closet. It is better to do this under a canopy in the fresh air.
For ease of use, flowers are made into unique bouquets by collecting 3-4 branches and tying them tightly like a broom. These brooms are hung in dressing rooms, closets and on mezzanines.
To prevent the grass from crumbling, it is placed in gauze bags. The bags that shoes are sold in are great for this purpose, so there's no need to throw them away.
It is not recommended to place too much tansy in one closet, as its smell can provoke a negative reaction from the human respiratory system. The smell of tansy affects not only moths, but, unlike humans, they sense even a faint aroma and strive to leave this place as soon as possible.
Dry grass should be renewed from time to time. If the moth has already bred and hatched many larvae, tansy is used as an additional remedy, and measures to get rid of the pest must be carried out in a comprehensive manner.
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
Where do moths come from in an apartment?
Moths do not infest a home because of unsanitary conditions. Therefore, this pest can appear even in the cleanest apartment. As a rule, moths do not pay attention to the sanitary condition of the room. Luxury housing or dirty houses - its main goal is food supply. And a large supply of food is present precisely in expensive and clean houses. Moths are often attracted by the availability of the following products:
- cereals;
- flour products;
- tea;
- chocolate;
- sugar;
- cookie;
- spices;
- coffee.
If we are talking about food moths, then they eat almost all the foods that are available in the house. Practice shows that when an apartment is infested, only spicy foods remain untouched: garlic, strong spices, etc. There are several ways for moths to enter an apartment:
- larvae enter the apartment from neighbors through ventilation ducts;
- insects are attracted to food aromas, the absence of strong odors from household chemicals, and constantly dim lighting;
- adult individuals fly into the home through open windows and doors;
- Food moth larvae are brought into the apartment along with food.
To better understand where the moth in the apartment came from, you should determine its type. After all, each type of moth has its own ways of entering a home.
Types of house moths
At first glance, it may seem that these pests are no different from each other. However, in their biology they have significant differences. Each type of moth has its own food preferences. Accordingly, they have different habitats. There are several types:
- Fur moth . This species has shiny, dark-colored wings. The moth received this name because of its food preferences. The pest feeds on fur coats and other fur products. This insect also prefers other things made from natural materials. Larvae also live here and also feed on fur.
- Clothes moth . Representatives of this species are larger in size compared to fur moths. The wings of clothes moths have a purple tint that turns yellow. Adults do not have a gnawing mouthpart. However, their larvae living in woolen products can cause significant harm. These caterpillars are capable of chewing through silk upholstery and woolen items in the closet.
- Furniture moth . The silvery-yellow wings of this moth have a brilliant color. The larvae of representatives of this species eat hair stuffing and other soft parts in furniture. They often crawl onto furniture upholstery, eating entire tunnels there. Pupation occurs on the lower surface of the furniture. During this period, many cocoons can be seen under sofas, armchairs and chairs.
- Kitchen moth . The name of this species speaks for itself. Moths start in the kitchen, or rather, in food products. The ideal habitat for moths is various cereals. It can also live in other products. It is not difficult to determine the presence of such a moth. She combines several grains into one cocoon, climbs inside and eats them. The larvae also feed on food, rendering it unfit for human consumption.
- Carpet moth . This species can live not only in woolen carpets. This moth uses blankets and pillows made from natural wool. The insidiousness of carpet moths lies in the fact that in the initial stages of infection it is difficult to detect. Usually a person detects the presence of insects too late, when the natural wool carpet has already become unusable. As for pillows and blankets, heat treatment is used to combat moths. Removing pests from carpet is quite difficult. Not all modern means can give a positive effect.
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.
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.
