At first glance, moths don't seem to be that harmful, but the opposite is true. In fact, they do not pose an immediate threat to humans, but they can cause great damage to clothing, upholstered furniture and the food in your pantry. Read on to find out which home remedies for moths are suitable alternatives to mothballs!
What attracts insects to your house?
These insects hide in your drawers, laundry baskets, etcClothes moths in closetsgnaw on clothing and leave holes in sweaters and coats. They like to eat their way through cashmere and wool, and there are even leather moths! The pests hide in warm, dark areas, such as: B. Sofas and carpets. However, it's not the adult insects that leave holes in your clothes, but the larvae, because adult moths don't have mouths!
Natural home remedies for moth removal
A thorough cleaning of all areas that are infested with moths should of course be the first step! All cupboards should be cleaned! Throw away food and other items wherever they areharmful insectshave found. If there are moths in your kitchen, you will notice cobwebs, secretions and a foul smell. Luckily, there are some natural home remedies for moths!
1. Use Indian lilac (neem).
Indian lilac, also known as neem, is an effective remedy against the small insects. Fresh neem leaves can be stored in kitchen cupboards to keep pests away. You can also sprinkle neem powder on shelves and other areas in your closet. You can also purchase neem oil and soak it in cotton balls, which you then place around the house in moth-infested areas. Here's how to keep these annoying critters away.
2. Cedar shavings as a home remedy for moths
Cedar shavings are a very effective way to control moths.The insects cancan't stand the stuff. Place a bag of freshly cut cedar chips in the infested area to keep them away. You can also put this remedy on your hangers to deter the insects from damaging your clothes.
3. Cinnamon sticks repel the insects
How do you use cinnamon sticks as a home remedy for moths? Very easy! Wrap in paper and distribute in your cupboards and drawers. The scent drives away the insects and deters others from coming in. The smell of cinnamon can be quite overwhelming, so you may want to pack the sticks first.
4. Lavender sachets against pests
Lavender has proven to be very effective as a home remedy for moths. You can use a lavender spray or dried flowers. One canalso lavender sachetsMake by putting lavender powder into small pieces of fabric and tying the ends together to keep the powder inside. Or you can also purchase ready-made lavender sachets to place in your drawers and cupboards to keep the pests away!
5. Walnut leaves keep the bugs away
One of the “grandmother's recipes” against moths is walnut leaves. You can collect them in gauze or wire mesh and store them on shelves in cupboards. Walnuts contain iodine and essential oils that have antibacterial effects. Not only do these ingredients kill the germs floating around in the cupboards, but they also adequately deal with the insects we so desperately want to get rid of. For this purpose you can also put some walnuts under the clothes in the wardrobe. If we inhale the fumes of this nut in small doses, it will not harm us. However, this does not apply to insects. They are guaranteed to leave their place of refuge and would hardly dare to return afterwards.
6. Diatomaceous earth as a home remedy for moths
What are the best home remedies for moths? Another effective naturalRemedies against many pestsand insects is diatomaceous earth. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have food grade diatomaceous earth in the house. It is available in the form of a whitish powder made by crushing soft sedimentary rock. Diatomaceous earth is odorless, non-toxic to people and pets. You can use this remedy in your cupboards, drawers and cupboards and anywhere you see signs of moths.
7. Use borax as moth bait
This is a natural method against annoying insects. You can make moth bait by mixing cornmeal with borax and adding it to a container. Place the bait in areas where the small insects hang out and check it every few days to remove the dead insects. You need to renew the bait every three weeks.
After thoroughly wiping and dusting your cabinets, drawers, and closets following a moth infestation, sprinkle a little borax powder over them to prevent the insects from coming back. You can also sprinkle borax in cracks, behind appliances, couches, and other places where these little insects might hide.
Prevention of insect infestation
You know the saying “prevention is better than cure”. It is better to prevent a moth infestation than to try to rid your home of these annoying insects. Here are some ways you can prevent the little pests from entering your rooms.
- Every few months, rearrange your furniture: bed, dining chairs, sofas, etc. Remember that moths hide in dark rooms. So if you move your furniture around, they won't have a place to hide.
To protect your clothing from an infestation, there are a few important things you can do: - Put lights in your closet,so the mothshave no place to hide.
- Make sure your clothes are clean and free of crumbs, stains and food residue. Garments that are sensitive to moths (silk, wool) should be cleaned and stored safely in garment bags or airtight plastic containers.
- If you buy used or old clothing, be sure to give it a proper heat treatment at a laundromat. They need to be cleaned properly before hanging them in your closet. You could be bringing moths into your home without knowing it. The same goes for used furniture, which you should thoroughly dust and clean before placing it in your home.
- When vacuuming, leave no stone unturned; get into all the little cracks and crevices, along the window sills, under the beds and sofas, in the closets, everywhere!
