AN INTERIOR designer has revealed the exact steps to take as soon as you see the first moth in your home this summer.
Moths can often end up in your home in the summer months, as they fly in through open doors and windows.
Although many moths are harmless, clothes moths can cause irreversible damage to your furniture and clothes.
The larvae of the moths eat through fabric and cause holes to appear, leading to the items becoming ruined.
Interior design expert Jojo Barr said that hoovering is a vital job to do during the hot summer moths to keep moths at bay.
Speaking on the podcast she shares with gardening expert Pollyanna Wilkinson, The Ins & Outs, she said that as soon as you see the first moth, you must take action immediately.
Jojo said: “The summer is when the carpet moths start coming out.
“If you start to see little flat brown house moths or carpet moths, from the first one you see you need to start moving furniture, get your hoover and start sucking every bit of dust up from the corners that you can.”
Jojo explained that if you see moths in your house, you should put your clothes in the freezer.
She said: “Deep freeze your clothes for two days to stop the eggs”.
Natalie Bungay, from the British Pest Control Association, previously added that to prevent moths from arriving in the first place, you should make sure to wash all of your winter clothes before putting them away.
She said: “Before putting away winter clothes, make sure everything made of natural fibres is washed, as moth larvae are drawn to sweat and food stains.
“If you have clothes that have been affected by moths, pop them into a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer at -18C for at least two weeks to kill eggs.”
Nathalie also recommended a number of hacks to keep moths away.
She said: “Place dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender or bay leaves into a small cloth bag (a clean sock will do) and hang in your wardrobe to keep moths away, as they hate the smell.
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
“Alternatively, Trichogramma parasitic wasps, available to buy from sites including dragonfli.co.uk (£14.99), will kill clothes’ moth eggs.
“These wasps, which are tiny parasites that attack moth eggs, are harmless to humans and remain only for as long as there are moth eggs present.”
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