Natural Moth Repellents

How to get rid of Moths Naturally

It is possible to use natural deterrents to get rid of moths, avoiding the use of harsh chemicals. The main natural moth repellents are cedar wood blocks or pellets and Lavender sachets. Other herbs, such as Rosemary, Mint and Thyme are also natural repellents.

Natural fibres such as sheep’s wool, silk, and cashmere and others are rich in keratin. And unfortunately, whilst natural fibres are very protecting and resilient materials, clothing moth larvae (Tineola Bisselliella) absolutely love it. In nature moths are one of the few ways that wool is broken down – in modern housing, these clothes moths will attack clothes, carpets, furs, blankets, upholstery, piano felts, brush bristles and also of course, our lovely wool blankets and throws.

Protect your blankets and other wool products from the common moth with natural repellants

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What we know about Clothing Moths

Clothing moths are different from most other moths. They don’t like light and instead hide in dark places like cracks in the floor or furniture, where they won’t be disturbed. They’re attracted to the smell of dirty clothes and the natural oils in fabrics like wool. Once they find a quiet spot, they lay tiny eggs that look like sand. The adult moths don’t damage clothes, but their larvae (the baby moths) do. After hatching, the larvae eat wool and other natural fibres, creating small holes in the fabric. They grow slowly, and it can take months for them to become adult moths, depending on the conditions. This slow growth gives you time to check your clothes regularly and get rid of moths before they do too much damage. They also eat silk and fur.

The Life Cycle of Common Moths

Adult moths don’t live very long - only about 10 to 28 days. Female moths lay between 40 and 100 eggs, which hatch in 3 to 21 days. The baby moths, or larvae, live for about 35 days or more. When they're ready to turn into adult moths, they move away from their food and find small cracks to make their cocoons. Overall, the moth's full life cycle takes around 65 to 90 days in normal home temperatures, and there are usually two generations each year.

How to Keep the Moths Away

Keep natural wool blankets as clean as possible - washing or soaking them in hot water (over 50°C) kills moth eggs and larvae, and clean wool is less attractive to moths. Use your washing machine's spin cycle or a towel to remove excess water, then hang or lay the item flat to dry.
If the blanket can't handle hot water, you can freeze it instead - put it in a deep freezer for at least 14 days to kill the larvae.
If washing or freezing isn’t an option, vacuum the affected area carefully, including all cracks and corners of furniture. Be sure to throw away the vacuum contents outside, check the area often, and keep vacuuming until the problem is gone.
Don't leave natural wool blankets in one place for too long. Move them around, or check on them regularly. Moths like dark, quiet places where they won’t be disturbed. If you leave your blankets untouched in a drawer for a year, it becomes the perfect home for moths.
To help keep moths away, store your blankets in a cotton bag filled with dried, strong-smelling plants. People have been doing this for generations, though no one knows exactly why it works. Some common plants used are rosemary, thyme, mint and lavender, many of which are easy to grow in a garden.