Folk remedies for moths. Destruction chemicals

How to deal with moths? This question arises when a gray butterfly of an unpleasant appearance is found in kitchen supplies or traces of its activity on clothes.

Just catching an insect and destroying it is an ineffective method, because a completely harmless male will be the victim.

Mole: a real disaster for things and products

The biggest trouble is the voracious caterpillars, which actively destroy household products and mercilessly spoil things in the closets. All day long enough for such a larva to gnaw through a hole in a woolen sweater. In everyday life, there are about 30 types of moths, and all of them are wrecking activities in relation to humans. How to deal with moths in an apartment?

The moth that lives in cupboards does not like Fresh air and bright light, therefore does not touch things that are often worn. But in relation to winter clothes, she is not picky, she eats felt, wool, natural velvet, fur. In an effort to get to food, it easily gnaws through plastic bags and synthetic fabrics on the way. Caterpillars of the "fur coat" moth can withstand temperatures down to 0 ° C and can go without food for a whole month.

How to deal with moths at home

You can fight moths different ways: both time-tested traditional methods and modern drugs are effective. The most famous anti-pain agent at one time was considered naphthalene. However, the large-scale use of such a tool has led to the development of resistance to it in some moth populations. In addition, it was found that the drug causes great harm to human health, because it is a carcinogen - a factor that causes the occurrence of malignant tumors. How to deal with moths in other ways that do not pose a threat to health?

Folk remedies for moths

How to deal with moth folk remedies? From folk remedies effective tobacco, the pungent smell of which is absolutely not tolerated by insects. In a living flowering form, this plant should be kept on the windowsill, periodically placed in a closet with a moth.

Or use dry leaves, which are placed in fabric bags and hung (or spread out) in places where moths are present. The analogue of tobacco in the fight against moths is dried lavender. Additionally, in order to enhance the result, it is recommended to put pieces of laundry soap... Fresh orange peels are used to protect kitchen furniture and food.

Living geraniums growing indoors will also scare off unpleasant butterflies with their smell. It is recommended to arrange fresh leaves of the plant on the shelves of the cabinets.

However, these natural remedies are just repellents - deterrent substances. In the case of a massive presence of moths, chemical preparations should be used, the assortment of which on the consumer market is presented in various forms.

Anti moth - aerosols

How to deal with moths with chemicals? Aerosols and sprays ("Antimol", " Clean house"," Armol "," Raptor "," Extramit ") are solutions of powerful insecticides in a container under high pressure. Sprayed in a room or a wardrobe, they poison the larvae and adult moths. Easy to use, such preparations are characterized speed of action and have a low cost.However, insecticides during and after treatment will have to be inhaled not only by moths, but also by humans.

The use of aerosols is perhaps the most laborious in comparison with other antimolal agents. When destroying moths, in addition to cabinet surfaces, it is required to process all clothing, furniture upholstery, and carpets. Often one bottle with the drug is not enough for such a volume. After several hours, the room needs to be cleaned, and the things should be washed and ventilated with high quality. Processing, carried out in full accordance with the instructions, will completely get rid of clothes, furniture and fur moths.

In the kitchen, the use of aerosols is very limited. They can be used to process cabinets and bedside tables that have been freed from food in advance. The very places of concentration of larvae in food stocks cannot be treated with such insecticides.

Simple and durable fumigators

Fumigators (DiK-3, Raid, Mosquitall) are quite simple to use: you just need to plug the drug into an outlet and forget about it. An extension cord can be pulled into the cabinet. The action is somewhat extended in time: the effect occurs over a period from 3 days to 2 weeks. But the accumulation of insecticides in the air will be several times lower than with aerosols. The principle of operation is to heat the aromatic insecticidal plate and evaporate the toxic substance when the fumigator is plugged into the outlet. Sometimes the plates are replaced with special fluids that act in a similar way. The dimensions of the fumigators are relatively small, approximately 95 * 60 * 50 mm; area of action up to 30 m 2.

The advantage of this method is its low cost and long term of use. In canteens and kitchens, the fumigator should be used carefully to avoid the accumulation of chemical vapors in the cabinets where food is stored.

Anti-moth sections

How to deal with moths in an apartment? In addition to aerosols and fumigators, there are special sections for moths (Mosquitall, Raptor). They are characterized by a prophylactic effect and are intended rather to scare away adult insects than to destroy their larvae. Therefore, the use of such devices is recommended before the appearance of a winged pest in the house. They are produced in the form of suspended and attached plates with various insect repellent aromas: chamomile, tangerine, lavender. The anti-malignant effect of 2 sections covers ½ m 2 of the cabinet area. Replacement with new ones is made in about 4 months. It is recommended to store the chemical agent out of the reach of children, separately from food.

How to deal with house moths to get rid of them forever? In combination with natural and chemical methods it is required to get rid of moths in a physical way. Fly traps are used to catch butterflies. If insects are bred in the cereal, and their number is not terrifying, then the grains can be sorted out and heated in the oven at 60 degrees for 40 minutes. The nest found in the closet should be eliminated, the place of its location should be thoroughly vacuumed, shaken up all things from the closet and placed in a cold place for a day (for example, on a balcony).

Food moth: how to get rid of

Food (grain) moth settles in cereals, flour, dried fruits; its larvae in the caterpillar stage are capable of spoiling almost all edible supplies. Adults do not have a mouth, so they do not feed at all. Despite the short lifespan (no more than a week), butterflies manage to lay up to 100-150 eggs. Under favorable conditions ( high humidity, warm temperature and lack of ventilation) insect reproduction proceeds in a continuous cycle. How to deal with food moths in the kitchen?

You should get rid of food moths very carefully, in several stages. It is necessary to check all stocks of cereals, flour, sugar. If an insect with damaged products is found, you will have to say goodbye or ignite in a pan and sift.

Treat food storage areas with fumigators and antimol aerosols, spread deterrent preparations on the shelves: garlic, lavender, orange peels.
Hang up sticky tapes from flies, and destroy moths flying butterflies by hand.

Preventive measures

In order to prevent the appearance of moths in the household, it is recommended:

Store all groceries in tightly closed containers.
Ventilate and clean the room regularly. Once a month and carpets with disinfectants.
Winter clothing should be washed and cleaned prior to storage. Moth prefers to wind up on things with sweaty and dirty spots. After cleaning, woolen and fur items are recommended to be placed in plastic bags, fur coats - in dense paper covers, having previously sprinkled with anti-malnourishment. Some storage items can be wrapped in newspaper: moth butterflies cannot stand the smell of ink.

How to deal with cabbage moth

Outside, on summer cottages wielded by Inconspicuous in appearance, it causes significant damage to garden crops, in particular cabbage. After hatching, caterpillars feed only inside cabbages and other cruciferous crops. Gnawing through tangled tunnels, they infect the plant and are able to completely destroy it.

How to deal with cabbage moth? It is required to deal with it in a complex manner, because the pest is characterized by the property of developing resistance to drugs effective in the previous season. Necessarily need processing chemically... The best tools are:

"Actellic". Produced in 2 ml ampoules, it is toxic, has a 2nd hazard class. Spraying is carried out with a solution of 30 ml of the product diluted in 10 liters of water.
"Bitoxicilide" and "Lepidocide". The result is evident in 2 days from the moment of processing garden culture, the protective effect lasts about 2 weeks.

In parallel with the chemical treatment, the tracks must be assembled by hand. This method will protect against the mass appearance of adults laying eggs. It is imperative to remove weeds and dig up the soil well in the place where the cabbage grows. This is necessary in order to prevent overwintered individuals from getting to the soil surface.

Fighting miner moths

There is also such a type of moth as the miner. The small insect got its name from the old word "mine", which implies the creation of hidden passages. It is in this way that the caterpillars of the mining moth damage the leaves of plants from the inside. Moreover, it is very difficult to identify the pest externally: only the death of the plant indicates its presence.

Caterpillars of the mining moth feed on almost all types of fruit and berry plantings, flowers, weeds, decorative and medicinal plants... If a mining moth is found on the site - how to deal with this pest? What techniques should be applied?

In the fight against "miners" effective use of chemicals, namely: "Bi-58", "Karate", "Dimilin", "Confidor maxi", "Aktara", "Aktofit". If there are several generations of miner moths, spraying should be carried out repeatedly.

How to deal with moths during the flight? For this in greenhouses and open ground it is required to hang glue-smeared plates, planks, pieces of plastic yellow color by placing them at the level of the main leaf mass along the rows of plants. Before the start of flight, glue belts should be attached to tree trunks. It is also important to remove the affected parts of the plants with their subsequent destruction. by hand... In the fall, it is imperative to clean under the tree and compost the fallen leaves, and trunk circles dig thoroughly.

It is customary to call the one that lives indoors and eats clothes, carpets and upholstery made of silk, fur, wool. Moreover, not adults, but larvae and caterpillars are especially dangerous. That is why the struggle should begin precisely with their elimination.

The best moth control is excellent ventilation, sunlight, low or very high temperatures. Therefore, it is advisable to ventilate all clothes and shoes outside during the day. And those things that can be ironed must be subjected to this procedure.

This insect also does not tolerate the smell of ordinary soap, so all dark corners in the room should be wiped with a concentrated soap solution. To achieve maximum effect, you can also add a little natural lavender or fir oil there.

Gauze bags with dried lavender, tansy or citrus peels can be placed in wardrobes, as well as next to furniture - their smell will scare away the insect. However, it is important to change the contents of the bags every month so that they continue to exude aroma.

Help in the fight against moths and chestnuts, which can also be decomposed into dark apartments... And this insect does not like the smell of geranium, so such a flower will not only give aesthetic pleasure, but also relieve the pest.

How to get rid of food moths

Food moth is found in various cereals. In order to combat this pest in the kitchen and in the pantry, you can use vinegar. With this tool, you must thoroughly wipe all the shelves and cabinet doors.

This insect also does not tolerate the aroma of pepper, garlic, bay leaves, cloves, so moths are rarely found in spice cabinets. To protect cereals from pests, you should put a box with such spices on the shelf.

Helps get rid of moths and peppermint. Dried and crushed leaves of this plant can be folded into a gauze bag and also stored next to cereals. However, it is worth changing such a tool every two weeks.

Prevention measures

To prevent moths from starting up, cereals should be stored exclusively in sealed packaging. Clothes and shoes should be put into the closet only clean. Once a month, it is useful to sort them out and ventilate them in the fresh air so that direct sunlight falls on them. In this case, fur products should be turned inside out, otherwise the bright light can spoil them. It is also helpful to wipe down cupboards and other dark areas with soapy water every 4 weeks.

Moths in the kitchen are not only flying moths, but also their pupae, larvae and eggs.

This means that in order to remove pests forever, you need to deal with them in a comprehensive manner - find and eliminate the outbreak, clean the furniture / ceiling, throw out everything that has been infected and process potentially infected products.

Food moths are of different types. Most often, in the kitchen in a city apartment, you can find: a flour moth, a little less often - a cocoa moth (very similar to a clothes moth) and a southern barn moth (fighting it is more difficult than with others). Where do they come from even in the purest kitchen cabinets?

Tiny, almost invisible eggs end up in the kitchen in packages of cereals, cereals, gallets, dried fruits, flour, spices and other groceries. Then, within a week, larvae of food moths hatch from them, which subsequently pupate and turn into moths.

In this material you will find step by step instructions on how to get rid of food moths, what preventive measures to take in order to avoid its reappearance and how to save food if it is a pity to throw them away.

Step 1. Looking for the outbreak and contaminated food

Moth eggs look like small white sticky grains that look like semolina. The larvae first appear as small, whitish worms, and then they grow up to 1.27 cm and have black or brown heads. Another clear sign of food contamination is cobwebs, as in the photo below.

To get rid of food moths, the first thing you need to do is:

Inspection of kitchen cabinets and products. Examine all the supplies that are stored in kitchen cabinets - you need to find not only the source, but also the products already infected with larvae and eggs.

Do not forget to check unpacked groceries, because moth easily eats cardboard, foil and polyethylene.
Pay special attention to the edges of the lids of the cans - there may be a moth cobweb on them.
Remember that not only groceries can be contaminated, but also animal feed, seeds for birds, bait for fishing, that is, almost everything that is not stored in the refrigerator.

Inspection of the ceiling. Ceiling, skirting boards, wallpaper edges and chandelier base. The moth loves to hide in dark crevices and corners.
Inspection of cabinet tops. You can also see moth cocoons here.

By the way, if you are in doubt whether there is a moth in your kitchen at all, or, say, whether it was possible to remove it after cleaning, then inspect the room at night - adults will gather around a burning chandelier.

Step 2. We carry out a total cleanup

Eliminate source and products with obvious signs of contamination. As soon as you find which product has become the source of the spread of insects, wrap it tightly in a plastic bag and immediately throw it away, or better burn it altogether.
Clean thoroughly. Empty the kitchen cabinets and remove the shelves, then vacuum them and the inside of the cabinet, paying particular attention to the corners and crevices.

A vacuum cleaner (without a nozzle or with a small nozzle) will tighten the hidden moth and prevent subtle eggs from remaining in the closet. This method is very effective, so if you do not have a vacuum cleaner, you should ask your friends for it. The main thing after the procedure is to throw out the bag or freeze it in the freezer for 3-4 days.

Wash all containers and jars. This can be done with vinegar solution or laundry soap. Containers containing contaminated food should be frozen for 3-4 days or heated in the microwave for 5 minutes.
Vacuum the ceiling. If you find moth settlements on the ceiling, ceiling plinths, tops of cabinets, near the chandelier, as well as under the edges of the wallpaper that has gone away, then vacuum these places too.

Step 3. We kill adults and put up traps

How to catch adults that have already scattered around the corners of cabinets and kitchens? Males (by the way, harmless, but fertilizing females) can be caught using glue trap(photo below). The principle of its action is simple - the trap treated with pheromone of females attracts males and "catches" them, and without males, the moth, of course, cannot reproduce. Thus, pheromone traps will help prevent insects from reappearing.

You can buy such a trap for 200-300 rubles in online stores and household chemicals stores.

Females will have to be killed traditional methods- with a fly swatter or a rolled-up newspaper, since they fly badly and slowly, then this is not so difficult to do.

Step 4. Handling potentially contaminated foods

So, you threw away the source product and products with clear signs of contamination, but what to do with the rest of the supplies that outwardly seem clean or were slightly contaminated?

It is easiest to throw them away as well, but if you want to, you can save potentially contaminated food in the following two ways:

After sifting and sorting out cereals, flour or other product, keep it in the freezer or on the balcony (in winter time) at least 3-4 days.
After sprinkling the product on a baking sheet, heat it up in the oven at 60 degrees for at least 40 minutes. Before heating it, of course, you need to clean it.

Keep in mind that the first method of processing, although longer, retains all the vitamins and nutritional properties of the food.

Step 5. We carry out prevention and protect products

New or cold / warm processed foods (including pet food) should be placed in glass, thick plastic or metal containers / jars with tight-fitting lids. This will protect supplies from moth penetration and prevent them from escaping outside the container. Recall that cardboard, paper, foil and plastic bags are easily eaten by it.

In the fight against moths in the kitchen, it will come in handy folk recipe- storage of products with natural repellents:

With a couple of bay leaves;
With peeled but not cut garlic (a couple of heads are enough);
With orange peels.

You can also place one of the following on the shelves, either: lavender sprigs, birch leaves, geraniums, wormwood, rosemary, laundry soap, or strong-smelling essential oils. For example, fir oil is suitable, with which you can moisten cotton pad and leave it in the closet.

Remember that these folk remedies will scare off adult moths, preventing them from laying eggs in food and on shelves, but they will not work on the larvae. Moreover, if you suddenly put a package of contaminated cereals on the shelf with lavender, then the larvae of the moths in it will not die, and the butterflies that appear later will no longer be afraid of the lavender smell. That is why it is necessary to deal with household pests comprehensively.

And a little more about prevention

The following tips will help you avoid moth reoccurrence:

Try not to store food for more than 2-4 months and, of course, do not store supplies that are past their expiration date.
Store foods that you rarely use in the refrigerator.
Buy dry foods in small quantities so you can eat them within a couple of months.
Buy groceries only from renowned manufacturers and, if possible, check the quality of the goods in the store. To be sure, freeze freshly purchased cereals, cereals, flour, nuts, dried fruits and other products for 3-4 days (dry).
Store pet food, such as bird seeds or fishing bait, outside the kitchen.

The appearance of a moth in an apartment always annoys the owners. These insects are capable of causing irreparable damage to clothing and other property. They multiply quickly and the scale of the damage done is imperceptible. but it is increasing rapidly. Therefore, the question of how to get rid of moths has not lost its relevance for several decades.

Types and reasons for the appearance of moths in the house

Moth is a small butterfly, a representative of the order Lepidoptera. Its larvae consume keratin, which is found in the hairs of fur coats, wool, in the pile of carpets. One caterpillar is capable of making a through hole in a product in a day and irrevocably spoil it. appearance... Therefore, the moth must be killed.

The moth multiplies quickly and spoils clothes, cereals and more.

The diet of the larvae is not limited to clothing and carpets. Feathers of pillows, bristles, products from genuine leather, including book bindings, dried fish or meat, and even thermal insulation materials.

To get rid of these pests, you need to focus on the destruction of eggs and caterpillars. The butterflies themselves, which can be seen flitting around the house, do not pose a direct threat. Their danger lies in the fact that they lay eggs, at a time there can be about 100 of them. Caterpillars form from eggs, which damage things.

It is rather problematic to find the larvae, since the moth lays its eggs in dark places. After a while, the caterpillar of the moth turns into a pupa, then into a butterfly, which again lays eggs. The moth can reproduce throughout the year, regardless of the season. The life span of one individual often reaches two years.

Today, there are about 40 varieties of these pests. The most common ones are:

Fur coat moth - it feeds on natural fur materials. It has a shiny yellowish color, with small black dots on the front wings. Caterpillars white resemble a worm.
The dressing moth lives in woolen drape or woolen cloth. It has a white head down and a violet-brown color of the wings.
The furniture moth is distinguished by its light yellow color and brownish front wings. At the first stage of its life, the caterpillar feeds on furniture hair stuffing. Before pupating, it moves outward. Cocoons of this moth can be found on the undersides of sofas and chairs.
The food kitchen moth is a silvery white insect. There is a brownish pattern on the front fenders. Females lay eggs mainly on grain crops: wheat, barley. But they can also use seeds stored in the house, dried fruits, as well as old wood for this purpose.

A moth can penetrate into a living room in different ways. Often insects fly in from the street. You can also bring them into the house with things. The pests lay their eggs in the folds of their clothing, so that the larvae go unnoticed. Pets can also cause insects to appear. Sometimes caterpillars live in animal fur.

How to get rid of it quickly

Processing of apartments and things

The method of dealing with moths depends on its habitat. The following method will help get rid of pests in the kitchen:

Start by looking at the products. If they are severely infested with insects, they must be thrown away. Eating such a food can cause serious health problems.
If pests have recently settled in the kitchen, the situation can be easily corrected. Sort food carefully. Then dry them in the oven at 60–70 ° C for 20 minutes. Leave the door ajar. Then place the food in tight-fitting containers or plastic bags.
The next step is to process the shelves and cabinets. Wipe them first with soapy water, then clean water.
Treat any crevices with vinegar. This can be done with a brush. Do not close the cabinets until they are completely dry.

To completely destroy food moths, you need to thoroughly clean the whole house from its larvae.

To kill moths living in clothing and other items, shake off the affected items on the street or open balcony. Caterpillars usually cling loosely to clothing. Therefore, vigorous shaking helps to get rid of them. Also, moth larvae do not tolerate sunlight and fresh air. Therefore, place your clothes all day in a brightly lit and well-ventilated area. Then treat things with dichlorvos.

If possible, store fur and woolen items in paper or special non-woven bags.

Temperature effect

The moth is unable to maintain vital activity at sub-zero temperatures. The optimal indicator for her is + 23 ° C. In order for the pests to die, damaged products should be left in the cold for 8-10 hours at a temperature of -20 ° C in winter. The moth will have no chance to survive.

The use of high temperature will be no less effective. Iron or steam clothes before storing them in the closet.

All clothes must be ironed thoroughly.

Specialty chemicals

Treating the room and furniture with chemicals will help to achieve the death of pests.

There are several types of drugs for the destruction of moths. These are plates, sections, briquettes, tablets and sprays. Each product has a different principle of action. Let's consider their features in more detail:

Tablets and briquettes are made on the basis of camphor and paraffin. Their advantage is their low cost. Place the tablets on the top shelf of the cabinet for two weeks. The fumes that will come from them will scare away the moth. These funds are quite effective, but they also have a serious drawback: they are unsafe for human health.
Plates are more convenient to use. They do not have bad smell... The action of the plates is aimed at etching out butterflies, moths and caterpillars. These drugs retain their properties for six months. They are used in the same way as tablets.
The sections are recognized as the safest remedy for moths. They can be safely used even in children's clothes. The sections are covered with a protective film on top. Before using it, you need to remove it and place the drug in the top of the cabinet. The product will fight moths for 4-6 months. Then it needs to be replaced. V small spaces, the footage of which does not exceed 15 sq. m, you cannot use more than two sections.
Sprays will also help to eliminate pests. To get rid of insects, two treatments of the cabinet are enough with an interval of 2-3 weeks. Sprays have a pleasant scent and do not damage fabrics. These are such drugs as "Armol", "Clean House", "Raptor" and "Antimol" and many others.

Photo gallery: chemicals for the destruction of insects at home

The simplest and therefore most popular remedy for moths is a cabinet hanger.

Moth pills can be potentially hazardous to human health!

A whole series of remedies for moths is produced under the Armol brand

The popular brand MOSQUITALL produces special moth-proof sections for the nursery

MOSQUITALL aerosol is convenient to use at home and in the country

Spray Raptor is designed to treat cabinets and things

The Raptor tool will effectively protect the kitchen from food moths

The composition of chemical preparations against moths includes toxic substances... Therefore, before poisoning a moth, take care of safety measures. It is important to remember the following:

Do not start work without a robe, gloves and a gauze bandage.
After finishing the procedure, wash your face and hands with soap and water.
Throw away protective clothing.

Folk remedies

Folk methods of dealing with moths are considered safer. But they also need to be used with caution. Before dealing with pests, be sure to test and make sure you are not allergic to the ingredient you are using.

The most famous folk method eliminate moths long time there was naphthalene. But he is not able to provide the required result. Naphthalene scares away only butterflies; its effect does not apply to eggs and larvae. But this is not the only reason why you should stop using this tool. There is scientific evidence that naphthalene can cause cancer in humans and animals.

In this regard, we will consider safer options:

Place a cloth sachet with odorous salt in the cabinet: 1 tablespoon of salt, 10 drops of fir or lavender essential oil.
Camphor, cedar wood, dry orange peels, cloves, peppers, fresh geranium leaves, pieces of laundry soap are also suitable.
Vinegar can smoke a mole out of the house. Put the pan on the fire, and when it gets hot, pour a few tablespoons of acid and leave the room for a while so as not to breathe poisonous fumes.

Photo gallery: folk remedies for repelling moths

Using vinegar requires caution

Camphor balls, placed on the shelves of the cabinet, effectively repel insects
When removing woolen or fur items for summer storage, sprinkle them with cloves and pack them in tightly resealable bags

It should be remembered that the effectiveness of all folk ways limited to scaring away butterflies, to destroy caterpillars and eggs in this way will not work.

If the moth has settled well in your closet, it is better to immediately use chemical agents.

Prophylaxis

Undoubtedly, it is always better to anticipate the appearance of moths in the house than to deal with them. Therefore, preventive measures should be followed, which involve the following actions:

Clean and ventilate the apartment regularly.
Clean up upholstered furniture and carpets using a vacuum cleaner.
When cleaning, do not overlook crevices in furniture where larvae accumulate.
Wash cabinets and dressers with soapy water every year.
Store only clean, ironed clothing.
Moths primarily attack contaminated items. Use plastic or thick paper bags for storage. These materials will not be able to completely protect things from the penetration of moths, but their use will significantly reduce the likelihood of its appearance.
This rule does not apply to furs. They cannot be placed in polyethylene material. It does not allow air to pass through, and the fur in such conditions will quickly deteriorate. It is advisable to store your fur coat in a paper case, which can be purchased at a hardware store.
Small items can be put in paper bags and secured with tape. The moth does not tolerate the smell of printing ink. To prevent it from settling in fur shoes, stuff it with newspapers before storing.

Store cereals and flour in sealed jars

Video: how you can poison a mole

Killing moths is a doable task. To reach desired result, you need to regularly monitor the state of things and, if necessary, start fighting the pest. A positive effect can be achieved with the help of preventive measures that will help prevent moths from entering the apartment.

Probably, every housewife at least once in her life faced the problem of the appearance of moths. Small gray moths fluttering around the apartment bring a lot of trouble to the owners, and disgusting white maggots bring sensitive ladies to semi-fainting. To remove them from the house and permanently get rid of pests, use simple folk remedies or industrial preparations.

Know the enemy by sight: what is a mole

The moth belongs to the order Lepidoptera, like butterflies, but does not have a proboscis. The moth itself does not feed, its raison d'être is to reproduce. The stages of this process are eggs, larvae, moths. The larvae devour our favorite woolen sweaters, spoil products from mink and other fur, turn cereals, dried fruits and pasta into miserable dust.

Types of domestic moth: description, differences, where they live

More than a dozen types of domestic moths are known, but most often in a house or apartment you can find fur coat (fur, woolen), clothes (clothing, clothing, furniture) and grain moths. The names of the pests indicate their main taste preferences.

The fur coat prefers to feast on fur and woolen products, including fur inside winter shoes. Wool carpet will also suit her taste. He does not disdain products made of felt, velvet, feathers and can even start in books if there is nothing else to eat. If there are stuffed animals in the house, then you should take care of their protection. The fur coat moth is so gluttonous that it will gladly feast on even a stuffed squirrel.
The clothes moth loves dirty clothes... Consumes leftovers nutrients on the fibers of the fabric in places of dirt and sweat stains, leaving holes in clothes after a meal. She spoils sofas and other upholstered furniture. It is also called furniture or clothing.
The grain moth lives in food storage areas. She is often called food, because the list of her favorite dishes includes not only grains and cereals, but also any pasta, legumes, sesame seeds, dried fruits and mushrooms, flour, sugar, peeled nuts and even tea.

On its way, a small gluttonous creature is able to gnaw even cellophane. For this reason, you should not hope that by placing your favorite mink coat in a bag, you will save it from the prospect of becoming food for dozens of small worms. The gluttonous moth is very dangerous for your property, but fortunately, it is harmless to the human body.

Moths of different types of moths, larva - photo gallery

Professional pest control is a radical way to get rid of moths quickly

So, to your horror, you found a dark gray moth in the apartment, peacefully sitting on the ceiling, flying out of the closet or wardrobe. Naturally, you will try to destroy it. But just do not hope that by killing the poor moth, you will be able to sleep peacefully. The moth is the tip of the iceberg, since the main danger, as we have already said, lurks in the larvae.

There is a service professional disinsection from moths. According to her experts, the moth and its larvae will be destroyed once and for all, which cannot be achieved with more traditional means.

Professional destroyers of gray moths use products that are absolutely safe for human health, which is good news.
The treatment of housing is carried out by spraying the surfaces with a special drug for moths (cold fog) or spraying the same drug in the form of a cloud (hot fog), which is much more expensive.
Barrier protection of the premises is carried out (smearing with a special antimolent gel around the perimeter of the apartment) and treatment of common areas, if you live in apartment building... This service is quite expensive, but if you cannot get rid of the gluttonous pest on your own or the situation is already too neglected, then you really should contact the specialists.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible and rational to contact such a service:

not every city has such organizations;
not everyone is ready to pay that kind of money for pest control of an apartment;
it is often quite possible to solve the problem of the appearance of moths on your own.

Disinsectors use drugs that are effective against moths, but relatively safe for humans.

How to get rid of moths in an apartment or private house: folk remedies

If you have made the decision to fight on your own, you should first figure out what kind of beast you are dealing with. To distinguish different types moths apart is easy. Usually, it is enough to see where the moths are flying from and inspect that place for the presence of larvae. Depending on the type of moth, the means and methods of control will differ.

Today there are a lot of proven and effective means for neutralizing moths and their larvae. You can either run to the nearest household goods store to buy some advertised insecticide, or follow the advice of grandmothers and use natural folk remedies.

How to save yourself from furniture and fur moths

What desperate housewives do not come up with so as not to see carefree fluttering moths in their house - they take away cigarettes from their husbands and hide them in the pockets of hanging clothes, put dried sprigs of lavender, mint and orange peels in the cabinets. On a sunny or frosty day, some take all the contents of the wardrobe to the street or balcony in order to freeze it - fry all the living creatures that dared to breed there. Others cover the shelves and the bottom of the cabinets with sheets of newspaper, and even wrap their hats and felt boots in it, so that not a single moth dares to climb in there and lay its eggs.

What to do if a mole starts up in a wardrobe

We take out all the clothes from the closet, chest of drawers, bedside tables and take them out into the fresh air. The weather, of course, should be dry, damp and rain - definitely not our allies. The best time to do this is in the summer. The moth terribly does not like fresh air, and frost and direct sunlight can kill it.
Shake the clothes well to remove the eggs, which are weakly attached to the villi. You can knock it out like a dusty carpet. This will require some effort, but most of the eggs laid will fall off.
All shelves and cracks in the cabinet are thoroughly washed with a solution of laundry soap with water and a few drops of ammonia. You can also use vodka or regular ethyl alcohol - 2 tbsp. spoons for 1 liter of water.
We take a rayon cloth and wipe dry all surfaces.
We review all dried and ventilated clothes for stains and dirt. We erase if necessary. You can also add ammonia to the rinse water.
Visually clean items can simply be steam ironed if allowed in the care instructions.
It will not be superfluous to give fur products to dry cleaning, since the fur coat moth is quite small and knows how to hide well between the villi.

Carnation is an effective means of protecting woolen clothes, fur coats and other products from clothes moth

The most effective ecological remedy for moths is the well-known spice - cloves. She is able to destroy both the moth and its larvae. To do this, it must be thoroughly crushed into powder, and then poured into pockets, hoods, and wherever possible. Having tasted such a delicacy, the larva will die. You can also make a sachet with crushed spice and place them in all the corners of the wardrobe so that the gluttonous creature does not even think of going back there! The same can be done with crushed chestnuts.

How to protect clothes from damage using soap, essential oils, tobacco and herbs - tansy, basil, lavender

As you know, the moth cannot stand the smell of lavender, mint, fir, eucalyptus, wormwood, orange and lemon peels, walnut and tobacco leaves. She hates the smell of soap, so our sensible mothers also put fragrant pieces of it between layers of neatly folded linen and clothes. A harmful insect cannot stand the smell of many essential oils... A few drops of lavender oil should be dripped onto a cotton pad and placed in cupboards. They do the same with sachets with aromatic herbs- basil, tansy, mint.

Can you use bay leaves to protect your home from moths?

The bay leaf scent repels insects, so it can be used to get rid of gluttonous pests. Fresh or dry leaves are laid out in places where moths can appear - in upholstered furniture, in a closet with clothes, under a carpet, in a pantry where cereals and other dry foods are stored. It is safe and effective method scare away the moth.

Lavender and other scents that will help drive butterflies out of the house - gallery

Kitchen cupboards are washed with a vinegar solution to remove moths.

A moth appeared in closets: how to get rid of it with vinegar, cloves - video

Fighting with industrial means

Modern housewives have long forgotten about Dichlorvos and naphthalene, because modern facilities fighting moths is much safer and more effective. The assortment is large enough.

Insecticidal sprays help quickly. It is necessary to spray the insecticide solution in the habitats of the hated insect and, as the manufacturers promise, the moth will not be in a day. The disadvantage of the remedy is that you and everyone who lives with you on the same living space will also breathe it along with the insects. After processing the wardrobe, it is necessary to conduct through ventilation of the room.
Insecticidal aerosols effectively kill moths
The pills and sections scare away butterflies. They are laid out on shelves with things, hung in a wardrobe. They have a delicate aroma, most often lavender and orange. Safe and non-toxic, but may cause an allergic reaction, especially in children.
The tablets do not kill the larvae, but only scare away the moths
Fumigators help get rid of the insidious moth for a long time, but they act gradually and slowly. Highly convenient way both for use in an apartment and in a private house, if the latter has electricity, of course. The main disadvantage of the fumigator is the impossibility of creating a high concentration of insecticide in the wardrobe, which reduces its effectiveness several times. For human health, such a remedy is also not the safest, as it can cause headaches and allergies.
The fumigator is convenient to use both in an apartment and in a private house
Sticky tapes and traps are absolutely safe remedy for both humans and animals. Can even be used in a food pantry. They are not particularly effective, since such funds help to catch moths, and not their voracious descendants - larvae. Can be used as an additional enhancer.
Sticky tapes - good way catch moths

Some fumigators should only be turned on for 1–2 hours as they can be very toxic and unsafe for people, including pets.

Which method is safer to use at home

Which moth remedy to choose - natural or industrial - is, of course, your own business. But if there are small children, pregnant women and animals in the house, then you should think carefully before purchasing any fumigator or aerosol. It is best to opt for the classic and more ecological methods, which definitely will not harm anyone except the moth.

Thanks to their advertising and ease of use, tablets, blocks and sections from moths occupy a leading position even despite the inability to kill our main enemy - the larva. Everything large quantity housewives prefer a bag of lavender with a special repelling block, which is attached to the walls of the cabinet and retains its effect for up to 6 months, or an aerosol, if gluttonous insects have made a feast. Dichlorvos aerosol is still quite popular, although it is inferior to modern insecticides, which are safer for human health. Among the folk remedies, the most popular are carnation and lavender.

Do mothballs help kill insects?

The disadvantage of industrial products is that they can cause allergic reactions in both adults and children. I would like to honor special attention the well-known naphthalene, which our grandmothers loved to lay out on the shelves in the closet. It is recognized as a dangerous carcinogen, does not have the most pleasant smell, moreover, it acts only on moths, and not at all on their cubs. Therefore, naphthalene balls are not the best choice to save your home from moths.

Naphthalene is a dangerous carcinogen, therefore it is not recommended for use in residential premises

Prevention measures

The fight against moths and their larvae is quite difficult, but can be quite successful. So that the nasty insect does not return and again does not undertake to gnaw our property, we must adhere to simple rules prevention.

Do not be lazy to revise the contents of the cabinets at least once a year. Take things outside. The moth does not like fresh air, and does not tolerate drafts and sunlight at all. That is why she and her cubs feel so comfortable in closed dark closets and closets.
Wash and clean clothes before long-term storage, do the same with woolen and duvets. Moth does not like cleanliness.
Store clothes that you do not wear in special vacuum bags. No oxygen - no life even for the larvae.
Inspect cereals, crushed nuts, dried herbs, and other bulk foods for larvae every few months. Store them in tightly closed jars.
Make it a rule to dry cereals in the oven or microwave immediately after purchase and only then pour them into storage containers.
Don't forget about folk remedies prevention. Place orange peels, lavender sprigs, or clove sticks around clothing and food storage areas.
Buy geraniums. They say its scent repels moths. True or not, I don't know, but its smell has such a beneficial effect on the nervous system that even a moth cannot unbalance you.

Verified folk and industrial facilities fighting moths and their larvae, preventive measures will allow you to no longer encounter these insects. Store clothes in vacuum bags: without air, nothing living can survive. Check food regularly for larvae, and inspect lockers and pantry. Use lavender and cloves to repel pests. This will help protect your home from pests.