Moths are tricky. Learn how to protect and care for your clothing and precious home textiles by identifying and dealing with moths.
Summer is a season of warmth, long days, and outdoor activities. Unfortunately, it is also peak season for household pests. If you have recently opened a pantry door only to have a small moth flutter into your face, or if you have discovered fresh holes in your favorite lightweight wool cardigan, you are not alone.
Finding a hole in your favourite sweater after a relaxing vacation is more than just a laundry mishap; it is often the first sign of a serious infestation. While many travellers are hyper-vigilant about bed bugs when staying in hotels or rental properties, Clothes Moths are equally adept at hitching a ride in your suitcase. These quiet, destructive pests specialise in moving undetected, turning a luxury getaway into a long-term household infestation.
Finding a moth in your home is usually followed by a quick diagnostic check: Is it in the kitchen near the cereal, or in the bedroom near the sweaters? Most homeowners assume they are dealing with either a Pantry Moth or a Clothes Moth. However, there is a third category of domestic pests that complicates the situation. The Brown House Moth and the White-Shouldered House Moth are the "omnivores" of the moth world, capable of infesting both your food stores and your wardrobe.
When you discover a moth-eaten sweater in a drawer that has been closed for months, the first question is usually: "How did they get in here?" While we often associate Clothes Moths with the dark corners of our wardrobes, they did not originate from there. To truly protect your home, you must understand the relationship between these pests and the natural world.
