Freeze The Merino!
How to Protect Your Fine Fibres From Moths
Moths love warm, dark, quiet places.
Welcome changes in our lifestyles, such as central heating, and that we generally own more clothing, blankets and throws (ie more items in storage), has led to moths being more of a problem than they were in previous generations, where wardrobes were cool places and with having fewer clothes and blankets, meant items were stored less and worn more regularly.
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Now, the occasional moths you see flying around your home aren’t any threat to your luxurious delicates. It’s their babies. Moths lay eggs, which under the right conditions hatch. These Larvae, have particularly good taste and are attracted to keratin, which is why your cashmere and wool items are their meal of choice.
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To reduce the risk of getting these pests in your home and anywhere near your fine fibres, here are some tips:
- You want to make sure that your items are free from any traces of food, skin, hair and sweat particles, as these will attract moths. This is especially important if you’re packing your blankets away for the summer months.
- Professional dry cleaning will kill any larvae, remove eggs. Likewise, extreme cold will also kill any moth larvae, so freezing your blanket overnight in sealed plastic bags is an option. Yes, we have heard of people who do store their fine fibres amongst the frozen peas!
- A more straight forward option is simply wash items regularly. A good steam iron, not only gives the blanket a pleasant fresh finish, it has the added advantage in that moth eggs don’t last long when exposed to the heat.
- Vacuum and clean regularly the room and wardrobe that you’re storing your fine fibres, in as general cleanliness will go a long way in protecting your blankets and other items such as knitwear etc.
- You can scent wardrobes or drawers with natural moth repellents such as lavender, camphor and cedar which work in varying degrees. Be sure to replace these regularly though, as the smell fades over time, which dulls their affect to repel. If you cannot smell anything, neither can the moths...
- Finally, you can always use mothballs ie chemical repellents to keep moths at bay. Visit the haberdashery section of Coles or Woolworths, you will find a wide selection of mothballs that either repel or kill moths.
- And most importantly if you find a garment with a nibble, yes they tend to select just the one, to start with anyway…take the blankets etc surrounding this item, wash, iron and mothball, to ensure no stray eggs hatch and nibble.
Just remember that your blankets have been designed to last for years when treated well, so invest a little time and effort, and these pieces can become heirlooms, as many a customer will testify!
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