Natural Moth Repellents for Clothing

Lavender

• Lavender will repel moths from your clothing but must never be stored directly with fabric items; the oil may damage delicate materials. Purchase or make your own mesh sachet with dried lavender and toss it in with your boxes or bags when storing. Each season, add a fresh sachet to ensure the scent is still present to repel moths. Another option is to place lavender oil into a container and place it on a shelf in your closet or storage room. Ensure the oil will not spill and ruin your fabrics.

Essential Oils

• Orange peel, lemon, eucalyptus, neem and mint oils repel many types of insects, including clothing moths. These can be poured into a diffuser and placed on a shelf, or you can soak cotton balls in one of the oils and place in a dish. Some of these oils may be poisonous, particularly to pets, so place them so they are not accidentally spilled or ingested.

Freezing

• Freezing can help control an existing moth infestation. Items that can’t be washed can be stored at freezing temperatures for 48 to 72 hours to kill larvae and eggs. Place items in a plastic bag and press out the air before sealing tightly, then put the bag into a freezer, or if during winter months, in an unheated space protected from the elements.

Cedar

• Hope chests were originally made of cedar for a reason: Cedar repels clothing moths. Unlike chemical repellents such as moth balls, cedar is safe to use in your home and around your family. Cedar balls or blocks can be purchased at most hardware stores, or you can cut your own cedar and place it in with your stored items. Attach a hook to the wood to hang in closets and sand the surface periodically to maintain the scent. Cedar may leak resin when stored in a sealed area such as a closet or drawer, so place in an area where this won’t affect your fabrics.

Preventing Moth Infestations

• Moths prefer quiet, dark areas that smell of sweat and fabric. Storing only clean clothes and airing closets and other storage areas regularly can prevent them from finding this ideal environment. Moth infestations can also be prevented with a bit of simple cleaning. If you have pets, vacuum rugs and furniture daily to remove animal hair, which is a food source for moth larvae, and to remove any eggs or larvae hiding in your furniture. Inspect stored clothing and other fabric items on a monthly basis to catch infestation early. Remove cobwebs and clean dusty floors and shelves in storage areas and closets. This prevents any larvae or eggs from finding a hiding place. Store carpeting and fabrics in tightly sealed containers and spray or sprinkle with a natural repellent every two to three weeks to repel moths.