Female moths eat and lay eggs on fabric that is made from animal fiber. Those fabrics contain keratin which the larvae feed on while growing. Some of their favorite materials include heavy woolen clothes, silk, and those that are made from animal fur.
Lavender can repel moths and other insects because it contains linalool which is toxic to them. Mix 20 drops of lavender essential oil with ½ glass of warm purified water in a spray bottle. Then spray it on clothes, upholstery, and infested areas to deter moths.
You can also soak make some cotton balls in lavender and place them in your closet to keep moths away. While the aroma will be great and soothing for you, it will also keep several other insects away.
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Lavender sachets for moths
Make your own lavender sachets by sewing a square bag of 6×6 inches. Then add half a cup of dried lavender leaves and an equal amount of raw rice in it. Close the bag and let it release the lavender scent by making tiny holes in it. Leave the sachets around clothes and upholstery.
If you have a moth infestation in your car, vacuum the seats and carpets. They place 3 lavender sachets on the back seats and 1 sachet on each of the front seats. Confirm that the windows are rolled up and let the sachets sit overnight to deter moths.
Lavender sachets will also repel other pests like fleas and roaches in your car. It is also safe to use the car in the morning after removing the sachets since they will not affect you.
Placing lavender sachets in wardrobes and closets where moths hide and make holes in woolen sweaters can deter them. Moths hide in clothes when they are kept for a long time without use.
During the hot seasons, heavy clothes are stored and this is when moths breed and lay their eggs on them. They will have enough time for the eggs to hatch and multiply.
Lavender buds to deter moths
The spikes on a lavender plant have buds on the flower heads that can be dried and used to repel moths. Lavender buds can last for months and this can naturally help in pest control. They are more effective when dried in a shelter away from direct sunlight.
Those buds can be placed randomly in closets and wardrobes and left to dry with time. They will work against moths and deter other pests that hide in clothes. Once they are placed in there, keep the closet’s door closed so that the scent can immaculate to incense efficiency.
The buds can also be used to keep moths away from the basement and garage. Simply collect some fresh stems from a lavender plant that contains unopened buds and tie them together. Then suspend them from the roof at the corners and let them dry while the scent fills the room.
An efficient way to use the buds in closets is to stitch a cotton bag that measures 5×5 inches and fill it with lavender buds. Confirm that the material is porous or you can make tiny holes on it. This will allow the scent from lavender buds to work against moths.
Lavender moth repellent recipe
Female moths live in closets because clothes are the best diet for their young ones at the larvae stage. A simple homemade lavender spray for clothes can keep them fresh and safe from any destructive bugs like moths. Here is what to do:
- Pour 1 cups of purified water into a hand spray
- Add 1 ½ tablespoon of pure rubbing alcohol
- Add 18-25 drops of pure lavender oil into the bottle and shake to mix
- Spray this directly on the clothes to get rid of the moths
If you have time, iron the clothes first before spraying them with the solution. This helps the solution sink into the detailed parts of the fabric. The aroma also stays around for long. If you have several clothes, just spray the solution on them and let it settle on them.
This can also be combined with other natural insect repellents at home. Spraying a lavender solution where you keep your clothes will also leave them with a nice fresh scent.
How to use lavender oil to repel moths when washing
You can wash your clothes with lavender to repel moths and other bugs. Simply add some drops to the final rinse especially if you are using a detergent that is not scented. Alternatively, add some drops of lavender straight into the machine or mix it with water in the final rinse.
If the washing machine is using liquid detergent, then add some drops of lavender oil directly to it. There is no strict measure here as this will depend on the number of clothes and soap you are using. However, a standard of 10-15 lavender oil drops should be enough to repel moths on fabric.
In my experience, adding lavender to the final rinse after sorting the clothes out does the trick. Separate the clothes that will be kept for a long time. Then add a few drops of lavender to the final rinse. This will work perfectly after drying and keeping them. The lavender scent will still linger around to keep moths and other bugs away.
It is important to clean your clothes first before using lavender moth repellent on them. There is no way you will keep moths away yet your clothes are dirty and infested with their eggs. The larvae that feed on clothes hide in folded dark areas.
How to get rid of moths on carpets with lavender
If they multiply in large numbers, moths will spread to carpets. Most carpets are made from animal fiber which attracts moths. Cloth moths are so tiny at the larvae stage and you may not even notice an infestation.
They will crawl under your carpets at the base and hide as they feed on it. You will only notice them when they have done so much damage and your carpet is losing too much fur. The fur will fall or come out and this can be noticed when cleaning the carpet with a brush.
To get rid of moths in carpet, mix 5 teaspoons of lavender essential oil with ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Then add ¼ glass of warm water. Spray this on the carpet and let it sit overnight to kill the moths’ larvae. You can increase the mixture ratios if you are spraying a wide carpet.
After that, vacuum to completely get rid of dead moths and any other unwanted insects like carpet beetles. The best measure against all this is to always keep the house clean to avoid any infestation. Moths can fly in through the window and destroy a lot of upholstery.
Lavender for cloth moths in curtains
When adult moths fly into your home, curtains are the first barriers that they are likely to land on. If the curtains are made of heavy silk or wool, then that will provide a good habit for female moths.
If the curtains are bulky with heavy gathers, then they will offer a good hiding place for female moths to breed, lay eggs and multiply. Most curtains are washed occasionally and this is why they are one of the best hiding places for moths.
If you notice the presence of moths on curtains, the first step is to bring them down for a thorough cleaning. Wash them at high temperatures and ensure you dry them well. Add some lavender to the final rinse to keep the moths away.
You can also spray them with a homemade lavender spray described above. Always draw the curtains for fresh air during the day. If they are designed to stay open, shake them at least twice a weak to ensure that they are not holding any bugs.
Lavender in its pure form is not deadly to moths but is efficient and good at repelling them. An affective measure is to ensure that every upholstery in the house is free from moths and that cleanliness is best observed before using lavender repellents on them.
References:
- 10 Plants That May Help Repel Bugs by Korin Miller: Prevention
- Essential Oils as Repellents against Arthropods by Mi Young Lee: NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6189689/
