something is eating my clothes?

Factual Questions
1

I pulled out a 100% merino wool sweater dress out of my closet today (new, never worn or washed) and after putting it on found several tiny holes in the fabric that I am absolutely sure were not there when I bought it.

I’ve heard of moths eating clothes but I can’t see any bugs in my closet. Are these mythical moths invisible to the naked eye? I would normally suspect my cat but some of the holes are in places that would be out of her reach.

I’m quite annoyed because it’s a lovely new dress. If it is bugs, what can I do about them?

2

Yes, it’s moths! I had them too, decimated my woollens. I believe it’s moth larvae that do the chomping, I don’t think they’re easy to spot.

You can google for more authoritative remedies, but I was told to put all my clothes from the wardrobe into the freezer to kill the larvae, as well as disinfecting the wardrobe. Seemed to do the job. Those anti-moth things you can buy to hang in your wardrobe seem worse than useless.

Whatever you do, do it NOW, or everything else in your wardrobe will get it too.

3

It’s probably moths. They dined well on my jumpers over the summer. I didn’t use enough mothballs.

4

Eek. I’ll have to deal with it when I get home tonight, I suppose. So much for a relaxing evening. :frowning:

Thanks everyone. :slight_smile:

5

Could be carpet beetles as well. Very nasty critters.

6

It’s not the moths that eat your clothes. It’s the larvae, which are somewhat harder to spot.

Or, exactly what** SanVito**, who beat me to it, said.

7

Moth balls work by killing the larvae when their off-gas reaches a certain density. Sealing the clothes in plastic tubs with them will kill the larvae. Alternatively, yeah, just freeze the stuff–but for at least a week. I’m sure there are guides online.

The larvae aren’t attracted to the fibers but to residues left in the fibers… skin flakes, sweat, oil, bits of food. Thoroughly laundering garments before storing them will make it less likely you’ll be attacked in future.

8

freezing kills adults and larvae. eggs might survive and hatch when in warmer temperatures. you need to freeze again after the eggs would hatch and before adults are produced.

you could also store refrigerated.

9

Freeze all your sweaters if you have room in your freezer.

This buys you time to go out and make little cedar sachets out of these cedar balls. (Read my review on how to do little sachets. Just make sure you have an opening to stick the balls in). You don’t really want the cedar touching your clothes directly. To freshen, spray some cedar spray on them in a few months.

10

Why not just use the cedar spray (which I assume is cedar essential oil) in the first place? Why buy the balls if they need to be freshened?

11

Because, unless you do, you don’t have the balls to deal with the problem!

Duh.

12

LOL Oh, I know HazelNutCoffee. She’s got balls like you wouldn’t believe! :smiley:

(Seriously, though, I’d get some cedar essential oil and put it on a knotted old gym sock or something. But if the balls are easier to find, you can “refresh” them with a little sandpaper, too.)

13

In a closet, one of those no-pest strips works wonders. They shoudl only be used in a closet or store-room, not in the open.

There’s also clothes moth traps, which use sticky stuff.

14

…because wool itches me too much and I don’t have any. Still, there have been a few mysterious cases where unexpected holes showed up in garments.

Cedar chips, among other things besides moth balls, help with the problem.

15

I’ve had that problem too but with my cotton t-shirts (all I wear pretty much). Aside from the recent invasion of the stink bugs here in NJ over the past couple of years, it’s pretty rare to see a bug indoors and even then it’s usually the stray fly or mosquito or (ewwwww) those bugs with a couple hundred legs. I just assumed it was from the radioactive decay of all of the radon. :eek:

16

I don’t know if it works, but the dry cleaner in my neighborhood has a sign that says they have a special treatment to “moth-proof” your clothes

17

The little bastards just chewed up my best suit. Very aggravating (and expensive) pests.

18

Guys, don’t throw out your stuff because you think it’s shot. You’d be surprised what a good tailor or seamstress can do with it. One of my good cashmere sweaters has an imperceptible fix in it where moths chewed through it. So don’t toss it out, go to a reputable tailor to see what they can do.

19

Whoops, didn’t see this. I don’t think it’s kosher to spray your clothes directly with the cedar spray. Everything I’ve read has advocated actual cedar, with it wrapped in a layer of fabric to prevent staining the actual clothes.