Winter is upon us; everyone prepares clothes like sweaters, hoodies, furs, and other woollens. After storing those wearables for a long time in a dry-cleaned plastic bag to avoid the attraction of clothing insects like cloth moths and carpet beetles, it’s finally time to take it out.
Oops! Did you remember to do that? Do your clothes have pests? What can you do now? Not to worry, we are here to help you eliminate these clothing insects with effective control tips. Cloth moths and carpet beetles are the major clothing pests; here, we will see their differences and jump to the controlling methods.
Because every common person needs to learn the factors, habits, and things that can attract pests and insects to their place in such a way, this knowledge will help avoid some common practices next time. So, let’s get into the topic.
Cloth Moths Vs Carpet Beetles
Identification
Cloth Moths
These cloth moths can be found in golden brown color, and the adults can grow from 9.5 to 12 mm, and their larvae will be 9.5 mm long without the brown head.
Carpet Beetles
The carpet beetles are usually black-brown color, and some species will have yellowish-white scales on their upper surface. Their larvae will be 3mm long, and the adults can grow up to 6mm long.
Damages and Sings
- It will definitely be a cloth or carpet moth if you find silken tubes under the collar or silken mats with glazing or holes in your cloth. You can also find their hair clipping while they hurry to hide.
- If you find a larger hole or damage with larval moult skins, then your cloth is infested by carpet beetle.
Methods to Control and Get Rid of Clothing Pests
Before applying these control methods, decide whether you need the infested clothes or not. This will help segregate the items and choose the things that you need.
- Use a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA air filter which helps remove all the pests and insects sticking to your clothes.
- If the clothes are washable, wash them immediately and run them for 10 minutes more than usual.
- Check your storage area and clean it immediately after taking your clothes out.
- Use professional fur specialists for effective cleaning and storage if you have furs.
- Always check and clean your storage area before and after storing your items.
- If you prefer storing your items in your place, try to store them in a plastic bag or in a vacuum storage bag with an oxygen scavenger.
These storage practices will be helpful to avoid the attraction of pests. In addition, if there are any pests in your clothes already, it will kill them and not encourage the growth of pests.
Conclusion
The above listed are the best methods to treat your clothes when you take them out after a long time. Follow these storage methods to avoid the presence of pests inside your home properties. Contact a professional pest control service if you cannot get rid of them or have a pest infestation for an extended period.