Around the 1920s, scientists started paying attention to the effect of cedar on fibre-eating insects, like moths and carpet beetles. The species of tree that produces cedar wood and oil is known as Cedrus atlantica. In the oils of Cedrus atlantica are chemicals—sesquiterpene hydrocarbons—that give off a resinous, camphor-like scent. With up to 70 percent of the oils in cedar wood containing these potent compounds, it is believed that is the reason most cedar species are insect-repellent. Around the 1920s, scientists started paying attention to the effect of cedar on fiber-eating insects, like moths and carpet beetles. The species of tree that produces cedar wood and oil is known as Cedrus atlantica. In the oils of Cedrus atlantica are chemicals—sesquiterpene hydrocarbons—that give off a resinous, camphor-like scent. With up to 70 percent of the oils in cedar wood containing these potent compounds, it is believed that is the reason most cedar species are insect-repellent. Mothballs work, but only because they’re a highly toxic chemical with noxious vapors that can harm all living creatures, including you, your children, and your pets. The only safe way to use them is to place them in an airtight container with your clothes, which will come out smelling like mothballs when winter rolls around again. “Just avoid them because there are all these nontoxic ways you can prevent infestation,” Tartaglia says. “Put your clothes away clean, either by freezing them, heating them in the dryer, or getting them dry cleaned. That’s really all it takes.”

Some moth larvae or adult moths also produce glycoproteins from external substances on their bodies or wings that can result in allergic reactions when they’re inhaled. If you find one moth or moth-riddled hole, don’t delay moving on to step two. “A single female moth will lay an average of 50 eggs, and then those babies will be having babies within months, and each of those babies will have more babies, and you see where this is going,” Brumfield says. Make your own natural repellant – Place dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender or bay leaves into a small cloth bag and hang them in your wardrobe and place them in your drawers. The oil form of these herbs, sprayed on contaminated areas and clothes, can also repel moths. Herbs – Several fragrant herbs repel moths, including rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender and bay leaves. Place the herbs in a small bag in cupboards or spray the essential oil into high-risk areas. But how does this wondrous moth-repelling oil work exactly? The scent itself is not responsible for deterring moths as much as it is camouflaging the scent of a moth’s natural target—keratin.Keep your clothes and belongings washed before you store them away for long periods of time. Air-dry them in sunlight, if possible. This ensures that any eggs or larvae in your clothes are rinsed out or killed so that they don’t grow into maturity while they’re in storage. The different shapes and sizes mean you can hang them directly in the closet, place them in drawers or cabinets, or any indoor space that could use extra protection. It is important to remember that this product will not kill existing moths and is more useful as a preventative tool. After two months of testing, we did not find a single moth in sight, and we enjoyed the light cedar scent it left in our closets and drawers. Keep your clothes and belongings stored in airtight containers. Use tightly sealed chests, plastic containers, sealed suitcases, or something similar to make sure moths can’t get inside and lay eggs. Don’t leave any materials like wool or suits exposed to the air — put them in zipped, airtight garment bags inside your sealed containers, especially when you don’t plan to wear them for a while. Combine dried, crushed, and powdered herbs. Combine the following in a bag that you can hang anywhere you keep clothes or food: lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Moths also hate the odors of these herbs. You can also dilute the essential oils of these herbs and spray them on your clothes and belongings or use a diffuser with one or more combinations of these oils.

Use vinegar to help. Wash and scrub any areas you found larvae or eggs with a vinegar and water solution. A safer option to cedar would be neem oil, otherwise known as Indian lilac. Neem oil, which is used in many kinds of moth oil sprays (found in the UK), can repel a number of insects found in the house, including clothes moths. Other natural moth repellents include mint, rosemary, cloves, lavender, thyme, and eucalyptus. Freeze any clothes or belongings that show signs of moths. Keep these items in the freezer for at least 24 hours to make sure any larvae are killed off. You might have heard that cedar will kill moths, but it’s not true - cedar is a repellant, not a killer. The good news is that, yes, cedar can work against a clothes moth infestation. Yet, there is a time limit to the effectiveness of cedar that you have to keep in mind. When cedar is used to make a chest, the wood contains some natural oils that will naturally repel moths.

MothPrevention® speak to customers every day about their clothes moth issues - clothes moths are a species that are ever increasing and that can cause significant damage to clothes, carpets and other home textiles. Keep your floors, carpets, and moldings vacuumed and dusted. Try to clean your home with a vacuum, dusting cloths, and eco-friendly cleaners to keep your home free of dust and dirt, which can draw moths into your home. Be sure to empty vacuum contents and wash dusting cloths regularly so that eggs and larvae don’t grow and develop. Fortunately, if you are not an expert in moth identification, the type you have is less important than the location in which you discovered them. Moths can be killed or kept away from certain places with specific traps or chemicals.

This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer for The Spruce. As an entomologist, she is always on the lookout for effective, safe, and easy-to-use insecticides to recommend to friends and family. To prepare this roundup, Amanda Rose tested each product for ease of use, functionality, and accuracy.Sure, they’re annoying and they can eat up your clothes and dry foods, but for the most part, they don’t carry any diseases or typically cause any reactions in those who have allergies to other indoor insects like dust mites or silverfish.

Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Brush any clothes made of wool or fur after you wear them outside. Moth eggs can easily infiltrate your closet by affixing themselves to these materials, so scraping them off regularly can help keep any moth larvae from getting inside. Pantry moths, which love to feed on stored foods, are usually one or more of the following: Indian Meal Moths, Mediterranean Pantry Moths, White Shouldered House Moths, or Brown House Moths. If you're dealing with a pantry moth infestation, we recommend using Dr. Killigan's Premium Pantry Moth Traps. Cedar may not be the definitive moth-killing solution you imagined , but it is effective at protecting your clothing from hungry moths. You can use cedar in combination with neem oil and other natural repellents to keep your home moth-free. However you choose to use cedar, though, it will always be safer and healthier than mothballs. Heat also works as long, as it’s over 120°F for at least 30minutes, Brumfield says. The hottest dryer setting will do the job. Place the item in dry and be mindful of what you toss in there: Ballard warns that heat and mechanical action can affect the texture of fine wool clothes.However, over time, the cedar is going to lose its natural oils. An antique cedar chest is going to be far less effective at repelling moths than a new chest. Larvae and pupae won’t be affected by the oil if they are already inside the chest. This isn’t meant to dissuade you from using cedar, however. As a natural alternative to something more toxic, like mothballs, cedar works well. You can even pair it with other herbs and oils to make it more effective. Keep in mind that you might prefer to use something natural and safer around children and pets? Wash clothes that contain larvae or eggs. Use hot water and high heat in the dryer, if possible. For clothes that can’t be washed or dried hot, put wet clothes in the freezer for a day to kill larvae and eggs. What are some alternatives to cedar that will work equally as well? While mothballs were once a popular remedy to moth infestations, they are far less so these days. The reason is that mothballs contain a synthetic chemical that is highly dangerous for humans and animals when inhaled. The pure paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene used in mothballs causes a broad range of health complications and imbues clothing with a horrible chemical scent. So stay away from those. Clean all cupboards and wardrobes with a vinegar and water solution – Vinegar is a natural cleansing agent and the acid is not tolerable for moths. Be careful here when cleaning antiques.