Invasion of the moths
Rachel Simhon on how to get them out of the closet Have you got moths? I bet you have. The editor of Vogue has moths, a friend has moths because her friend, a famous actress who is not so hot on the housekeeping, gave her a moth-infested jumper. I've written a book about housework and I've got moths — a MaxMara coat with a dappling of holes across the shoulders, a pashmina, bought in Kathmandu and light as a piece of swansdown, now reduced to a rag. 'For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool', as the Bible so trenchantly puts it.
If there appear to be more moths around than there used to be, there are. Rentokil reports a 25 per cent increase in calls about moth infestation. A series of long, warm summers (this summer notwithstanding) and mild winters, the ubiquity of central heating, the cheapness and availability of once exclusive natural fibres, particularly silk and cashmere — all make the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), once an unwelcome seasonal visitor, a year-round hazard.
Clothes moths, which are different from the types that hurl themselves suicidally at lights, are small silvery-gold creeping creatures. They like to be dark, warm and undisturbed, with plenty to eat. They lay their eggs in these dark places and it is the moth larvae that eat your clothes. They prefer natural fibres (wool, silk, cotton and fur). And they particularly like dirty clothes, so if you are careless about such things, you are more likely to suffer moth attack. Common el There are a couple of companies that will come to your house and put all your clothes and moth-friendly fabrics in a fumigation bubble, which is then pumped with chemicals. However, this costs thousands of pounds. Your best recourse is that old-fashioned notion, 'good housekeeping'.
When you discover moth infestation, empty out all the wardrobes and drawers and either wash everything, or have it dry-cleaned.
Small items, such as cashmere jumpers, can be frozen, which kills the moth larvae. Wrap the garment in acid-free tissue paper and put it in a plastic bag. Freeze for seven days, then allow to defrost slowly before drying and putting away (frankly, washing is easier). Then either call in the exterminators, who will come and spray your house with something toxic to moths but harmless to humans, or do it yourself (see list of addresses below).
Before spraying, clean out all cupboards, drawers and other nooks and crannies where moths like to lurk. Vacuum thoroughly, then wash down all shelves and the interiors of drawers. Rinse and dry before replacing clothes. Lightly spray everywhere with an insecticide spray.
Then it's prevention rather than cure.
Keep all clothes in garment bags, especially those that you value. Never put dirty clothes away for any length of time. When storing clothes, for example winter clothes in summer, or if you are given any clothes, always dry-clean or wash them first. Put fur coats into storage — it only costs about £65 a year.
Twice a year, empty out wardrobes and drawers and vacuum and wash them as detailed above.
Once everything is clean, hang mothdeterrent strips. The marvellously effecothes moth tive Vapona strips are no longer available because they contained dichlorvos, an organophosphate that was banned in the UK in 2002, but the new deterrents based on permethrin are nearly as effective. After that, it's constant vigilance: Bush's 'war on tun-' has nothing on the war of moth destruction.
PEST CONTROL DIRECT Sells moth-killers and deterrents. Tel. 01323 846845 www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk JOHN LEWIS Homecare department has a wide range of moth-killers and deterrents.
Tel. 08456 049 049 www.johnlewis.com FURS OF MAYFAIR Fur storage. Tel. 020 7437 6276
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