How do you recognize a moth infestation in your home?
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Moths in the house: nobody wants them. They seem harmless, but they can cause significant damage to your clothing, textiles, and food. You often don't discover you're dealing with a moth infestation until it's too late. In this blog post, we explain how to recognize the signs of an infestation early, which types of moths you might encounter, and what you can do about them.
🐛 What types of moths occur in the home?
In the house you will mainly encounter two types of moths:
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Clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella)
These moths target natural materials like wool, cotton, silk, and fur. They are attracted to dirty clothing or clothing that hasn't been worn for a long time. -
Food moth or flour moth (Plodia interpunctella)
These moths nest in dry foods like flour, rice, pasta, nuts, and pet food. You often find them in pantries or kitchen cupboards.
🔍 How do you recognize a moth infestation?
A few moths in your home are not necessarily an infestation, but pay close attention to the following signs:
1. Holes in clothing or fabrics
Do you suddenly have mysterious little holes in your wool sweater, scarf, or coat? Then there's a good chance moth larvae have been at work. Dark and rarely used clothing is especially susceptible.
2. Moth wings or dead moths
Do you regularly see small, beige moths fluttering around or sitting on walls—especially near wardrobes or food? This could indicate an active infestation.
3. Cocoons or larvae in corners and seams
Moths lay eggs in dark, uncrowded places. The larvae often hide in the seams of clothing, under baseboards, or in the corners of cabinets. They resemble tiny white worms.
4. Small silk threads in food
With food moths, you sometimes see very fine threads in rice, flour, or muesli packaging. This is a clear sign of infestation.
5. A strange, musty smell
Some moths (larvae) leave an unpleasant odor, especially in textiles or stored garments.
🧩 Why do you get a moth infestation?
Moths are often introduced via secondhand clothing, old carpets, or contaminated food. A warm, moist environment with little air circulation is ideal for moths to lay eggs and breed.
✅ What can you do in case of a moth infestation?
When nuisance starts, you can do a lot yourself:
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Use moth traps , such as those from lluux , to catch adult moths and assess the extent of the infestation.
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Wash clothes at 60°C or have them professionally cleaned.
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Freeze contaminated clothing or food to kill larvae (at least 48 hours at -18°C).
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Vacuum thoroughly in cupboards, drawers, seams and under furniture.
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Store food in airtight containers .
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Place cedarwood and lavender sachets in wardrobes
Cedarwood and lavender are natural moth repellents. Moths dislike the smell and therefore stay away. A stylish and effective way to keep your clothes moth-free.
🎯 Prevention is better than cure
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Store clothes clean and tightly closed.
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Ventilate regularly.
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Use preventative traps and odor blockers in cupboards and pantries.
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Check new purchases (especially second-hand!) for signs of moths.
Want to repel moths naturally? Discover our cedarwood and lavender scented cubes and combine them with a non-toxic moth trap from lluux for ultimate protection.