Moths are a common household pest in the San Diego area and throughout other regions across the United States. Unfortunately, fabric-feeding moths can cause damage to clothing and other linens when they make their way into your home. If you’re dealing with a moth problem in your house, there are some steps you can take to handle the issue before you resort to calling a professional pest control service.
Invest in Quality Moth Traps
You can find pheromone-based moth traps at your local home improvement store, and these are often effective in alleviating a household moth problem. The key to success here is to know what type of moth you’re dealing with in your home, as different moths are attracted to different pheromones. For example, if you’re having a problem with moths in your closets, make sure you buy traps for clothes moths; for moths in your kitchen spaces, traps for pantry moths are probably your best bet.
Manage Home Humidity Levels
Moths and their larvae tend to thrive is areas of high humidity, so consider taking a measurement of your current home humidity levels. Ideally, you’ll want them to be between 40% and 50%. If your humidity is higher—especially in areas where the moths are a problem—take steps to reduce humidity. You can do this by installing a home humidifier on your existing HVAC system or even plugging in a room-sized humidifier in the affected areas.
Expose to Extreme Temperatures
Another key to stopping a moth infestation is making sure no new moth larvae get the chance to hatch. Moths and their larvae are unable to survive freezing temperatures, so one excellent solution for closet moths in particular is to pack all of your moth-ridden clothes into a resealable bag and place them in a freezer. Within a few hours, any moth larvae will be killed off, so you can simply throw your clothes into the washing machine to finish the job.
Once you’ve handled the moth problem in your home, it’s also recommended that you take the time to caulk and seal any spaces (around windows and doors, etc.) that could be inviting to future moths.
When to Contact a Professional
In some instances, such as when the above tips aren’t helping your situation or in the event of a major infestation, it’ll be in your best interest to contact a professional pest control service such as NixTermite. By doing so, you can enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that a team of moth control experts will handle the situation in your home. Such a professional can identify the specific breed of moth infesting your home and handle it appropriately while taking steps to prevent future infestations.
Dealing with moths in your home can be a real pain, but the good news is that with the right actions, you can get rid of a moth infestation. And when all else fails, you can always contact the professionals to have them handle it on your behalf.
