5 Chemical-Free Ways to Handle a Moth Invasion

The first thing you should do when dealing with a moth invasion is to remove items from your dresser or wardrobe and vacuum every drawer and crevice. Make sure to vacuum the entire room too, since moths can lay eggs in your carpeting (ew). 

Those pesky moths love sweat and dirt, so make sure to wash and dry clothes that may have been affected by a moth infestation on high temperature—this is especially important if you’re going to store them. (Which you should do in an airtight bag or plastic container, by the way—not a cardboard box.)

For items that you don’t want to toss in the washer/dryer, pop them in the freezer overnight instead—the chilly temperatures will kill off any active larvae. (Again, ew.)

Cedar wood is one of nature’s natural moth repellents (and smells lovely). For a grand total of $7 you can pick up 20 blocks and tuck them in the back of your closet to keep moths at bay, or invest in some cedar hangers instead. When the scent starts to fade, sand the cedar to revive it and keep moths at bay.

Moths have a keen sense of smell, but luckily the scents they don’t like are the ones that we humans do. Fill a sachet with a combination of dried lavender, patchouli, cinnamon sticks and rosemary and hang it in your closet to repel the sweater-loving insects. Replace with a fresh batch when the scent starts to fade (or after a year).