tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post4867888336743642012..comments2024-03-28T03:40:29.423-04:00Comments on Passage des Perles: Moths: The new fluttering normalDuchessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-3429489494309320772016-10-11T12:56:45.533-04:002016-10-11T12:56:45.533-04:00We had an infestation last year and lost a huge, h...We had an infestation last year and lost a huge, heirloom rug from Turkey and had significant damage to two others, lost sweaters and scarves and other items. It took forever to get rid of them or at least I hope we have. We've caught nothing in the traps for a a while. <br /><br />Our rug expert said the best way to get rid of them in smaller rugs is to vacuum the rug. put it in the sun (both sides) for at least two hours and then vacuum again. He also suggested taking everything out of the closets (even synthetics)and airing them -- moths do not like sunlight. This is obviously easier in Florida than Canada. I hated to job of getting rid of all the cases so they would not be invited back -- turned over beds, moved furniture, vacuumed curtains, cleaned all closets. What a mess!Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402459402926219046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-29536309313538930652016-10-11T08:26:12.988-04:002016-10-11T08:26:12.988-04:00Carolyn: Pillow protectors! Brilliant, thanks for ...Carolyn: Pillow protectors! Brilliant, thanks for the tip. They are cheaper than sweater bags though I have been thinking of buying some of those, with the window that shows what's inside. (But is it worth the extra cost?) Canvas garment bags are the gold standard-breathable-but be watchful just the same. Le Duc's suit was in one, but the small hole through which a hanger protrudes was clearly enough to give them access; they had a field day in there.<br /><br />A jeweler's loupe is useful for examining wools to see if there are eggs or young larvae. The eggs when laid are less than the thickness of a human hair, so easy to miss. If in doubt take the piece outdoors and give it a good brushing and airing. <br /><br />To those kind readers who have sent me spice or herb-based recommendations for deterrents:<br />Some are deemed effective (by credible sources such as university fabric-preservation departments) but none kills- they just encourage them them to find other snacks. Once you have them, unless you can kill the eggs, larvae and adults so they cannot reproduce, you'll still see them. No amount of cinnamon, clove, mint, thyme or other fragrance will do that.<br /><br /> <br />Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-41951041140320444752016-10-10T23:12:46.431-04:002016-10-10T23:12:46.431-04:00Oh dear - I feel your pain. About 40 years ago, i...Oh dear - I feel your pain. About 40 years ago, in a different life, we discovered that carpet beetles came with the home we had purchased a year before. They were in the cabinetry under the kitchen sink. I was a natural fiber addict and had a house full of wool, silk, linen and cotton fabric and yarn. I had never had a moth or carpet beetle before. Everything and every room was infested - including food, hair brushes and cabinetry. Most of my fabric was pull of holes. Anything that was protected was spared.<br /><br /> We had an exterminator. I ended up getting rid of about 90% of my fabric and yarn. That ended my compulsive sewing, knitting and rug braiding and frankly it was a relief. I'm now reasonably careful about storing things now and have not had a repeat problem but I shudder when I see one of the fuzzy little bugs climbing a wall.<br /><br />I store my Eric Bompard cashmere sweaters in pillow protectors that are supposed to be dust mite proof for people with allergies. I buy them cheap and in quantity in discount stores. I hang my best wool clothing in canvas garment bags. And cross my fingers.Carolyn from Oregonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17989957616635211698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-41654856168222036212016-10-07T09:37:17.927-04:002016-10-07T09:37:17.927-04:00lagatta:
Clothes moths will eat all natural fibr...lagatta: <br /><br />Clothes moths will eat all natural fibres including (besides wool) silk, linen, fur, cotton (ergo, my napkins), feathers, and blends that include these natural fibers.<br /><br />Storage boxes: Canadian Tire or Rona: https://www.rona.ca/en/storage-box-02815252--1<br />or bigger size. <br /><br />You can also buy •breathable• sweater and garment bags on eBay or from closet-organization sites. Storing fine fabrics in plastic bags creates its own problems as the fibres don't breathe. Some persons wrap their sweaters in acid-free paper before placing them in the plastic bins.<br /><br />I rotate a few at a time, keeping those I'm wearing in a drawer, so nothing is in the snaplock full time.<br /><br />Those oversized cans like the kind caramel corn comes in are also good. Occasionally you see those in stores like Sally Ann; if so, grab and use for mufflers.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-81916214351178593022016-10-07T08:51:54.098-04:002016-10-07T08:51:54.098-04:00And when your building was being renovated, EVERYT...And when your building was being renovated, EVERYTHING was removed inside, there was nothing left but a shell that looked like a wartime ruin looming over the neighborhood. The old church was full of wood, nooks, crannies, and a century of dust and fibres from people's "church" clothes. This is also a downside of our climate that is (despite the 2014-15 hard winter) overall much milder than 40 years ago. <br /><br />Where does one buy snaplock boxes - are those larger, flatter versions of the ones at Canadian Tire for food storage? And the bags; for the moment my new merino pullover is in a ziplock bag (new, obviously), but it is still living in my freezer compartment, which is probably not cold enough to kill moths. <br /><br />Do "les mites" also eat silk?<br /><br />As for pantry moths, evidently glass storage is best; Livia's dry food is all in big Mason jars but I do have some dry foods still (untouched) in their original bags; should everything go into glass immediately? Asking people who have battled these. Fortunately I've never had any.lagatta à montréalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02610410709900333230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-59131400191572936922016-10-06T17:15:19.946-04:002016-10-06T17:15:19.946-04:00Peg, hostess, and, well, everybody:
Lavender does...Peg, hostess, and, well, everybody:<br /><br />Lavender does not, not not kill moth eggs, larvae or adults. I have read every paper with some credibility I can find on moth-killing agents (not the ads placed by natural-food stores, which tend to repeat the same blather. There is unfortunately a correlation between toxicity and effectiveness.<br /><br />Lavender at best is a deterrent, they might "look elsewhere", but a hungry moth may indeed hit your Eucalan-washed sweater or lavender-sachet-strewn drawer. <br />If you can, store •clean• fine wools in airtight containers, like snap-lid boxes or tight-seal storage bags. But if the garment goes into any airtight storage container with eggs on it, the lavender will not kill the eggs.<br /><br />Cedar is only effective in ¶very• high concentration in an airtight space, and then only while the cedar oil is in high concentration for the volume of space. The blocks people use are useless very soon.<br /><br />The worst place for control is probably closets and armoires, where things hang, and you open the doors often. I believe a lot of "my" moths live behind our many high bookshelves. Le Duc traps a lot in his office, and there's no wool rug, but there are hundreds of books, and many crannies.<br /><br />Clothes moths will also eat skin flakes, nail clippings, and dust. Though I have no wool in the bathroom or laundry room, I always trap some in there. <br /><br />Mme: I would take pantry moths over clothes moths any day- not the same critter. Pantry moths are disgusting but they do not destroy your carpets, clothes or sanity.<br /><br />LauraH: Nice of you to send those wishes but after 2 years I am dubous I can do it. I once vanquished them in our house but now, in an apt. it is harder... I have seen them in the halls and once in the elevator.<br /><br />lagatta: If you find the traps locally please let me know; I have looked everywhere. Sometimes Urban Nature Store have free shipping specials.<br /><br /><br /><br />Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-20382401618819244132016-10-06T13:50:21.002-04:002016-10-06T13:50:21.002-04:00About my unfavourite topic (except serious disease...About my unfavourite topic (except serious disease) but a vital one; they seem impossible to eradicate. I wonder if I can buy those two products here in Montréal... Discovered a couple of holes in a fine woollen scarf yesterday... <br /><br />There are quite a lot of bedbugs hereabouts and no, they don't just live in conditions of squalor. They live on blood, not minute scraps of food as cockroaches do. lagatta à montréalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02610410709900333230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-78816499935964124482016-10-06T11:52:38.589-04:002016-10-06T11:52:38.589-04:00I had a terrible bout with moths here several year...I had a terrible bout with moths here several years ago and lost all my cashmere sweaters...<br />my husbands cashmere scarf looked like a mesh bag as it was so full of holes. I had cedar in all our closets and drawers as well as lavender sachets...I am hoping that they do not attack again. Makes me want to try and learn to appreciate synthetics as alternatives to my beloved cashmere!hostess of the humble bungalowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06453827257671312902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-20256332224449962412016-10-06T11:37:14.004-04:002016-10-06T11:37:14.004-04:00Have you tried Eucalan (Canadian company) for wash...Have you tried Eucalan (Canadian company) for washing fine fabrics? It was recommended to us by a reweaving company after a moth-in-cashmere disaster years ago and we swear by it. It is infused with lavender and you wash but don't rinse it out. Works for hand washing or by machine. We never travel without it!<br />Love your blog... thanks for all the hard work and thoughtful posts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07976357362098328329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-6868583637946510342016-10-06T09:16:01.643-04:002016-10-06T09:16:01.643-04:00So sorry to hear that the enemy is still at large ...So sorry to hear that the enemy is still at large in your apartment, I'm sure this is NOT how you want to be spending your time and energy...and money. Holes as the new normal? Well maybe for the 20 somethings but I can't see myself walking down the street like that:-) <br /><br />Thanks for sharing the fruits of your research and labours. And thanks to Janice for suggesting that we wash new clothes...I never thought of that and will do so from now on.<br /><br />Good luck with your control measures, if anyone can confound these critters, it's you.LauraHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03402103522466794364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-26145621390787145712016-10-06T08:24:51.083-04:002016-10-06T08:24:51.083-04:00Not about eradicating them but if I have a coat or...Not about eradicating them but if I have a coat or jacket with just a bit of pile, I take a fine needle and poke out some of the back fibers through to the front and that works a treat to fill the holes.Vildyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10729809197382483220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-59454974982731664612016-10-06T08:19:02.430-04:002016-10-06T08:19:02.430-04:00It's impossible to imagine the amount of sheer...It's impossible to imagine the amount of sheer filth hidden in a lot of retails stores (and I speak from experience!). Laundering things before wearing, no matter the source, is so important...<br /><br />I'm so sorry that you're having to fight this fight; but as usual, you've turned something unpleasant into a tremendously useful post! I just hope I NEVER need this information.<br /><br />hugs,<br />JaniceThe Vivenne Fileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05740975051742023907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-22771574430902204282016-10-06T07:30:07.477-04:002016-10-06T07:30:07.477-04:00Oh! I had pantry moths ride in last year. I blame ...Oh! I had pantry moths ride in last year. I blame dog kibble but I don't know for sure. I cleaned cupboards, bleached, and washed every item time after time. I occasionally find a moth hole in my best woollens but I mend. You're right in that it just might be the "new normal".Madame Là-bashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703782237948233124noreply@blogger.com