Team Country Living likes a good catch-up, but few things have animated the office quite as much recently as the subject of moths – aka pesky wardrobe wreckers.
From mysterious holes appearing in cashmere to deep-pile carpets harbouring unwelcome surprises, Team CL has had more than its fair share of run-ins with moths.
Moth season tends to peak between May and September, when adult moths become more active indoors — so this year, we’re taking no prisoners.
The good news? You do not necessarily need to resort to harsh chemical sprays or old-school mothballs to fight back. From freezer tricks to cedar balls and even moth “birth control”, there are plenty of gentler and natural ways to protect your clothes and soft furnishings this summer.
Here, the Country Living team share the anti-moth methods we genuinely swear by....
The old-fashioned moth trick I can’t quite give up
Ever since moths destroyed my beloved MaxMara coat (RIP), I have been at war with these papery assassins. My late mother swore by hanging bags of conkers in her wardrobe. I’m not convinced, but I still gather bags of fresh conkers each autumn and layer them amongst my jumpers in the hope that they’ll deter the fiends. So far, so good — so maybe Mum was right.
I also have these sticky traps in my coat cupboard, to deter a future MaxMara-gate. The only good thing I can say about moths is that they clearly have excellent taste.
Saska, editor-in-chief
Why I freeze all my knitwear before storing it
Never knowingly underdressed, I own far too many alpaca hats and scarves — exactly the sort of thing moths absolutely adore. Last year I pulled out one of my favourite scarves from storage only to discover the bottom half looked like lacework.
I managed to patch it up with matching wool, but it’s never quite been the same since. Now I freeze vulnerable knitwear for a week before sealing everything into zip-lock bags.
Vicky, editor
The pheromone traps that finally stopped our infestation
In my old flat, we finally got our moth problem under control using sticky pheromone strips that act a bit like moth contraception.
They use synthetic pheromones to attract male moths onto a sticky surface, which disrupts the breeding cycle and reduces future egg-laying. You can tuck them discreetly into the corner of a room and completely forget they’re there.
Until, that is, you look closely and realise just how many moths they’ve trapped. Grim but incredibly satisfying.
Lizzie, multiplatform editor
When all else fails, bring in the wasps
A real lesson in moth fighting for me was when we peeled back our shaggy deep pile rug to discover a sea of moth eggs in the cracks and crevices in our floorboards. After scooping them all out with a skewer and hoovering them up — promptly disposing of the hoover bag, of course — we realised we had a serious problem. Cedar balls just weren’t cutting it.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, so we’re now waiting for a delivery of parasitic wasps — not a sentence I ever thought I’d say. The tiny insects target clothes moth eggs, laying their own eggs inside them to break the infestation cycle. The treatment works gradually over four weeks, with sachets releasing around 2,000 microscopic wasps each week. Moths, beware!
Daisy, homes editor
The triple-threat system protecting my knitwear
Nothing prepares you for pulling out your first-ever cashmere wrap — a new-job present to yourself — and discovering the moths have treated it like an all-you-can-eat buffet. They’d eaten more of it than they’d left behind, while bypassing every other item in the wardrobe.
From that day forth, it was war. I religiously put cedar balls in drawers, scent bags in wardrobes and have regular wardrobe clear-outs so nothing sits untouched or too crowded for too long. I refuse to let the moths win twice.
Helen, deputy editor
Vacuum storage bags changed my life.
We’ve all had that moment when the season shifts and you suddenly need knitwear — only to discover your favourite jumper full of holes.
I now keep all my woollens in vacuum storage bags that moths can’t penetrate. Frankly, the satisfaction of sucking all the air out with the hoover is part of the appeal. For good measure, I also spray everything with a natural chrysanthemum treatment that kills adult moths, larvae and eggs.
Lauran, features editor
Moth protection that doesn’t smell awful
I can’t stand the musty smell of traditional mothballs, so I was delighted to discover byMATTER’s ceramic moth repellent and spray. It looks chic, lasts forever with spray top-ups and leaves wardrobes smelling beautifully of lavender.
I cannot pretend to understand the ‘bio-active technology’, but I can confirm I haven’t had moth damage since I started using it a year ago.
Cara, commissioning editor
The anti-humidity trick I grew up with
Growing up in Hong Kong, anti-humidity boxes were a staple in almost every home — and for good reason. Warm, damp air is exactly the kind of environment where clothes turn musty and moths move in.
These little boxes quietly absorb excess moisture before any of that can happen. I’ve used them for years and, touch wood, I’ve never had a moth problem.
Sarah, commercial content editor
Why I keep lavender in every cupboard
I recently swapped a one-bedroom flat for a three-bed house and, thanks to the sudden explosion of space, now have a dressing room of my own. Before the move, though, a partially moth-eaten carpet had to be replaced, making me acutely aware that a room full of clothes – essentially mountains of delicious fabric – is a moth’s version of the land of milk and honey.
I’m relying on a family favourite: lavender. A sachet of dried flowers or a few drops of essential oil on a cotton pad (my current method) dotted around cupboards and drawers seems to do the trick – and smells far nicer than anything chemical. So far, it’s done an excellent job of keeping these hungry little flappers at bay.
Wanda, multiplatform writer
Natural pest repellent
