When choosing a moth repellent, you need to decide on the type of pest and the effectiveness of the drug. In our apartments we encounter food, clothing and furniture moths. You need to start fighting house moths by finding their habitat. Manual destruction of moths (usually males) fluttering around the apartment will not bring the desired effect. You need to get rid of females that lay larvae, which then turn into caterpillars that eat clothing, furniture or cereals. This article contains tips for removing moths at home and describes the main folk and chemical remedies against moths.
Folk remedies for moths in the apartment
All moth control products are classified depending on cost, route of exposure and duration of effect. Let's consider the most acceptable of them. Traditional methods include using materials such as fresh orange peels to control food pests. Food moths do not like the smell of citrus fruits; if orange peels are laid out on grocery shelves, the moth will not stay there for long. But if she has already laid eggs there, then laying out citrus peels will not help get rid of her.
Folk remedies for clothes and furniture moths - naphthalene, laundry soap, geranium and lavender leaves and lavender essential oil - all this will help in the fight against moths at home. Laundry soap was placed on shelves and pockets of clothes; moths cannot stand its smell. Dry herbs of tansy, dill, rosemary, and wormwood are also used to repel moth butterflies. Ancient and folk remedies also include spells against moths in the house, but we will not evaluate their effectiveness. You can learn more about traditional home remedies for moths.
Species living in residential areas
It doesn’t matter where the moth came from in an apartment or house, it is important to get rid of it as quickly as possible, before it has time to ruin natural carpets, fur coats, clothes and even the upholstery of the sofa.
Most often, the following types of moths appear in an apartment: Fur (wool) - a gray-yellow butterfly with small black dots on its wings. It lives in wardrobes. Where are clothes stored? She can even chew through a plastic bag to get to fur products. If there is no fur in the house, she can eat books, pillow feathers and felt.
Fur (wool) is a gray-yellow butterfly with small black dots on the wings. She lives in wardrobes. Where are clothes stored? She can even chew through a plastic bag to get to fur products. If there is no fur in the house, she can eat books, pillow feathers and felt. Furniture. A yellowish butterfly with a golden tint on the wings. It settles in upholstered furniture and eats furniture fabric; sometimes it can damage furs and woolen products. Clothes.
A butterfly with yellow wings, sometimes they can be purple. Loves dark wardrobes. Eats any clothing indiscriminately.
Food (grain, fruit). A small butterfly with speckled gray or brown striped wings. It eats food (cereals, legumes, tea, flour, nuts, sugar), leaving in them traces of its vital activity, particles of skin, and caterpillar husks. Such products are no longer suitable for consumption. Eating them can cause poisoning. Wax moth.
She lives in bee hives and causes a lot of damage. But the tincture on its larvae is very useful.
Sprays against moths and larvae - which is better?
Sprays are quite effective, but aggressive substances, unlike traditional natural remedies. Some of them are applied only after pets and children have been removed from the apartment. Although they produce a modern line of safe aerosols that leave no odor after use or leave a pleasant lemon scent. They process all the clothes in the closet and furniture upholstery. They are most effective when treating pest masonry, destroying the moth and its offspring at the same time. Which remedy is the most effective? We have collected a small rating of products with customer reviews.
Moth spray Arnest "Armol" and reviews
The most famous spray against house moths is Arnest “ Armol ”. Available with and without odor (Armol Expert) for production and warehouse premises. The cost does not exceed 100 rubles.
“Armol spray has practically no odor, leaves no marks on clothes, and most importantly, it destroys moths and their larvae well. It’s better to spray as soon as you see the first moth in the closet, otherwise it will create holes.”
“In the hallway there is always Dichlorvos and Armol on the shelf. From time to time you have to spray it on the landing and at home for prevention. The moth disappeared at the entrance and never entered the apartment. There is an effect!”
"Raptor" moth protection - customer reviews
The next inexpensive but widely known spray is Raptor
» Moth protection. It will help get rid of moths and leave behind a sour lemon smell. The cost of such a cylinder is about 150 rubles. According to the manufacturer, moths will not appear for a year after treatment. Let's find out from customer reviews if this is true.
“I bought Raptor for moths, it didn’t seem to be expired, after treatment the moth disappeared only for two weeks. Apparently the larvae remained unharmed. I will spray again. If it doesn’t help again, I’ll go for another anti-moth remedy.”
“Raptor, which has a logo with a dinosaur, helps very well against moths... We somehow got moths in our studio. We processed everything according to the instructions before closing and aired it in the morning. There was a slight lemon scent left. The moth has disappeared, half a year has passed and has not appeared yet.”
Universal spray "Clean House" - reviews
Clean House aerosol against moths and skin beetles also removes moths quite well. Costs about 150 rubles per bottle. Here's what customers write about it.
“The bottle of Clean House from Moths says “instant action” and this is true. After treating the apartment, the moths arrived dead, although we had to leave the apartment because the product was very toxic and had a characteristic smell. They came, aired it out and things got better. The main thing is that the moth was removed once and for all.”
“It’s a good product, but the smell is nuclear. Although it smells like some kind of flowers, it’s impossible to breathe. The moth kills well, it dies immediately. I treat my closets with it twice a year - in spring and late autumn, before putting away my clothes.”
Aerosol "Bros" against moths - reviews
Bros spray lasts up to 4 months. The active ingredients prallethrin and phenothrin are effective in combating food, clothes and furniture moths. It has a light scent and does not leave marks on things. The price is around 200 rubles. Here's what they say about him.
“There was no proven Armol in the store, I had to take a new product - Bros. aerosol. There is an effect, but only for two weeks, then the moth came out again. I don’t recommend this Bros.”
“Sacks with a fragrant substance always helped against moths in the closet, but they apparently fizzled out and moths appeared. I bought Bros and sprayed it in the closets and throughout the apartment just in case. The effect is noticeable, no doubt."
Mosquitall anti-moth spray - reviews
Mosquitall is usually associated with the phrase “that’s why they don’t bite,” but the manufacturer of this brand is not limited to mosquito repellents. Mosquitall for moths costs about 200 rubles per 100 ml. The effectiveness has been proven, but the effect does not apply to moth larvae.
“Mosquitall anti-moth spray has a rather pungent odor, but dissipates quickly. Burns out a moth colony perfectly! Repeated treatment is needed after a month. Apparently it has no effect on moth larvae.”
“I purchased Moscutal against moths for a small sewing workshop. It is excellent for preventing the appearance of moths, but there are cheaper and more effective means. It seems that the price was raised only due to the popularity of the brand.”
Aerosol "Extramit" against moths - reviews
Extramite spray has a lavender scent that moths do not like. In fact, it is a complete analogue of Armol, the composition is identical. Kills moths within a few hours, lasts up to six months. The cost of a bottle is approximately 70 rubles for 150 ml, which is very cheap. Reviews of Extramit are given below.
“In the spring, I put winter jackets and fur coats in the closet. I opened the closet, and moths were flying out of there; I didn’t dare put the fur coat in this closet. I went to the store for an anti-moth product, there was only Extramite aerosol. I sprayed in the closet, next to him, behind him. Only after that, with a calm soul, I put my winter things away there.”
“Aerosol Extramite brought the moths out of the closet once and for all. It’s an inexpensive drug, but it saves you a lot on buying new things!”
It is impossible to clearly determine the leader among moth sprays; they are all effective in their own way. In terms of price-quality ratio, the leader can be identified as “ Armol ”.
Aerosols
Aerosols can destroy pests in a short period of time, but their use will require significant time and physical effort. When sprayed, an aerosol cloud of tiny particles is formed, which will certainly enter the respiratory tract and, if there is an allergy, the insecticide can cause a negative reaction from the body.
From clothes moths
These products are a great help against moths in the closet - they will destroy all pests in a short time, both at the adult and larval stages.
From food moths
In the kitchen, the aerosol should be used extremely carefully and avoid contact with food. First, all food supplies must be carefully sorted, food contaminated with moths and caterpillars must be thrown away, and “clean” foods must be removed from the kitchen. Only after this can you spray the product on larvae and adult butterflies.
Aerosols are sprayed onto the interior and exterior of kitchen cabinets, pantries, and cabinets. This is done in order to destroy undetected individuals. There is no guarantee that using this group of drugs you will completely get rid of food moths, but a significant part of the population will still die.
Modern means
An aerosol is a powerful insecticide that, when sprayed, enters the respiratory tract of the pest and leads to its death. There are also contact agents that can penetrate the chitinous cover.
Modern aerosol repellents for moths in the apartment include:
Due to the fact that the effect is achieved gradually, fumigators are less popular and in demand than aerosols. But after a few days you are guaranteed to get rid of the larvae and adult flying individuals.
The principle of its operation is very simple - a plate with a scented insecticide is inserted into a compartment on the device, after which the fumigator must be plugged into a power outlet. When the plate is heated, the active substance begins to evaporate and fills the room or closet with a poisonous cloud.
The most popular fumigators
The most popular and effective moth repellents include the following brands of fumigators:
The sections are intended only to repel moths, as they work on the basis of essential oils, which are absolutely harmless. It is impossible to destroy butterflies or larvae with their help.
The best option for using sections is prevention. But in some cases, both adults and caterpillars are able to acquire immunity to such drugs.
Common types of sections
The most popular are the following moth sections:
- Raptor. Sold in almost every hardware store. Flavored with various scents. The validity period is no more than 4 months.
- Mosquitall. There are several forms of release: bags with dry mixture, wall blocks and plates that are placed on hangers.
- Raid moth pendants will carefully protect your wool and fur clothes.
Moth fumigators - are they effective?
Fumigators are fairly common devices whose operating principle is based on the release of active substances when a special block of liquid or plate is heated. Despite the erroneous popular belief, the effect of the insecticide extends not only to mosquitoes, flies, but also to moths. Fumigators are safe for pets and people. A negative property of this unit is that it destroys only moths, leaving masonry and caterpillars unharmed. In addition, the active substance spreads quite slowly, within about two to three days.
Fumigator DIK-3 and DIK-6 – reviews
DiK-3 has been known for a long time; many analogues have been created on its basis, even by such well-known manufacturers as Raptor. It draws only 4.5 W of electricity. There are two modifications of the model - those that work with plates and those that work with liquids. Initially, DiK-3 was intended to kill mosquitoes, but it also turned out to be effective against moths. The effect does not appear immediately; the device needs to work for at least 12 hours to achieve a visible result. Now there is a new model on sale - DiK-6 , its cost is about 50 rubles without plates. You can choose any plates.
Fumigator DiK-3
Fumigator DiK-6
“The fumigator Dik-3 saves us from mosquitoes in the summer at the dacha. We noticed that the moth had disappeared, a very cool effect,”
“Sprays work well against moths, but in the country house there was only a DIK-6 fumigator. There were a lot of moths in the pantry. We turned it on at night, there is little electricity, there is almost no smell. The next morning the moth was all lying on the floor with no signs of life.”
Fumigator Raid - reviews
Raid fumigator is sold together with mosquito repellent plates. But these plates also do an excellent job against moths. There are models with intensity regulator and timer. You will have to pay extra for such “bells and whistles”. The cost of the Reid fumigator is from 150 to 350 rubles, which is several times more expensive than DIK-6, but the difference is minimal.
Reviews about Reid fumigators:
“My son broke an old Dick-3, and as luck would have it, a moth appeared in the house. I bought a fumigator with Raid liquid. Of course, it’s not cheap, you still have to buy a bottle of liquid when one runs out, but it costs more than the plates and doesn’t last long. The effect is the same as from the simplest records. Helps."
“I wanted to buy the simplest fumigator, but the store only had Mosquito Raid. The seller said that it would also help against moths. The price is tolerable if you take a simple model without intensity control and timer. It definitely helps."
Fumigator Raptor - reviews
Raptor fumigator is very similar to the good old DIK-3, but costs a little more. It doesn’t stand out as anything distinctively new; its efficiency is at the same level as the others. The cost of the Raptor fumigator is about 300 rubles, the cost of the plates is about 70 rubles. What do customers say in reviews about the effectiveness of Raptor?
“The cost for a piece of plastic with a heating element is overpriced, but oh well... The main thing is that it helps. Kills mosquitoes, flies and moths outright.”
“I never knew that mosquito repellents have the same effect on moths. Every day I turn it on for several hours, there is almost no smell, but the insects noticeably get drunk and then die.”
Fumigators will help cope with moths, but will not destroy the larvae, so they need to be turned on regularly. In terms of efficiency, they are almost all the same, the main difference is the price. If you want to buy an inexpensive fumigator, then you should take Dick-6 .
Moth sections and their effectiveness
Moth sections are the most common insecticides for home use to combat these insects. They are popular among housewives. This is due to the pleasant smell in the cabinets and harmlessness to other living organisms. The significant drawback is the same as that of fumigators - the sections are absolutely safe for larvae. Available in dry form and in gel form, packaged in a plastic container with a hook like a hanger. The cost of one section is from 80 to 150 rubles. Mainly sold sections are from Raptor and Mosquitall. What reviews are there on the moth section?
“In the spring, I always hang winter clothes in a closet with Raptor moth sections. There has never been a moth and there never will be. Plus it acts as an air freshener in the closet, I’m very pleased with this product, no comments.”
“I hung a Mosquitall moth section next to my expensive suit. The second year - the suit is intact, as are the neighboring clothes. I change them every year, although I should do it earlier.”
Review of chemicals
How to fight moths in an apartment using chemicals? Many owners believe that flying pests can only be removed using chemical means. Indeed, the effect of using potent compounds will be noticeable. But how will residents cope with the treatment?
How to reduce the risk of toxic damage to the respiratory system and prevent allergic reactions? The answer is simple: first try safe traditional methods of fighting moths. If the result is not achieved, only then use chemicals.
Sections
Place the plates in a closet or chest of drawers, where flying pests most often get into. Many types of plates are allowed to be used not only in wardrobes, but also in the kitchen. Anti-moth sections operate for six months. The components of the sections emit an odor that is unpleasant for harmful insects. Gradually, flying pests will disappear from the room.
Many owners use Moskitol, Reid, Armol and Raptor plates. Manufacturers produce moth repellents with and without a pleasant smell, with convenient fastenings for the cabinet.
Traps
Manufacturers offer a safe way to eliminate flying pests. Inside the container there is a substance that attracts males. Under the influence of the components, the reproduction of pests gradually stops, the population decreases, and over time the moth disappears.
The device is safe for people, there are no toxic fumes and no harmful effects on the hearing organs. Popular moth traps are Mosquitall and Raptor.
Aerosols
The chemicals have a detrimental effect on adults and larvae, but often cause allergic reactions and have an unpleasant odor. Not always suitable for use (there are children or weakened people at home).
Important points:
to achieve a noticeable effect, it is enough to spray the repellent in places where pests and larvae accumulate; chemicals must be sprayed wearing protective clothing; before processing the premises, all family members must leave the house; you can return a few hours after treatment (this period of time is indicated on the instructions for each repellent); Before household members return, it is important to thoroughly wipe surfaces with a soap-soda solution to remove chemical residues and prevent poisoning by toxic substances.
Effective aerosols:
- Raptor.
- Dichlorvos (Neo, Eco).
- Raid.
- Clean house.
- Difox.
- Extra Meet.
Spray
Product in a plastic container with a spray bottle. Many drugs have a high degree of toxicity. Chemicals in the form of a solution destroy insects and are suitable for the prevention and control of flying pests.
The product should be sprayed onto knitted and fur items and treated cabinets. Often the moth dies after the first treatment.
Popular formulations:
- ARGUS.
- Tornado.
- Mosquitall.
Mechanical protection – covers for clothes against moths
Covers for clothes allow you to protect them during off-season storage in closets. This method can mechanically protect clothes from moths, but does not allow the fabric to breathe (if the cover is made of non-breathable materials); subsequently, the clothes may smell bad, emitting a musty odor. For long-term storage, it is worth using covers with air-permeable material. Clothes should first be washed, steamed and dried thoroughly. Just in case, it is advisable to place a moth section in the case, this way you will 100% protect your clothes. A little further we will talk about how to properly prepare a closet for moving winter clothes into it.
Preventing the appearance of moths in an apartment - what do you need to know?
To rid an apartment of moths, it is necessary not only to choose a product that is convenient for use, but also to properly treat the places where insects spread.
Preventing food moths from appearing in the kitchen
- All food supplies are carefully sorted. Cereals and pasta that show the slightest sign of insects or damage to the packaging are subject to destruction.
- Food storage areas are treated with means to destroy moths and their larvae. To prevent further breeding of insects, folk remedies are laid out: lavender, orange peels, geranium leaves.
- The surviving butterflies are destroyed manually.
