Bob Vila Radio: Preventing Moths
This is the time of year when we shed our winter wardrobes and slip into warm-weather fabrics. To be sure that your clothes and blankets come out of storage in one piece next fall, take a few moments now to moth-proof them.
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Listen to BOB VILA ON PREVENTING MOTHS or read the text below:
One important step before packing up woolens is getting them cleaned. Those telltale holes in moth-eaten sweaters are the work of the larvae, which can cling to clothing invisibly and wreak havoc while they’re stored. Wash or dry-clean your items first to be sure they are free of larvae before you store them away.
Store anything made of wool, fur, or cashmere in an airtight container—you don’t want adult moths getting in to lay eggs and create new larvae. Plastic tubs with airtight lids will do the trick, as will Ziploc bags.
The smell of cedar repels adult moths, but it takes a lot of the scent to be effective, and you’ll need to replace or sand cedar blocks or balls to maintain the intensity of the smell.
The one thing you probably don’t want to use is the old-fashioned mothball. Not only do mothballs smell bad, but they can be toxic when inhaled. You would not only have to keep them in an airtight container, but you’d have to clean all those clothes again in the fall to get rid of the fumes and the smell.
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.
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