Moth Larvae in the carpets !

[pinkmonkey]

Hmm... I inherited quite a few vintage wool items from my nan when she passed away (blankets, rug, pillows etc.), and they're nice and comfy and clean on the surface so I haven't really thought about it, but people talking about how wool items attract moths got me worried- should I be worried?

BTW what are 'tiny months', and how do I know whether I have them in my carpet or not? If I spot tiny holes, should I automatically suspect a problem? I've had a look and I can't see anything which looks like eggs anywhere (assuming they're at a size reognisable to the human eye), but one of the pillows have two small holes at the back, which looks a bit odd... Oh no. Can't see any lifeform activity anywhere though. (?)

You can kill any eggs by putting your wool garments in the freezer overnight

 

[maya]

- Yay! Freeze, freeeze it is! Thanks

BTW, if anyone's so fed up with moths you start off comic book swearing tics every time you think of the damn things, I recommend as therapy the excellent japanese MOTHRA horror films, that fictional giant monster moth with its magical mini twin fairies must be one of the greatest monsters ever:

 

[fishfinger]

- Yay! Freeze, freeeze it is! Thanks

BTW, if anyone's so fed up with moths you start off comic book swearing tics every time you think of the damn things, I recommend as therapy the excellent japanese MOTHRA horror films, that fictional giant monster moth with its magical mini twin fairies must be one of the greatest monsters ever:

I love that song: Moh-soo-ra, Moh-soo-ra

 

[maya]

Moh-su- raaa (ya!), Moh-su-raa (ya!) ... yeah it's a certainly a catchy earworm. Would make a good ringtone, but you'd probably turn insane 'cos it's a bit samey..

I love the clips where the tiny fairy twins ride on mothra's back high up in the sky like some furry moth version of the Bugaloos... or that dragon from Neverending Story- swoosh

(Anyway, I think Mothra is female? Japanese folklore have loads of interesting female deities and mythic beings...)

Apologies for thread derail

 

[Flipstick]

We had Tinea pellionella with carpet munching larvae in cases rather than the common cloth moth. Only difference is in the pheromones used in the traps as far as I can make out.

 

[Maharani]

Bump...my bedroom carpet is infested and now threadbare in most places so I'm getting a new carpet. This might sound like an odd question but do carpet fitters remove old and lay new one while furniture is in the room?

Also moth larvae is definitely in the carpets so should I remove carpets and leave the floors bare for a while to make sure they're definitely gone?

Advice appreciated!

 

[Sweet FA]

 

[friendofdorothy]

Bump...my bedroom carpet is infested and now threadbare in most places so I'm getting a new carpet. This might sound like an odd question but do carpet fitters remove old and lay new one while furniture is in the room?

Also moth larvae is definitely in the carpets so should I remove carpets and leave the floors bare for a while to make sure they're definitely gone?

Advice appreciated!

I've grown to like the pre-eaten threadbare shabby chic look, you can't just buy that look. It takes years to develop like a fine patina.

Don't think they can reproduce with out some cosy food source on which to lay their eggs but they will quite happily munch through any wool in your house and they don't care if thats your carpet, your clothes, your bedding or your best hat. I have found lavae on cotton / silk but they look less happy, as indeed did I.

Anyway steaming any affected area kills them. I steam ironed my carpets once, all these small worms coming out of the carpet to die - it is revolting. They don't like being disturbed - so hoovering and moving stuff a lot helps. I keep nearly all my clothes/bedding/fabric stuff in sealed plastic bags, but can never really rid the place of them.

 

[Maharani]

Thanks friendofdorothy. I have a friend coming to help me rip up the carpet tomorrow and I will fumigate it. There's no other way around it. I've now ordered a new carpet which ISN'T wool. Apparently they hate polypropylene and that's what my newie is, although feels as lovely as wool.

 

[Epona]

We have an infestation - very ancient wool carpet in the sitting room (it was a nice luxury Axminster when it was first put down in 1975, now it is a mess).

The carpet needs to go (has needed to go for a long time tbh) and I intend to do that this year, do I need to do anything besides give the floor underneath a scrub down before getting new carpet laid?

 

[Maharani]

Im going to fumigate and hoover, a lot. Aldo just going to go be it a couple of weeks before the new carpet is laid.

Apparently there's an infestation generally in the UK but that's just hearsay, I haven't read this myself. Mine has been an ongoing but gradual issue for a while but I've had enough of sharing my room with these pesky beasts now. I'm just grateful they're not cockroaches. Even writing that word gives me the jeebies.

 

[Epona]

Im going to fumigate and hoover, a lot. Aldo just going to go be it a couple of weeks before the new carpet is laid.

Apparently there's an infestation generally in the UK but that's just hearsay, I haven't read this myself. Mine has been an ongoing but gradual issue for a while but I've had enough of sharing my room with these pesky beasts now. I'm just grateful they're not cockroaches. Even writing that word gives me the jeebies.

Same here, moths I can cope with, cockroaches I'd have to move out.

I can't really get my place treated with chemicals, we have nowhere to go and 3 indoor-only cats who would need to be put in boarding kennels or something, if I can deal with it by less harsh methods (even if it took a bit longer to clear it up) it would be preferable. Not mothballs though, they are very toxic to cats.

 

[Maharani]

Try cedar balls from Amazon and get some cedar essential oil to put on them when they get less cedary. I'm pretty sure they're pet safe. I can't bear the smell of moth balls.

My issue is in my bedroom so I guess I'll just keep my cats and daughter out while I fumigate.

 

[blossie33]

I've got them again this year not helped by the fact I don't use my vacuum cleaner enough mainly because my boxroom is full of stuff on the floor that really needs sorting out.

I did clear it last year, vacuumed and put special powder down which I found on the internet, oddly enough, they hadn't seemed to have eaten anything

I must really have a clean again soon.

 

[Maharani]

I've got them again this year not helped by the fact I don't use my vacuum cleaner enough mainly because my boxroom is full of stuff on the floor that really needs sorting out.

I did clear it last year, vacuumed and put special powder down which I found on the internet, oddly enough, they hadn't seemed to have eaten anything

I must really have a clean again soon.

I vacuum religiously, I'm ocd. Once they're in they're in it seems and I stupidly hadn't noticed as they were under the bed where I had stored stuff . It was only when I moved it all out to clean I got the shock of my life.

 

[blossie33]

It seems to be something of a 'London thing' (along with the limescale ) as I don't remember ever having a carpet moth problem anywhere I've lived before I moved from the Midlands down here.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Same here, moths I can cope with, cockroaches I'd have to move out.

I can't really get my place treated with chemicals, we have nowhere to go and 3 indoor-only cats who would need to be put in boarding kennels or something, if I can deal with it by less harsh methods (even if it took a bit longer to clear it up) it would be preferable. Not mothballs though, they are very toxic to cats.

I worry about toxic chemicals too - toxic for me that is, never mind cats.

Steam cleaning is the way.

 

[Maharani]

Managed to strip carpet out today and have totally Spring cleaned. I'm knackered but it was worth it to get my room back to myself! Doubt I'll need rentokil now either.

I'm so happy I spent time years back when I moved in sanding and painting the floor. Reckon I'll keep the wood and get some rugs.



There! The floor!

 

[blossie33]

Looks great!
I'd certainly keep it like that.

 

[Fingers]

I would keep it like that. Looks ace.

I opened a wardrobe that I had not opened for months. I was going to take the old suits, shirts etc in there to get washed and give them to the charity shop but there were holes in everything.

Moths? though I have had a recent mouse problem which could also be the cause I guess. Anyway, everything got chucked out.

 

[spanglechick]

I would keep it like that. Looks ace.

I opened a wardrobe that I had not opened for months. I was going to take the old suits, shirts etc in there to get washed and give them to the charity shop but there were holes in everything.

Moths? though I have had a recent mouse problem which could also be the cause I guess. Anyway, everything got chucked out.

Were the clothes hanging up, or was it more of a "floordrobe"?

Sounds like moths, to me.

 

[friendofdorothy]

I would keep it like that. Looks ace.

I opened a wardrobe that I had not opened for months. I was going to take the old suits, shirts etc in there to get washed and give them to the charity shop but there were holes in everything.

Moths? though I have had a recent mouse problem which could also be the cause I guess. Anyway, everything got chucked out.

Must be moths, mice don't eat clothes though they use fibres for nesting, they are unlikely to make holes in everything. Shame you had to chuck everything.

 

[friendofdorothy]

"floordrobe"

love that

 

[Fingers]

Were the clothes hanging up, or was it more of a "floordrobe"?

Sounds like moths, to me.

Lol, there was a bit of both. Both groups of clothing copped it. Dead odd though that the other wardrobe is fine. Going to steam clean the hell out of it and the surrounding area

 

[spanglechick]

Moths, then. Mice will eat anything, but they won't mountaineer up your suits to take tiny nibbles here and there.

Moths won't eat synthetic fibres, maybe that's how the clothes elsewhere escaped.

 

[Maharani]

The lady moths are the ones that lay eggs (obvs) but don't fly so they tend to stay put in one place hence the other wardrobe being untouched.

 

[Epona]

Managed to strip carpet out today and have totally Spring cleaned. I'm knackered but it was worth it to get my room back to myself! Doubt I'll need rentokil now either.

I'm so happy I spent time years back when I moved in sanding and painting the floor. Reckon I'll keep the wood and get some rugs.

View attachment 85740

There! The floor!

Your floorboards are gorgeous, it would be a shame to put carpet back down on top of those. Rug next to the bed for some warm comfort on your feet when you first get up should do nicely

Good job on all the work you have done

 

[Maharani]

Still having a moth issue in the house because of course they've now migrated to my daughter's room. It's not too bad but of course could get a lot worse. I've had two quotes, one from Rentokil for £500.00!!! Bloody ridiculous. The third quote I got today was more reasonable at £85 per session and I need 3. I've just been rereading this thread and I'm wondering to DIY it with the 'Pro active' spray. What were the results of people that used it- Flipstick pinkmonkey?

I'm vacuuming like mad and shifting stuff from dark recesses. It's a ball ache to say the least!

 

[pinkmonkey]

Still having a moth issue in the house because of course they've now migrated to my daughter's room. It's not too bad but of course could get a lot worse. I've had two quotes, one from Rentokil for £500.00!!! Bloody ridiculous. The third quote I got today was more reasonable at £85 per session and I need 3. I've just been rereading this thread and I'm wondering to DIY it with the 'Pro active' spray. What were the results of people that used it- Flipstick pinkmonkey?

I'm vacuuming like mad and shifting stuff from dark recesses. It's a ball ache to say the least!

You need to fumigate, then use the spray. Rentokil use the same chemicals. It cost me about £60 to fumigate and treat a four bedroom house and it worked. It was chronic infestation but I only did it once and it worked. The house was sold three years after I fumigated it and did the deep clean after packing up ( because the cleaners didnt turn up). I did not see a single other moth.

 

[Maharani]

You need to fumigate, then use the spray. Rentokil use the same chemicals. It cost me about £60 to fumigate and treat a four bedroom house and it worked. It was chronic infestation but I only did it once and it worked. The house was sold three years after I fumigated it and did the deep clean after packing up ( because the cleaners didnt turn up). I did not see a single other moth.

Great, cheers. I was looking at getting this:

Carpet Moth Killer Kit 1 Room - £23.95 | Pest Control Supermarket