Are you also worried about your clothes being eaten by cloth-eating bugs? We all are aware of moths that eat wool sweaters, but there are other insects like cockroaches and carpet beetles that can tear fabrics like cotton, linen, rayon, and even certain synthetics too. You need to identify and control those insects that eat clothes. Don't worry; we are here to help you keep your wardrobe safe and protected from cloth-eating bugs.
Insects that eat clothes and ways to control them:
Moths:
Moths are one of the most common insects found in your wardrobe. There are millions of species of moths, but only two kinds can damage your favourite woolen sweaters. Commonly known as the webbing clothes moth, these small pale gold coloured insects can find their places inside your wardrobe.
Moths don't actually eat your clothes, they produce larvae that can make holes in your clothes. These larvae feed upon your textile from 5 weeks up to 2 years. Life of a larva depends on the surrounding temperature, humidity, and food availability. After two and half weeks, the larva shell cracks, and a full-grown moth is born. A moth can breed several times producing many generations within a year.
Naphthalene is the best to control moths. You can scatter small pieces of naphthalene balls throughout your clothes. But using naphthalene also has a downfall, it can cause discoloration of your dresses. So it's better to wrap them in plastic or small paper bags. Naphthalene, however, is not a natural ingredient, so if you want a less toxic way to repel them, you can use moth crystals with Paradichlorobenzene (PDB). You have to seal it inside a container or closed rooms at high concentration for 2 to 3 weeks. Moth crystals can have a reaction when they come in contact with hard plastics and can melt storage boxes. However, there are many natural moth repellents available in the market as well.
Carpet Beetles:
You can find three species of carpet beetles that can damage your clothes. They have a similar look except for their coloration patterns. A single female carpet beetle can produce hundreds of eggs. These eggs hatch within 8 to 15 days. The larvae then feed upon your textiles. As the name suggests, carpet beetles feed upon carpets as well as some other fabrics such as feathers, fur, mohair, and wool.
You clean your carpet now and then to repel these cloth-eating bugs or use vacuum cleaners. You need to wash your clothes often. You can use some insecticides to kill all the larvae. Bifenthrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin are some of the best active ingredients that can repel carpet beetles easily. However, before using these products check the labels carefully to ensure whether these products can be used on clothes or not.
Cockroaches:
Cockroaches are the worst kind of insects that can be found everywhere in your house and not only can cause diseases but can also cause stains and holes in your favourite dresses. They feed upon body fluid and foods or drinks. Their faces can also cause stains on fabrics. This is why you need to wash your clothes several times to remove those stains. There are many cockroach repellents available in the market. You can buy one and spray them throughout your house, mostly in dark corners. You can also use naphthalenes. There are some active ingredients like chlorpyrifos, hydroprene gencor, pyrethrins, propoxur, or silica gel that can get rid of pesky cockroaches. However, you need to use these ingredients carefully, or you can call for professional insect killers.
Silverfish and firebrats:
Silverfish and firebrats can often be found in dark areas with 70 degrees F temperatures. They feed upon natural fibres like cotton, rayon, and mostly silk. To repel them, you must wash your clothes properly many times and also clean your wardrobe to remove any moisture and food that they eat. You can use spray insecticide that contains synergized pyrethrin and pyrethroids. You can also use silica gel after a thorough cleaning.
It's hard to find and identify insects that eat clothes. Cleaning your clothes and the inside of your wardrobe will keep your favourite dresses unharmed. Hope this article can guide you to identify and control pesky bugs from eating away your clothes.