moth vandalism help needed

BarbaraVilliers

BarbaraVilliers

Registered Guest
On Saturday I decided to wear a lovely 30's dress black velvet cut on the bias and IT HAD MOTH DAMAGE to the hem! I am livid. I do my best to protect vulnerable garments but does anyone know of surefire tips to destroy those nasty little vandals!
Louise:flaming:
 
Ah yes, its a little known fact that moths love silk as well as wool. Put your dress in a zip lock bag and into the freezer for several days. Take it out and bring it back to room temperature and then repeat the process. It's the changing of the temperature that kills the larvae. Do this with any vulnerable woolens or silks in the same closet.

Unfortunately, when you have the dress cleaned you may find more holes, as the critters leave behind a "glue" that holds the fabric together after they are done chomping. During the cleaning process, the "glue" disappears and you have more holes.

I am so sorry this has happened to you, and wish I could be the bearer of better news.

As far as keeping the moths away, when buying used woolens or silks, always use the freezing process before storing the garment. Hang sachets in your closet, especially cedar or lavender. Don't use naptha moth balls. The smell is vile and you can never get rid of it.

Jody
 
Some people do like the smell of moth balls. Not most though, that is for sure!

I agree with Jody, make sure a new item cannot contaminate any already in the closet. In fact, after this outbreak, i may take everything that was stored with it and go through the process just to be safe and don't put any garment back until you are sure because until you do just a few eggs could start the process again

Chris
 
Thanks for all your responses. I had the dress hanging in a zip lock bag due to a previous outbreak. Several items are residing in the deep freeze sadly. I think that maybe the dress had been previously affected and I hadn't noticed it. Needless to say it will join the other garments in the freezer. I loathe mothball smell. I have been looking for cedarwood balls but they don't seem to be available in London. We used to get these great odourless mothballs but they were withdrawn on safety grounds. Ah well at least the damage is at the hem and at least I am good with a needle and thread, it could have been worse.
Louise
 
Actually...look for cedar chips. They even have thin cedar sheets you can line drawers and closets with and cedar with a hole or litle attachment where you can hang it on a hanger with a garment like a sachet.

I am sure they have them on the internet if anything. the cedar veneer or cedar sheets will probably be avalable in a wood shop/refinishing store too.
 
poor you louise! had to let you know i am sympathising heavily...cleaned out the understairs cloakroom thing yesterday (a rare occurence) and lo and behold; moth attack on my 1960's camel winter coat. no where near as distressing as i know they're ten a penny, and luckily it's mainly wax jackets, anoraks and wellington boots etc. in there... and 2 floors away from the vintage!

but still thought you should know you are not alone, and my chest freezer is currently stuffed with anything else that may be 'infected'. i shall have to look for cedar chips too!!
 
My hubby thinks I'm weird...a common house spider comes along and I'll just fling him back outside or squish calmly with a tissue. A moth hits the light or tv and I go crazy Terminator on it! I'll follow them through the house until I kill it.

I have my cat trained to torture moths.
Evil little buggers....

Jenn
 
LOL------
I taught my cat to catch anything that flies........including the kids when they jump off the couch and the beds......hehehehehehe:P
 
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