Do clothes moths have predators?

I suppose spiders will eat them, but unfortunately we found a big spider dead in one of the sticky moth traps dh distributes all over the house. They seem to catch a lot, but we still get them.

I've had the buggers chew holes in some really nice wool and alpaca knits. Now I keep any such thing in plastic bags, with a squirt of moth killer added.

There are some fairly noticeable holes in sitting room and dining room carpets. Until very recently I was telling myself that we'd replace them (they're quite old anyway) once our still-small Gdcs, who stay now and then, were mostly past the very messy stage.
However that will now be postponed quite a bit longer since a no.3 is due in January!
Heigh ho. Who cares about a few moth holes anyway....

Mothballs can't help with a severe infestation, especially if there are clothes and wool carpets everywhere. Suit bags can help, but that's a partial solution. I'm considering to get a zapper too because they really keep my place from bugs every night. I'm gonna test it on moths now.

BradfordLass72 LMAO I would think spiders and beetles might be nearer the required size of predator. Unless of course you have a big house and attic.

Yes I have the foggers in the same range. I recently spent about £40 on anti-moth supplies from Sainsbury's and I noted to the checkout girl I could have bought quite a lot of gin for the same price.
There must be money to be made out of pest control.
I'm tackling another room today.

We had bad clothes moth infestation. I bought moth killer smoke bombs. Put them in each room on baking trays and lit them before going on holiday. It definitely worked and significantly reduced the number of moths. I repeat this every year now. I do it before we're away, as I don’t want to be inhaling the chemicals and as the house is sealed the chemicals are present for longer. Here's a picture of the ones I got off Amazon.

well done with the wedding dress LakelandLass.
I'm storing DD's and I am very nervous about it. I wish she would rehome it before they find it.

Is there a difference between clothes moths and carpet moths? The ones I catch on the traps are very small & brown.
They fly about near the wardrobes. I sometimes see tiny moths crawling across the carpet. I could become paranoid.

We had carpet moths in our previous home, so I started on the moth-killing treadmill. I took my raw silk wedding dress to Oxfam - moths don’t eat the photos! And put some cedar hangers in the wardrobes! Not seen any for over three years now, in our new house - fingers crossed ?

That's helpful NotSpaghetti
DH is having treatment so I think we'll stick to the cleaning and clearing route.
It's cathartic decluttering anyway and much as I hate the destructive nature of the moths there are worse things in the world.

I have looked this up and Acana is not just lavender.
This is from the manufacturer in response to a question on Amazon:

“This product contains harsh chemicals - this is necessary as the product is designed as a Moth Killer. However, these chemicals have been thoroughly tested and are not harmful to adults, children or pets with the exception of aquatic animals.
PLEASE NOTE: We would like to advise that we would not recommend this product to anyone undergoing any strenuous therapy such as chemotherapy - cases such as this should avoid contact with harsh chemicals of any kind.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you would like any further information.
Thank you and kind regards,
Jessica, Caraselle LTD.”

My friend had a massive infestation and they ate through the whole house. She tried everything, nothing worked. So she got in Rentokil who sorted it and now has a contract for them to come 4 times a year and check. It's worked.

Algorithms!
It is quite scary that the computer knows more about you than you know yourself!
I have lifted a carpet and removed about 40 vinyl floor tiles. I'm determined to clean this room thoroughly. Now I'll get the floor sanded and varnished.
No more carpets!!

Just had an ad from Lakeland for a spray for doing away with Moths !

There are several types of moths and the ones you routinely see flying around light bulbs are not the ones which eat materials.

Moths don't like cedar wood.

We had a terrible problem with moths in our previous house. They more or less ate our entire dining room carpet. Clothes however, weren’t touched. It was a new house and we and some neighbours were persuaded to buy cheaper wool carpets from the builders. The carpets were very good quality; however they had not been treated and everyone who bought from the builders had the same problem. When we moved we were very careful to ensure all the furniture was really clean and have not had any further problems after living in our current house for 5 years

I had them in a sofa bed which didn't get pulled out very often. They also chewed my wool carpet underneath. Got rid of said sofa bed and had new synthetic carpet and haven't been bothered since. Fingers crossed they're gone.

For the carpet moths: we spent ages searching out the pupae. They look like grains of rice. There were a lot in the top folds of the curtains so they had to be dry cleaned. Then under the chairs especially where there were tassels and on the castors too. Best hunting device was a skewer between the carpet and the skirting board. You can flick them out and hoover them up. I think we are winning but you have to be ever vigilant!

Grammaretto it's taken me six weeks (joined at the weekends by my wonderful husband and with a bit of help from friends/colleagues) to complete the project. It had to be fitted in around my other work, but the final pair of curtains was hung on Friday evening and now the job is complete. The new items were all paid for from a back payment of PIP that was awarded at Tribunal to a client with a learning disability.

Now my own house is in need of a thorough clean having been completely neglected for six weeks and I am paranoid that I may have brought some moths back home with me!

grannyactivist when you're done there can you come here please. That's a wonderful service you are doing for him. I would need an army of cleaners in this old building. We live on 4 floors.

I did notice, to my amusement that the National Trust property nearest to us is closed at the moment for essential conservation work. They were featured recently on local TV explaining how they had many old tapestries and carpets damaged by moths and were giving away the traps free to visitors!!
www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/newhailes?awc=15472_1563713735_de74504d4ee0097d7755cc1962b56504

you have reminded me, grandtante, I had to throw out all the soft toys, and all the gorgeous dresses I had saved for a future generation.
My DGC have so much anyway that it's no great loss,
I am trying to be philosophical and accepting that the de cluttering, which badly needed doing is being speeded up by the moth invasion.

.

We had an infestation of moths just after moving because some of our things had been in storage.

It took a long time to get rid of them, but by following my grandmother's regime I managed.

Everything that could be washed was on the hottest temperature possible.

Clothes and carpets that couldn't be washed were dry-cleaned. Suits, good dresses etc. I keep permanently in dress bags with moth repellent.

I have no idea what you can buy in the UK now of moth repellents, but there must be something.

Shoes were hovered and like you all cupboards, floors and drawers hoovered and washed.

Anything that could neither be washed nor dry cleaned went into the freezer or was hung out on the washing line on a windy day.

I use the moth traps you mention, simply renew them every three months to be on the safe side, as I don't want my beloved childhood teddies being attacked.

It is said that moths detest the smell of peppermint, so I have tried a mixture of dried peppermint leaves and lavender, but I am not sure it does any good. The smell of turpentine is said to deter them as well.

I got powder from amazon - for my holiday home, you have to wear a mask and then leave the room for 48 hrs - I did the whole house, left drawers and wardrobes open and sprinkles it all over the floor. When I returned I hoovered it all up and the problem has gone - it did unfortunately kill all the house spiders too. I can’t remember what it was called but I’m going down to the house on Thursday so I’ll look at it and post the name. It really is best to do it when you are going away for a few days though - just sprinkle the powder all over just before you go out of the door and leave for min 48 hrs - totally works.

I used to keep wardrobe doors open in day, apparently they hate daylight. I washed/cleaned everything in built in wardrobes. Still saw odd one. Decorated room & decided to have new furniture as well, not seen them since ?

Although we have had and still see the occasional clothes moth, despite spraying, it is strange that we never see then in our second home. Maybe it’s because it has Cedar cladding.

More than 50 years ago I bought a couple of highly reduced cashmere sweaters n a Harrod's sale
The clothes moths went through everything else in my cupboard recently ( including much newer cashmere) but didn't touch the old ones.
I wonder if the old ones had been treated with a substance which is not allowed now. Whatever it was, I am still here after wearing them and the jumpers are unscathed