How can you protect your clothes from moths?


 Evidence Of Moths

We seem to get plagues of moths in both Singapore and London. Sprays and other fumes can be bad for fish and pets and make you want to open your windows. I don't know what spiders catch, supposedly flies, but despite trails of abandoned webs showing spiders have been snaking about at night, the spiders are not doing a good job on moths where I have been in Singapore and London. 

In both Singapore and London in the UK I have had moth-eaten clothes and edges to carpets and moths flying about. 

I see moths flying towards light bulbs. I find dead moths inside lampshades. 

That is merely annoying. But holes in clothes! Something must be done!

I try to shut the doors and windows before turning on the lights at night. But if prevention does not work, how about buying a cure?

Home Remedies For Moths

Home remedies include vacuum cleaning carpets. 

And putting clothes in the freezer.

What is available? I wanted to reduce sprays which I was already using to little effect. 


Moth Prevention In Singapore.  Photo by Angela Lansbury.



Cedar Wood Moth Prevention

The packets of six reddish brown cedar wood pieces will not go far. I ordered a set of three, which slightly reduced the price. I found them on Amazon and Ebay. If the wooden pieces lose their aroma in about three months, you can add liquids to refresh them. This might be more convenient and cheaper. Or it could be more inconvenient and expensive. Shop around.

Also consider window screens. We have tried to catch moths in our hands. They are very elusive.

White Camphor Moth Prevention

From Amazon I bought the white camphor.

Other preventive measures include lavender which is supposed to be anti mosquito. Lemon is also reputedly anti insects and mosquito. In Italy was used to buy a skin cream containing lemon.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pest-repelling_plants

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/conservation/clothes-moth-research/understanding-clothes-moths/

Updated November 2025 . See my later post on moth traps.

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