After finding pests in the house, most homeowners look for different ways to get rid of them and reduce the damage. Moths, in particular, create a mess by eating dried food in the kitchen and feeding on wool fabrics. Luckily, various tried-and-tested remedies can get moths out of a room or the house and prevent them from returning. The remedies may work on different types of moths, such as pantry, closet, and lawn moths.

Frequent vacuuming
Dust and dirt can attract moths indoors, so keeping each area of the home clean and dust-free is important to discourage them from entering. While vacuuming, one should focus on cracks and crevices in various spaces. Moths typically lay eggs in these hard-to-access areas that are less likely to be disturbed. Homeowners should also empty the vacuum cleaner and take out the trash immediately after cleaning to remove any eggs and larvae from the home as soon as possible.

Moth traps
Various devices are designed to eliminate adult moths and, in doing so, prevent them from reproducing. The moth trap, for instance, is a sticky piece of flypaper covered with moth pheromones to attract the adults. The ones that land on the paper cannot get off and eventually perish. One could hang these traps where the insets usually thrive, such as inside closets or kitchen storage areas.

Mothballs
While mothballs can prevent infestations, they must be used wisely because of their chemical composition. One must keep these balls in tight-fitting containers and store them outside the living area, perhaps in the garage. Doing so is important to prevent children, pets, and other individuals from accidentally coming into contact with them. If one has placed mothballs in the closet to drive moths away, it is better to avoid using the space. One should also air out clothes thoroughly outside before wearing them to get rid of the mothball odor.

Cedarwood
The fragrant nature of cedarwood makes it a popular pick to repel moths. One could buy hangers made from this wood to prevent these pests from nesting and feeding on clothes in the closet. But one may have to lightly sand the hangers or recoat them with cedarwood oil every few months to revive their moth-repellent properties. One could also apply cedar oil directly to regular furniture and certain other products to keep the moths away. Mixing the oil in a diffuser or diluting it in water and using it as a room spray is another great moth treatment for the house.

Herbs
A range of fragrant herbs are known to help repel moths in a home. A few popular options include thyme, rosemary, cloves, lavender, and bay leaves. One must place the herbs in a small cloth bag and hang them in a closet. Alternatively, homeowners can dilute the essential oils of herbs in some water and lightly spray the inside of the closet with it. One should avoid getting the oils on clothes as it could leave stains.

White vinegar
Since moths sometimes avoid white vinegar, it is a useful natural moth infestation treatment. The vinegar can change the pH levels of surfaces, making it hard for the eggs and larvae to survive on them. One could get rid of moths on the ceiling by spraying this vinegar in infested corners. That said, one should use the solution carefully, as it could damage various surfaces, like stone countertops, metals, and hardwood floors.

Extreme temperatures
Moth eggs and larvae cannot survive in extreme temperatures. So, freezing clothes with signs of moth damage is a good way to prevent infestations. One could seal clothes inside a ziplock bag and freeze them for 24 hours for adequate results. On the flip side, one could check if the clothes are safe to wash and dry at high temperatures and use the highest settings on the washer-dryer to deter moths. Materials that cannot be machine-washed may get the same protective effect through dry cleaning.

Wardrobe hygiene
An excellent way to avoid moths is to prevent attracting them in the first place. One should carefully seal clothes not worn regularly in airtight bags, like vacuum-seal storage bags. Homeowners could also keep the closet cool, dry, and well-ventilated to prevent moths from laying their eggs inside.

Lawn maintenance
Apart from pest control, one should regularly maintain the lawn to protect it from infestations. Feeding the lawn with nutrients through regular watering could help the grass grow strong and protect itself from insect damage. While rain could do this naturally, one could use a sprinkler to water lawns deeply and infrequently (at least an inch of water per week) to get rid of lawn moths.

If the above methods do not stop moths from infesting a home, one could resort to pest control. Hiring a professional to do the job is the best way to prevent safety hazards and keep furniture, clothes, foods, and other home appliances safe throughout the chemical process. Pest control could also work for lawns infested by sod webworms, which are the larvae of lawn moths. These live in the root level of the lawn and munch up grass leaves.