Carpet moths
How Carpet Moths Arrive in a New Flat
The larvae feed on wool, silk, fur and feathers. A new-build flat has little of that until people move in, which is why moth problems in Colindale tend to follow a move rather than the age of the building.
Rugs from storage
A wool rug rolled up in a storage unit or a garage while you waited for completion is dark, still and undisturbed, exactly the conditions larvae like. Unrolled in a new living room, the eggs and larvae already inside it carry on, and the first thin patch often appears on the underside or under the sofa where the rug is rarely moved.
Boxes of clothes and blankets
Woollen clothes, blankets and cushions packed for a move sometimes stay in their boxes for months in a spare room or a hall storage cupboard. That is long enough for a generation of larvae to hatch and feed. Look at the folds and seams of anything woollen that has been packed away.
Built-in wardrobes and warm flats
Modern flats are well insulated and many stay warm through the winter, so moths are not held back by a cold season. A built-in wardrobe full of wool coats and suits, opened only now and then, can support them all year. Moths and clothes explains what they will eat.
Second-hand furniture
An upholstered armchair, a wool-covered footstool or a chest of drawers with old blankets inside can bring larvae with it. Look underneath upholstery and inside drawers before anything second-hand comes up to the flat.
Signs to Look For
- Small buff-coloured moths that run or flutter low rather than fly towards the light
- Bare or thin patches on the underside or edges of a rug
- Tiny cream larvae or silky tubes in the pile of a rug or in folds of stored wool
- Holes in jumpers or coats kept in the wardrobe or a storage box
- Gritty debris where the rug meets the skirting
The signs of carpet moths covers them in more detail, and carpet moths or clothes moths helps if the damage is mainly in the wardrobe. Bristly brown larvae rather than cream ones point to carpet beetles.
What to Do Now
- Unpack any boxes of wool, silk or fur and check each item in daylight
- Take rugs outside or onto the balcony, shake them and look at the back
- Vacuum under furniture and along skirting in the affected rooms
- Wash or dry clean what you can, and seal clean items in bags
- Do not put affected items back into storage without treating them
Booking Carpet Moth Control in Colindale
When you book carpet moth control, say which rooms have damage or moths, what was unpacked and when, and whether you have fitted carpet or only rugs. Halls are not counted as rooms, though a storage cupboard with stored wool in it is worth mentioning. Preparing for treatment lists what to do before the visit. How long it takes depends on the flat and on how established they are; get back in touch if you still see new damage or larvae afterwards.
Keeping Moths Out of a New Home
Check second-hand rugs and furniture before they come in, and treat second-hand furniture with the same care for other reasons. Store wool clean and sealed, move rugs now and then so no part stays in the dark for months, and vacuum under the furniture. Stopping carpet moths coming back has more, and Carpet Moth Control Barnet covers the larger period houses elsewhere in the borough.
