Why undisturbed rooms are the risk
It's natural fibre carpet moth larvae live on, wool, clothing, upholstery, and an undisturbed spell of weeks is all they need to do real damage, much as it does near Bermondsey, where former warehouses converted to flats sit among Victorian terraces close to the river. A rarely-used spare room, furniture left in place for years, and the back of a wardrobe are the usual places it begins - the same pattern holds near Peckham, where victorian terraces around Rye Lane sit alongside the large ex-council blocks near the old.
Larger period houses near Dulwich
The larger period villas near Dulwich Park often retain original wool carpets and curtains in rooms used only occasionally, and that combination of natural fibre and long spells without disturbance suits carpet moth larvae well.
What to look for
Look for pale bristly larvae, silken tubes woven into the pile, and uneven bare patches close to a skirting board, as anyone near Bermondsey will recognise, where former warehouses converted to flats sit among Victorian terraces close to the river. Small, pale and reluctant fliers, adult moths mean the damage tends to be spotted long before the moth itself - the same pattern holds near Camberwell, where dense Victorian terraces and converted houses close to the green and the hospital.
Beyond the carpet
An established infestation rarely stays confined to the flooring - the same pattern holds near Bermondsey, where former warehouses converted to flats sit among Victorian terraces close to the river. Also check stored clothes, blankets and upholstered pieces nearby, wool items left unworn or unaired for a while are worth particular attention, just as near Peckham, where victorian terraces around Rye Lane sit alongside the large ex-council blocks near the old.
What to do before treatment
- Vacuum thoroughly, including under furniture and along skirting boards, and empty the vacuum outside
- Have affected clothing dry-cleaned or washed hot rather than put straight back in a drawer
- Move stored boxes and furniture away from walls so the edges can be reached
- Avoid vacuuming the surface only and assuming that's dealt with it - larvae sit deeper in the pile
Booking carpet moth treatment in Southwark
Carpet moth treatment in Southwark is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Camberwell, where dense Victorian terraces and converted houses close to the green and the hospital, it is worth checking older rooms first before you book carpet moth treatment and tell us which rooms show damage, with the rest on the Southwark carpet moth treatment page.
