5 Secrets for Preventing Pests in Your Custom Closets

1. Freshen Up Your Closets

If your closet has been recently organized, you shouldn't have any insect-related problems. If you've had it for a few years and it hasn't been organized, however, pests might find a home in some of your lesser-used items.

It's probably uncommon for you to put dirty clothes away in your closet, but it's not your most popular items that pests are looking for anyway. Pests such clothes moths are more interested in the things that linger in your closet for months. If you have an old comforter that you reserve for cold nights, or sweats that you only wear on rare morning jogs, then it'd be a good idea to wash them periodically. You might prefer to dry clean them for extra protection.

2. Store Clothing Safely

As with clothes moths and their cousins, case-making clothes moths, and webbing clothes moths, it's the carpet beetles that feed on your most precious pieces of clothing and linens. Because these critters are so very small and nimble, make sure to keep your wool-based items in vacuum-sealed bags for protection.

There are additional measures you can take to protect your winter coats. If you don't want to dry clean all of your heavy coats, take them outside on a clear day, and give them a resounding brushing all over, paying close attention to the seams and under the collars where pests are most likely to reside.

3. Vacuum Your Carpet

Regular vacuuming is a tried and true method for keeping your home pest-free. Moth and beetle eggs are far too small for you to see with the naked eye, but vacuuming on a weekly basis will kill those enemies before they have the chance to harm your wardrobe.

Vacuum all the carpeting that covers your closet floor. It's also important that you take care to reach the corners and edges, as well as the parts of the carpet that run up against your closet's borders. 

4. Pull Out Anything That's Damaged

It's bad enough when some of your clothes show signs of pests, but if you don't address the problem right away, you may have an infestation on your hands. If there are indications that moths, beetles, or other critters are present in your closet, you'll have to remove all the affected items to either repair or toss out.

The remainder of your clothing should either be dry cleaned or washed in hot water. Also, take advantage of the empty closet space for a thorough vacuuming session. Once your clothes and linens (and the closet space itself) are thoroughly cleaned, you can put all of your things back. A good way to prevent future run-ins with pests is to maintain a neatly organized and tidy closet. Here are a few suggestions to help you on your way!

5. Take Active Measures

There are a few things you can do to make your closets unwelcome areas for any six-legged varmints. Many homeowners like to use mothballs, but these contain pesticides that are unsafe for family and pets, so stay clear of them. The same goes for traditional pesticides! Always stick with traditional DIY remedies unless your pest problem gets out of hand and you require outside help.

Cedar is famously unpopular with moths. That’s because the oils contained within the heartwood of red cedar are toxic to moth larvae. Lavender will repel pests as well. Martha Stewart recommends lavender-filled sachets  as a means of keeping pests out while filling your closets with a lovely scent in the process!

Conclusion

A little preparation can go a long way. Storing things properly and committing to a regular cleaning schedule will create an unwelcome atmosphere for the creatures that seek to do your sweaters & other clothing pieces harm. Remember, closet pests can be defeated! Good organizational practices, cleanliness, and taking steps to avoid them will keep you from facing this problem in the first place.

Sources

• https://www.marthastewart.com/264609/the-basics-of-mothproofing