Moths in the Home After a Move: Checks to Make

A house move is a perfect moth opportunity. Boxes sit closed for weeks, wardrobes are packed full, and furniture comes out of one dark corner and into another.

A few simple checks, done early, can stop a problem in your old belongings from becoming a problem in the new home, and the other way round.

Before the boxes go in

If you are packing up, take a few minutes with knitwear, blankets and rugs. Look for holes, silk, small cases and droppings, and wash or dry clean what you can before sealing it away.

Items you suspect are infested should be treated before packing. Otherwise you are simply moving the breeding ground to a new address, where it will have a fresh supply of clothes.

Label boxes of woollen and silk items so you can find them first at the other end. Packing them into sealed boxes or bags, rather than loose in a cardboard carton, also keeps any stray larvae contained.

Unpacking: the first fortnight

Open boxes of stored textiles somewhere you can see them in good light, rather than straight into new wardrobes. Shake out items and examine seams, folds and linings.

Look at the bottom of boxes for fluff, fine grit or tiny cases. If anything looks suspicious, treat the whole box, not only the visible item.

• Unpack wool, silk and fur items first and inspect them
• Do not put suspect clothes into clean wardrobes
• Keep stored boxes off the floor until you have checked them
• Bag and wash anything with signs of damage straight away

Second-hand furniture and rugs

Upholstered sofas, vintage rugs and old woollen items from a previous owner or a sale can carry eggs or larvae. Check underneath, inside the frame and along seams before bringing them into a room with carpets.

This goes for items from relatives' lofts and storage units too. They may have been undisturbed for years in just the conditions moths enjoy.

A quick tap and shake of a rug outdoors, and a look at its underside, tells you a lot. Fine grit, silk strands or bare patches along the pile are all reasons to pause before laying it down.

Checking the new property itself

Previous occupants may have left behind carpets, underlay, curtains or cupboards with a moth history. Look at the edges of fitted carpets, under radiators and inside built-in wardrobes before you fill them.

Lofts and voids can hold old bird or rodent nests, which provide animal material for larvae to feed on. Do not disturb or clear nests if you are unsure what is there, and ask a professional if you are worried.

Take photographs of anything you find, with a coin or ruler for scale, so you have something to show if you do ask for advice.

• Inside built-in wardrobes and cupboards, including corners
• Along carpet edges and under heavy fitted furniture
• Around radiators, vents and skirting boards
• Any stored items the previous owner left behind

Setting up a watch

A pheromone trap placed in a wardrobe or room can tell you whether adult moths are present, which is useful in the first months. It tells you something is there, not where, so follow up with a careful search.

If you keep finding moths or damage after a thorough check, Essex Pest Solutions can carry out an inspection to work out where the source lies, which is better than moving the problem round the house.

Frequently asked questions