Repel Moths with Essential Oils

Moths flapping around your closet and bedroom can be quite annoying, and even though adult clothes moths don’t actually feed on clothing, their larvae do.  One female moth deposits up to 300 eggs at a time that hatch in less than a week!  And they produce up to five generations a year.  As soon as the eggs are hatched, the larvae begin feeding on anything containing animal fibers.

So how do we get rid of these pests? Mothballs are one option, but quite frankly, mothballs stink.  Not to mention the fact that most contain pesticides that can be dangerous to you, kids, and pets… have you read the box?  Also, a recent study found that the main ingredient, naphthalene, caused cancer in rats.

But, if you have moths hanging around your closet, you need something to protect your clothes!  Luckily, there is a solution (hence the title of this post!)  There are actually several essential oils that can repel moths, but Cedarwood and Lavender are two of the most popular. What to do:

• Step 1 -Vacuum to remove eggs and larvae
• Step 2 – Place a couple drops of Lavender or Cedarwood essential oil on cotton balls
• Step 3 – Place cotton balls in the top of your closet and along windowsills
• Step 4 – Place beer in hand and celebrate a job well done!

Simply replenish when they start to lose their aroma.  Some other essential oils that can work:  Peppermint, Spearmint, Oregano, Clove, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, or Patchouli.