As the mum of five young children, I know how important it is to have access to a safe outdoor space for your children to play. Being cooped up in the house all day isn't good for the kids or the parents, but you also can't let young kids play in a space that's hazardous. When we bought our new family home, there was a lot of work to do in the garden to make it childproof, and we also wanted to make it a fun place for the kids to play. We erected a new fence, fitted a combination lock on the garden gate, had poisonous plants removed, cordoned off the pool and created a play area complete with swings, a slide and outdoor games. I started this blog to share my DIY gardening tips, and I hope you find it interesting and useful.
As the weather heats up, it can be tempting to leave doors and windows open to get a much needed breeze t
The power locks on your car's door are built to be pretty reliable, but they can act up. There are many r
While some people love spending time maintaining their gardens, other people find that gardening is just
Deciding on furniture for your child's room is always tricky. You need to consider safety, convenience, a
When the curtains in your living room are looking worn out or faded and you want to replace them, use thi
Although the 'clothes moth' is not as common as it once was, largely due to the increase in synthetic fibres used around the home, these insects are still around and can wreak havoc if you have antique Persian rugs or carpets. So how do you know if your rugs are at risk from moth damage, how can you get rid of the insects and how can your local Persian rug repair specialist help to restore your damaged rugs?
What to look for
Clothes moths are tiny, silvery coloured moths that you might see flying around in your home. The adult moths won't cause any damage to your rugs directly; it's their larvae that are the problem. Female clothes moths lay hundreds of eggs on the reverse of carpets and rugs made of natural fabric, like silk or wool. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow through the rug to feed on the fibres, and this can leave your rugs with large bald patches if the problem goes undetected.
It's a good idea to check the reverse of your rugs regularly for moth eggs, especially if you've seen any small moths flying around. The eggs appear as a powdery dust, sometimes even the same colour as the rug backing.
Once the larvae have hatched, they will munch away on your rugs for couple of months before forming a cocoon, inside which they will mature into adult moths. Look out for tiny maggot-like larvae or small particles of what looks like sand in the pile of your rug, as this is a sure sign that you have an infestation.
Prevention
Clothes moths generally avoid light, bright areas where there is much activity, preferring to lay their eggs in dark and undisturbed places. Vacuum your rugs regularly, especially if they are situated underneath furniture. If you're putting your rugs into storage, always vacuum them thoroughly first to remove any moth eggs, and then wrap them securely in plastic to stop adult moths from gaining access.
Don't forget to vacuum and inspect rugs that are used as wall hangings; these are just as vulnerable as those on the floor.
Avoid using moth balls, flakes or crystals. These products don't work effectively and they often contain very nasty toxic chemicals that could even damage your rugs.
A very effective and totally safe treatment for clothes moths is freezing the rug if it's small enough and you have a large chest freezer that will accommodate it. Bag the rug, seal it and place it in your freezer for a week or so. This deep freeze treatment will kill off any larvae and eggs that might be lurking within the fibres.
Repairs and treatment
A professional rug cleaning and repair company will be able to treat your rug and clean it to get rid of any moth eggs or larvae. If the rug has been damaged by moths, a good repairer will be able to re-knot the rug and return it to pristine condition. A good rug repair company will also be able to supply you with a specialist moth deterrent and killer spray that you can use to treat all your carpets and rugs.
In conclusion
If you suspect that your rug or carpet has been attacked by clothes moths, contact your local Persian rug repair and cleaning specialist for further advice.
Share