Wool Eating Bugs

Updated on January 14, 2011
K.M. asks from Plano, TX
4 answers

Several wool sweathers (mine and my husbands) have holes eaten in them; what bug causes this and how can I eliminate them from our closet? These sweaters were stored in a cedar closet, I guess it was built with good looking but ineffective cedar planks.

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K.N.

answers from Boston on

I've found cedar to be effective -- but you need to freshen it up every now & again. Since it's a cedar closet, just take a piece of very fine grit sandpaper & rub it over a few of the planks every few months or so. YOu should notice a stronger cedar smell when you're done. From what I've heard, it's the oils in cedar that repel the moths and, after a while, the wood dries up a bit. Giving it a rub with the sandpaper releases more oils. If you don't have sandpaper, maybe a scrubbing sponge or bit of steel wool would help. Also, it's best if there's a rubber gasket around the door, creating a tighter seal so the blasted bugs can't get in there to begin with. Rotten critters.

Oh -- also I, too, have heard that woolens should be cleaned before storing.

Good luck!

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

moths! most evil creatures ever! (besides bedbugs I suppose) We had them at our old house..ruined a ton of stuff. Cedar doesn't really work IMO. You will need to store your woolens CLEAN-the thing they go after are the stains. You should also try to keep them in a sealed container. Theres more to it but I forget-we built a new house so not a problem anymore.

Updated

moths! most evil creatures ever! (besides bedbugs I suppose) We had them at our old house..ruined a ton of stuff. Cedar doesn't really work IMO. You will need to store your woolens CLEAN-the thing they go after are the stains. You should also try to keep them in a sealed container. Theres more to it but I forget-we built a new house so not a problem anymore.

M.M.

answers from San Antonio on

In stead of moths, it could be carpet beetle larvae. Those stinkers eat any natural fibers: pet hair, carpet, wool, cotton. The darn things got into my closet and ate holes in all my Ann Taylor work slacks!!! They come in from your window & doors, they lay dormant for a while and then hatch into furry little baby bugs and have a feast!! You didn't mention if you have pets - but pets can bring them into the house. The beetles love to hang out where your dog/cat sleeps & along baseboards. Here's a few links so you can see what these larvae look like.
1) http://www.google.com/search?q=carpet+beetles+larve+image...
2) http://www.whatsthatbug.com/category/beetles/pantry-beetl...

I think there is carpet beetle spray you can get at the hardware store. I don't us it because I have a toddler & 3 cats. Don't want them to smell the fumes. So I sprinkle Borax on the carpets and I make sure to vacuum a lot. You can get Borax in the laundry section of Target/Walmart. It's in powder in a box. I think it's called 20 MuleTeam Borax.

Good luck! :)

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S.E.

answers from La Crosse on

I was brilliant enough to bring home Mexican Jumping Beans from a trip (reminiscing of finding them in every other gas station, cafe, or gift shop you stopped at while driving anywhere in the continental US during the 70s). Needless to say, it didn't dawn on me that anything was amiss until holes started appearing in my sweater (of course it had to be the favorite one my sister got me in Ireland)...and I found the little plastic square box open. My son decided to "let them breath" - nuff said.

I would venture to guess you have some sort of moth. I would bug bomb the house and throw a few mothballs somewhere nearby.

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