Moth treatment in Cambridge
After cleaning carpets and soft furnishings now for nearly 14 years many of our clients complained about moth damage to their fine items.
After attending many training courses and learn everything we can about moth damage prevention and the correct care for fine fabrics we concluded that there are 3 main ways to greatly reduce moth damage to your carpets and fine fabrics including rugs and even garments.
The Cambridge and surrounding counties has a moderate to high concentration of moth attacks and this gets particularly bad in spring time when moths get ready to mate and re-produce. Clients have reported moth damage and sightings a little later this year (2018) due to the late arrival of Spring and Summer.
It is time to act now!
There are 3 options for moth treatment:
Option 1
Insecticide treatment
A product that kills the moth on contact of while they lad on a fabric treated with the active ingredient. The most commonly used is Pyrethroids a synthetic product that is a close copy of Pyrethrin (natural product) Do not confuse the two.
What is the difference between Pyrethroids and Pyrethrin? Pyrethrin, also known as pyrethrum, is produced from the oil of the chrysanthemum flower from Kenya in Africa. Due to shortages of the oil needed to create the natural organic pyrethrum, a synthetic pyrethroid version was created. In the past Pyrethroids were made to imitate pyrethrin. Over the years and as industry needs changed scientists could produce the pyrethroid with more advanced molecules, making a stronger synthetic insecticide. Pyrethrin, while they have pretty much stayed the same over the years, still have their place in pest control.
Here at Art of Clean we are all for sustainability and being as kind as we can to the environment.
We feel it is wrong to apply a synthetic poison to fabrics and furnishings inside or even outside people’s homes even though we are trained in the safe use and application of the product.
We will always look for alternative solutions.
It is sad how many times this will be offered as the only solution to a moth infestation problem.
Option 2
Mechanical prevention.
This is a simple way you can keep moth infestations at bay. The idea rest on the principle that moths or carpet beetles like to live and breed on dark corners of your home near their food source. Their food source normally being protein from a wool or silk carpet or fabric.
This process simply involves the use of a great upright vacuum cleaner (unless otherwise stated by your carpet manufacturer) – Ensure you have emptied/ changed the bag on the vacuum cleaner.
Start by moving all the furniture in the room to the centre of the room. Vacuum all around the perimeter of the room. Ensure you take your time, make several passes
Use the tool to vacuum right into the corners of the carpet where the wall meets the carpet.
Move the furniture back to the centre of the room and proceed to vacuum the middle of the carpet.
Once done empty the vacuum cleaner or change the bag. Use your out-door rubbish bin to dispose this to.
Option 3
Use moth repellent or buy carpets that have been treated with moth repellent.
The product used to achieve a natural deterrent to moths is not harmful to humans or pets and has hardly any impact on the environment. This work on the basis that it simply makes the fibers of the carpet, or fine fabrics less attractive/tasty for the moth.
This can be applied after the carpet of fabric was thoroughly cleaned.
If you need more information about moth treatment, give us a call on 01223 863632 and we will be happy to help.
