Moth Damage



For years our ancestors had to deal with keep clothes and other cloth items from being damaged by moths, referred to as ‘moth eaten’. It is actually the moth larval – the young, who eat the cloth. They eat in dark areas, so it can be those clothes kept in the back of the closet, in dresser drawers, boxes, that the moth larval find.

It was always suggested that clothes be hung out in the sun and air which killed the larval or grubs as they were also known. This even applied to cloth or wool rugs. The rugs were hung out in the sunlight and the rug was beaten to get the larvae out. Another method to protect clothes was to iron each piece completely.

Not just wool cloths and clothing but the moth larvae also liked cotton, linen and natural fibers of clothes. If synthetic fibers like polyester were used in the clothing, the larvae did not touch those.

Before synthetic fibers, our ancestors had to work hard by brushing, washing, sunning and ironing to keep moths from creating small holes in the clothes and carpets.

In 1948 mothballs were invented, a commercial chemical product placed with clothes to keep moths away. With so many synthetic fibers, mothballs are now rarely used.

But seeing what had to be done in a household decades ago just to deal with moth larval makes you appreciate the people who did the housework.

Photo: Wool clothing with moth holes.

Related FamilyTree.com Blogs:

Hang out Laundry

Clothing Dates Photos

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