Have you got loads of tiny holes in your clothes? Are your finest fabrics starting to unravel? Are you finding little cobwebs everywhere?
Well, friend, youve probably got an infestation of moths.
Youre not alone; Rentokil claims to have had a 110% increase in the numbers of people calling with moth issues.
And while thats largely going to be down to the balmy weather, it may also be because were all washing our laundry at cooler temperatures.
Rentokil has conducted a survey of over 2,000 customers to explore how temperature might be responsible for the moth epidemic.
And the results have found that 54% are more likely to wash their clothes at 30C than they would have been five years ago.
When the cycle wash is lower, moths have a greater chance of survival than they do if you wash them at 40C-60C.
Its not just warmth thats the problem though. Its also the quality of the clothing we buy; moths are attracted to keratin, a natural protein found in pricier materials like fur, wool and silk.
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59% of those interviewed said they thought that higher quality, more expensive clothes last longer but thats not the case. So thats an incentive perhaps for switching to cruelty-free materials.
Mays unseasonably warm temperatures and the early start to summer has helped to create the perfect conditions for moths to breed and potentially thrive in British households, says David Cross, head of the technical training academy at Rentokil Pest Control.
With a prolonged breeding season, clothes and soft furnishings in British homes could be at increased risk to damage caused by moth larvae feeding on the natural fibres they contain.
So, how to avoid moths?
Essentially all you have to do is make sure that your clothes and fabrics are washed regularly and at a heat that kills any bugs or larvae.
- Make sure youre washing your clothes above 48C
- Wash dirty/sweaty clothes after wearing to avoid moths being attracted by moisture
- Keep vacuuming your space to prevent any eggs being laid in carpet or fabrics
- Store any wool away during the summer months
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