Every homeowner has to deal with moths at one point or another. Some because they don’t keep those small sachets that come with new clothes and others because they don’t tidy up often enough. Either way, knowing what some of the best moth repellents & traps are, can save you a lot of trouble and money.
Top 3 - Moth Repellents & Traps
I’ve divided my top picks into solutions for pantry moths and clothing moths. Once you understand how these are designed and how they work, it will become evident why I divided them. Let’s not waste another second and dive right in.
Best Repellents & Traps to Get Rid of Pantry & Clothes Moths
Contents
- Best Repellents & Traps to Get Rid of Pantry & Clothes Moths
- 1. Dr. Killigan’s Premium Pantry Moth Traps
- 2. Colton’s Naturals Cedar Spray
- 3. Good Earth Premium Pantry Moth Traps
- 4. Catchmaster Pantry Pest and Moth Traps
- 5. Richard’s Homewares Garment Care – Moth Away
- 6. Dr. Killigan’s Premium Clothing Moth Traps
- 7. Dr. Killigan’s Six Feet Under Insect Spray
- 8. Ollieroo Moth Protection Repellent
- Pheromone Traps
- Common Repellents
- Non-Toxic vs. Synthetic Repellents and Traps
- Why You Need Moth Control Products
If you’re looking for something that deals specifically with pantry moths, these might be the right traps for you. The Premium Pantry Moth Traps contain high-quality pheromones and come in two different designs.
You can use these traps to protect your food, your pet’s food, and even bird seeds from hungry food moths. Setting them up is also very easy.
All you’ll have to do is open up the traps, peel off the protective layer, and fold them in place. Pheromones are mixed into the glue, so there’s no chance of something going awry. I should also point out that although labeled as premium, six moth traps offer excellent value for your money.
This cedarwood extract spray smells like lavender. It’s a 100% natural product that can restore the shine and smell of cedarwood furniture while also keeping moths at bay.
I recommend using this formula in your closet, pantry, as well as anywhere else in your home. It is a non-toxic wood protection spray first, and a moth repellent second.
The spray bottle contains 4oz of this powerfully-scented formula, and it should last you quite a long time. You’ll also notice less dust settling on wood, fewer impurities causing damage, and at the same time, you’ll see the oil fibers slowly rehydrating. That will back the shine in the furniture.
Featuring a classic moth trap design and free of insecticides, the Good Earth Pantry Moth Traps may just be the solution to your kitchen problems. Not only do these traps take care of existing moths, but they also help disrupt the breeding cycle.
That will prevent reinfestation for a pretty long time, as the pheromone remains active for around three months. It’s very potent and can attract moths from far away because of how the air circulates between the adhesive layers imbued with pheromones.
I also like the minimalist packaging and simplistic design. The traps won’t look out of place or attract particular attention to them. The three-step setup process is also straightforward. It involves peeling the protective layer, folding, and tucking the trap as instructed.
Catchmaster offers packs of six traps for quick treatments and long-term protection. Each moth trap uses a unique formulation to attract Indian meal, tobacco, raisin, and other food moths. Therefore, these perform best in the kitchen and the pantry.
The setup is dead simple as the traps are pretty much pre-assembled. The attractant is strong, and so is the glue designed to keep the pests in place and kill them via dehydration. I should point out that the effective range of these traps is about 12ft.
That’s quite good if we take all the typical kitchen smells into consideration. Both attractant and glue are non-toxic, so your pets are kids safe.
Although the attractant used specifically targets moths, it may also attract some flies and ants. But I wouldn’t consider this a broad-spectrum insect control.
These are your standard moth repellent sachets. They have a minty scent with hints of rosemary and thyme, and moths won’t like it. Because they feature natural ingredients, you can use the sachets in your closet and your pantry.
Although the pricing may seem steep at first, keep in mind that for the money you’re getting nine twin packs for a total of 18 sachets. And they’re relatively big and potently-scented too. So they’ll get the job done and keep on repelling moths for at least a few weeks, or months.
I also like that the smell will quickly evaporate from clothes after a light wash or after wearing them outside for a few minutes.
These moth traps use a uniquely designed pheromone and can attract web-spinning and case-bearing clothing moths. They excel at trapping male moths and disrupting the mating cycle, thus preventing reinfestations too.
You can use these traps anywhere you store clothes and with any type of fabric. The traps are non-toxic and safe for humans and pets.
I also like that the traps are quite open in design and allow proper airflow. That will prevent your clothes from getting doused in the trap’s odor. The airflow also helps attract moths much faster.
The setup is relatively simple, and the traps can be both hanged or placed on a table or shelf. Remember to peel off the protective layer to expose the glue, and you’ll be good to go.
If moths aren’t your only concern, then you might want to use a broad-spectrum repellent. Take Six Feet Under spray from Dr. Killigan, for example.
It features a non-toxic formula that’s safe to use around pets, kids, and food sources. It can also kill moths and other flying pests on contact, being an excellent option for immediate treatment.
The cinnamon and clove scent is subtle but very pleasing. However, unlike moth traps, this spray doesn’t have nearly the same level of residual control. It won’t linger for more than one hour, even on textile surfaces. So, you might still need something else to prevent a reinfestation. Note that the formula won’t always work on eggs.
Here’s a value pack with two cedar sachets and ten cedar hang-ups. It’s an ideal combo pack for closet protection, especially given the immense size of the sachets.
The fragrance is lighter than you would expect, but it’s strong enough to keep moths away from your clothes.
The hang-ups also have the added benefit of absorbing excess moisture and thus preventing mildew from forming. All ingredients are natural and non-toxic, making the Ollieroo package even better.
If you sand the wood on the hang-ups, you can refresh the scent by releasing the fiber oils. That gives the hang-ups particularly long-lasting residual control.
Pheromone Traps
Pheromone moth traps typically come in two types. They’re either made to attract food moths or clothing moths. It’s rare to see traps that use two types of pheromones. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you take this route, it might cost more.
You should also know that most pheromone traps feature an adhesive layer. The traps aim to attract and kill moths by dehydrating them. However, moth repellents are rarely, if ever, designed to kill.
Repellents work differently than pheromone traps. The former will disturb moths and cause them to flee. Pheromone traps use pheromone attractants, specific to certain types of moths. That means that moths will fly straight for the pheromone and into the adhesive layer where they’ll get stuck and eventually die.
However, not all moths react in the same way to all pheromones. That’s why manufacturers have to use specific compounds to attract either pantry moths or clothing moths. When it comes to repellents, most moths react to the same ingredients. Therefore, you can use pantry moth repellents in your closet and vice-versa.
What I like most about using pheromone traps, is that despite being more expensive, they provide superior residual control effect. With male moths being most susceptible to pheromones, they won’t get a chance to breed. Therefore, you’ll have fewer larvae to kill.
Common Repellents
As you’ve noticed, the most common moth repellents either feature mint or cedarwood scents. Or both. But when possible, I recommend going with cedarwood for your closet.
Cedarwood hang-ups and sachets not only repel moths but also breathe new life into your cedar furniture. They can help freshen up the smell, absorb moisture, and prevent mildew and mold.
There’s also no need to worry about powerfully-scented pantry repellents either. Since most of your food will be packaged anyway, it’s unlikely that the scent will transfer and alter the taste of your dry ingredients.
You can also find rosemary, lavender, thyme, peppermint, and other essential oil extracts in moth repellents. Some are more potent than others, so it’s up to you to pick the scent you’re most comfortable with on your clothes or in your pantry.
My Thoughts on Sprays
You can also try using sprays. People use cedarwood-based sprays to restore cedar furniture pieces because they stimulate the production of essential oils in cedar fibers. That brings back the shine, enhances the durability of the wood, and keeps moths away.
Just remember that sprays don’t have the same kind of long-lasting effect as pheromone traps or hang-ups or sachets for that matter. That’s because the leftover spray will evaporate relatively fast, and will stop providing any protection from moths.
With that in mind, sprays are perhaps the only kill-on-contact moth control products. They can instantly dispose of existing moths. That said, traps will get them stuck, but will take a while to finish them off. And, sachets rely on their smell to drive moths away. Without direct contact, moths can’t absorb the lethal substances, and they simply won’t die.
Non-Toxic vs. Synthetic Repellents and Traps
There’s no reason to choose a synthetic repellent or moth killer for your home, especially since so many natural alternatives do an outstanding job.
Also, consider the areas where you’re most likely to spray or hang those toxic products – near food sources and your clothes. Neither are places where you want to use products that are potentially toxic to you, your kids, or your pets.
Why You Need Moth Control Products
You probably already know at least a few methods of moth population control. Most involve common sense things such as washing your clothes regularly, cleaning your carpeting, dusting, vacuuming, and sealing your dry food.
While that’s all fine, it won’t always be enough. Moths can be very resilient, and when desperate, they will get in your home and start munching away at their favorite food source.
That is, if you’re not using repellents, deterrents, or traps. No matter how clean you keep your home, you’ll always need something formulated for moths. It doesn’t matter if they’re food moths or clothing moths.
Moth Control Is Essential but Not Difficult to Maintain
No matter how scared you are of finding holes in your cereal bags or your clothes, always remember this. Getting rid of moths is one of the easiest things you can do in terms of pest control, and among the safest treatments that you can use. Finally, most of the best options have all-natural formulas, so there’s no need to worry about contamination or poisoning your clothes or your food.