The Best All-Natural Moth Repellent to Protect Your Clothes

The best all-natural moth repellent to protect your clothes can be easily made with just a few, simple ingredients.

Spring is here and it’s time to pack away your winter wardrobes. And before you store those cashmere and wool sweaters in your closets, make sure you protect them and other garments from clothes moths and moth larvae infestations.

I know moths don’t really present a threat to us as humans, but let’s face it, who wants to lose their favorite cashmere sweater to a few moths? It’s happened to all of us at least once but there are a few things you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

What to do before you store cashmere and wool

It’s important to wash or dry clean your cashmere and wool before you store them – even if you only wore the garment once. Washing or dry cleaning washes away all the things moths and larvae like to feed on that get trapped in the fabrics and natural fibers.

Before you put your cashmere and wool away, it’s also a good time to clear your sweaters from any kind of pilling. I use this fabric shaver and it works really well. I’ll be doing a full post on this in the near future.

Why do moths like closets?

Moths like quiet, dark places full of natural fibres and materials. When they find that, they move in, lay their eggs, and feast on the natural materials they find like wool and cashmere. Naturally, the best way to keep your closets free from moths is to prevent them from entering in the first place. 

What is it about cedarwood and cedar spray that protects from moths?

Cedarwood by itself won’t keep moths away. It loses it scent over time as it drys out. It’s the cedar oil and the scent that moths don’t like. Which is why I refresh my cedar planks with cedar spray made from essentials oils before I put my clothes in storage until next winter. I use the spray on cedar planks, blocks, and hangers to refresh them each year. 

Moth prevention

I’ve never experienced a major moth infestation so my focus has always been on preventing them and not eliminating them. 

Every year before I store my sweaters I get out my cedar planks, blocks, and hangers and I lightly sand them. Sanding releases the oils and aroma that lie underneath the surface of the wood. I then coat them generously a couple of times with my homemade cedarwood spray. I used to buy the spray from The Container Store, the same place I purchased my cedar products years ago. But now with essential oils, I can easily make my own cedar spray.

Once I’ve sprayed my cedar planks, blocks, and hangers, my cashmere and wool sweaters are ready to be stored in my closet until next fall.

Here are the cedar products I use:

• Cedar closet planks
• Hanging cedar blocks
• Cedar rings
• Cedar sock boxes
• Amber glass spray bottles (you can find them on Amazon)

Can I use mothballs instead of cedar wood and cedar spray?

I like to stay away from mothballs in general. Mothballs are regulated by the EPA and are considered to be a pesticide designed to get rid of insects and other pests such as moths. They are also considered to be very toxic and full of potentially harmful chemicals for pets and humans. The labels contain very strict guidelines on how you can legally use them. 

In addition to being toxic, I don’t care for the smell. Have you ever stood next to somebody in line somewhere who, obviously, just pulled their winter coat from storage using mothballs? It’s not a pleasant scent.

Are there other things I can use to protect my sweaters and clothes?

Not too long ago I made all-natural sachets (filled with lavender, rosemary, mint, thyme, and cedarwood shavings) for Cindy after she discovered a box of her sweaters and scarves had been eaten by moths during her move. Since then, she hasn’t had any more problems with moths.

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To buy Cedarwood Esential Oil like mine, click here.