Pest Control In Chiswick

Not based in Chiswick? Other local areas our pest control experts cover include, Hounslow, Enfield & Watford.

Close to the arguably more famous London regions of Kew and Hammersmith, Chiswick is a quiet London suburb nestled in one of the curves of the River Thames.

Renowned for its rowing clubs, Chiswick has another slightly less desirable claim to fame: its collection of clothes moths.

West London, but Chiswick in particular, has an especially high demand for pest control when it comes to clothes moths. An irritating little critter, the young of the moth can eat away not just your favourite jumpers but even carpets too!

Unlike other kinds of infestation, clothes moths are not hazardous to your health but can easily wreak a lot of expensive damage in a relatively short space of time.

How to spot them

Having the odd moth in your home shouldn’t be cause for concern; it’s quite a common sight especially during summer months.

However, if the moth is a clothes moth, this is a very different matter. A clothes moth is more likely to lay eggs, which once hatched will have a delightful time munching on your best cashmere jumpers.

It isn’t actually the adult moths which do the damage, it’s the larvae. But spotting the adults is often the easier route to identifying clothes moths and arranging for pest control to get rid of them.

The adult clothes moth is one of the most common types of moth in the UK. Adult males are a light gold-ish, almost silver colour with a tuft of red hair on their head. The females are duller, a brownish colour.

The easiest way to distinguish them from other types of moth is by their behaviour. Almost universally moths will be drawn to bright light; fluttering around the light bulb is typical for most moths.

Clothes moths behave very differently; to start with the female cannot fly and will be seen hopping and running instead. In addition, clothes moths do not like the light and will instead head for dark cupboards and closets, looking for refuge in folds of clothes.

The larvae – the damage-causing element – are more difficult to spot. Look out for a silvery thread around an inch long.

How to prevent an infestation

Although they don’t bear any diseases, clothes moths can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage. It’s therefore important to get help from professional pest control experts if you find an infestation.

But there are some steps you can carry out to help prevent clothes moths causing damage.

First and foremost, clothes moths hate sunlight. Taking clothes outside and hanging them on the line should get rid of the majority of the larva. With nowhere to hide, they simply slide off the garment or rug.

Secondly, make sure your clothes and carpets are as clean as possible. Clothes moths prefer items which are soiled with sweat, oils or liquids. Dry cleaning can help to keep them away in some cases.

Try to seal up entrances with fly screens to stop the moths from getting in. If you buy second hand clothes from Ebay or charity shops, either arrange for them to be dry cleaned or wash them at a temperature above 48ºC for more than half an hour. This will kill off all stages of the lifecycle.

Finally, keep a check on other forms of pest in your property. You may not be too concerned about those pigeons nesting in your attic but this is one of the most common routes in for a clothes moth. Using pest controlto get rid of birds can also help to ensure you don’t end up with clothes moths too!

Call in pest control before it’s too late

Clothes moths tend to damage clothing in a rather characteristic pattern; look for holes in hidden places such as under the collar or in the armpit.

Carpets which have been covered by furniture or in the seams of upholstery are other favourite munching spots for the critters.

Their covert nature makes them difficult to spot and once they have taken hold, the damage can be extensive. The National Trust reports that infestations of clothes moths are on the increase partly due to central heating; make sure you call in professional pest control experts so you don’t end up eaten out of pocket.