How to store textiles for the summer and avoid pests

In summary, we offer five tips for managing summer and winter clothes while avoiding moth infestations, and for updating, repairing, and cleaning your clothes at the same time. Below are five relevant questions and answers:

Last edited on May 8, 2024

Switching between summer and winter clothes and shoes is a good opportunity to update, repair, and clean them while also making space in the hallway and wardrobe.
Important: If you live in a house with open storage spaces, for example separated by chicken wire, this is especially important. Pests such as moths have become increasingly established in Sweden in recent years, and unfortunately moths spread quickly and easily from household to household. If they can get between storage spaces, they will. That is why it is particularly important to do what you can to avoid moths.

Tip 1.
Jackets and other thick winter clothing, especially items made from natural materials such as wool, down, and cotton, are particularly vulnerable to moth infestations. Therefore, be sure to wash your clothes; ideally, they should be freshly washed when stored away.

Tip 2.
Some garments are very difficult to wash, so you can empty the pockets, brush off any hair and dust, lightly spray the garment with linen water, and hang it outside to air. When the garment is dry and clean, place a couple of mothballs in each pocket and leave the pockets open.
If the garment has no pockets, you can hang a moth ring around the hanger. Both mothballs and moth rings are available in completely non-toxic red cedar. Use natural moth repellents and avoid toxic substances. Red cedar smells pleasant to people, but pests avoid this scent.

Tip 3.
Hang the garment on a hanger and place a plastic bag or large sack over the hanger. Tie the bottom closed and seal the hole where the hanger passes through the plastic with tape. Label the bag so you know what is inside when autumn arrives. In the same way, store thick sweaters, gloves, hats, and thick socks that you do not need during the summer.

Tip 4
Try to avoid overcrowding your wardrobes and storage spaces; this makes it easier to keep an eye out for and detect any pests early.
Put away (washed) winter clothes during the summer and summer clothes during the winter to avoid having as many textiles in the same place.

Tip 5.
If you cannot get rid of the moths, contact a  pest control professional; also check with your insurance company what your home insurance covers.

This is what the clothes moth looks like – Tineola bisselliella

P4 Värmland has produced a report on the moth's return, which you can listen to here.
Clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) as an adult moth. It is the larva that eats holes in, feeds on, and damages textiles.