How To Prevent Clothing Moth Damage In A Storage Unit

A clothing moth problem inside a storage unit is often more severe than one at home, because you're less likely to notice the moths until it's too late. Moths can get into your unit from outside or from neighboring units, or you may unknowingly bring them in yourself. Taking a few preventative steps before you store your items can prevent costly damage to your items.

Susceptible Items

Clothing moths generally feed on the natural fibers in your cloth items, so man-made fibers are generally safe. Clothing, especially anything that contains wool, fur, or feathers, is most at risk. Rugs, upholstered furniture, linens, and tapestries can also attract the moths. If you store a piano, the felt pad inside can even be damaged.

Before You Store

Avoid bringing moths into your unit by thoroughly cleaning each cloth item before storage. Wash or dry clean clothing, rugs, and other small items. Furniture should undergo upholstery cleaning, especially if you have had moth problems at home.

After each item is washed and thoroughly dried, store it in a plastic tote instead of a cardboard box. Alternatively, place the clothing in a plastic garbage bag before placing it in the box. You can also cover larger items by placing them in plastic furniture or mattress bags. Moths can eat through paper and cardboard, but they can't breach items stored in plastic. You can include moth balls in the totes or bags to alleviate any chance of infestation.

Choose a Moth-Resistant Unit

Most self-storage facilities practice periodic pest control, but the pesticides are only applied outside the units so moths can still travel from one unit to the next. Fortunately, moths prefer higher humidity, so selecting a climate- and humidity-controlled facility can minimize potential moth damage. Make sure the unit is clean before you move in, and consider spraying the inside for pests before bringing in your things. If you do find signs of moths or other pests, let the unit manager like one at Thomson Properties know. They can help you trace the source and then treat it on their end.

Properly preparing and storing your items will mitigate most moth problems. To further ensure your items stay safe, check on your storage unit once a month. If you find any damage or dead moths, clean all your items and repackage them in sealed plastic bags and containers. Treat the unit for pests before moving everything back in so you won't have another problem in the future.