Have you noticed small brown moths flying around your kitchen cabinets or places where you keep food? Those are most likely pantry moths which hitched a ride into your home on or in groceries you brought home from the store. Yes, I said “in” as in inside of food containers.
As I’ll explain, pantry moths have a knack for getting into food containers and breeding. To get rid of them, you’ll need to combine cleaning efforts and step up your food storage game. But first, let’s talk about what you need to be on the lookout for.
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What Are Pantry Moths?
Pantry moths, also known as “Indian meal moths,” are small gray, tan, or brown flying nuisances. Despite their name, you may find them in other areas of your home besides the kitchen. It’s not uncommon to find these moths in your bedroom. I first spotted our pantry moth problem in the basement!
One of the most telltale signs of a pantry moth infestation is the silky webs they leave. The good news is that they don’t bite or carry diseases. Although they do leave larva and eggs in your food, those aren’t harmful—just upsetting.
How Do Pantry Moths Get Into Your Home?
While you may need to clean your pantry to get rid of them, your housekeeping isn’t to blame for pantry moths. Most of the time, they get into your house because they’re already inside dry food packaging or have built a cocoon on cans or jars. Sometimes, they might fly into your home through gaps in window screens or open doors, then stay because they’ve found food.
Places Where Pantry Moths Hide
Most people don’t realize pantry moths can actually chew through food packaging. They’ll get inside plastic wrappers and paper boxes and will weave webs in your food. Then, you may find bits of cereals or flours clumped together. They sometimes leave a strange smell.
Also, their larvae crawl into cracks and holes. Despite their name, you may find them in other areas of your home besides the kitchen. It’s not uncommon to find these moths in your bedroom or behind electrical or light switch outlets. I first spotted our pantry moth problem in the basement, even though we didn’t have food stored down there.
Steps to Get Rid of Pantry Moths Naturally
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I don’t like to use pesticides in my kitchen, so I rely on cleaning to eliminate pantry moth eggs and larvae. Then, I take steps to make what’s left in the pantry unappetizing to any adult moths flying around my home. It can take some effort, that’s for sure, but these steps eliminate existing pantry moths and also protect against future infestations.
Step 1: Freeze Dry Goods.
Dry goods can be a paradise for pantry moth larvae. I was dumbfounded to find they’re able to chew through paper and plastic, so anything that’s not in a can or jar is a food source. (But, as I’ll explain in a minute, that doesn’t mean your canned goods are safe.)
If you discover pantry moth larvae or eggs in your dry goods, you have a decision to make. Are you comfortable eating dead ones? If so, then freeze the food for 2-3 days then transfer it to an air-tight container. But if the thought of eating dead pantry moths makes you squeamish, toss the food out.
Step 2: Clean Your Pantry Thoroughly.
To get rid of pantry moths, you need a more thorough cleaning than just wiping down shelves.
• Completely empty your pantry: Pull out and empty drawers, take shelves off of their supports, and pull out the pegs that support them. If you have shelf liners, you’ll need to remove them: pantry moths love to hide under loose adhesives.
• Vacuum everything. Use your vacuum’s dust brush and crevice attachments to go over every inch of your pantry. Don’t skip the drawer slides, hinges, and inside of doors.
• Wash all surfaces and containers. Wipe everything a 50-50 solution of white vinegar and hot water to kill pantry moth eggs. This includes food storage containers, the top and bottom of canned goods and all sides of items in jars. I use a cotton swab dipped in the vinegar water to check for larvae under the rim of jar lids and in shelf support holes, too.
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• Empty your vacuum and toss the trash. Once you’ve finished, empty your vacuum and double-bag the trash so any moths don’t escape. At this point, I usually pause to clean my vacuum thoroughly so they don’t breed in it. (Yes, they’re that sneaky.)
Step 3: Caulk or Seal Gaps.
If you’ve tried cleaning to eliminate pantry moths before but they keep returning, start hunting around for hidden gaps and crevices. Readers have reported finding cocoons and moths in gaps behind cupboards and appliances. Seal any gaps or cracks you find using caulk to keep them at bay.
Step 4: Repackage Dry Goods.
Since pantry moths will get into and eat anything that’s not in a bottle or can, it’s crucial to transfer your dry goods to air-tight storage containers. I try to avoid screw-on caps, because I’ve found pantry moth cocoons squeezed into the tight space between the jar and the lid! You can see below the types of containers that I use.
Step 5: Inspect Nearby Rooms.
Now, you might think pantry moths are only interested in your kitchen but they’ll spread throughout your home if given the chance. So, for recurrent infestations, check nearby rooms including bedroom closets and bathroom cabinets. It may help to use a flashlight for this.
When we had pantry moths, I found cocoons where the basement ceiling and wall meet at a right angle, and along the edge of door frames, too. If you find any, thoroughly vacuum and clean the area with a 50-50 vinegar and hot water mix.
Step 6: Use Pantry Moth Traps to Catch The Rest.
After all that cleaning and inspecting, there’s still a tricky period due to their life cycle where overlooked eggs may hatch and turn into moths flying around your home. So, for the next week or two, it’s not a bad idea to set out a few pheromone moth traps, which combine attractants with a sticky surface to lure and kill them. Old-fashioned fly strips and bug zappers can also work, but since they don’t have attractants, they’ll take longer.
Pantry Moth Prevention
Once you’ve gone to all that effort cleaning, here are a few steps you can take as preventative measures to keep new pantry moth infestations out of your home.
- Deal with dry goods immediately: When you buy new dry good items, freeze them for 2-3 days to kill any pantry moths in them, then transfer the items to air-tight food storage.
- Wipe canned and bottled goods: Before you put them away, use a hot, soapy rag to clean canned and bottled items that you bring home from the store.
- Use scents disliked by pantry moths: Keep a bowl of fresh or dried bay leaves in your pantry to deter pantry moths and other pests. Or add a few drops of bay leaf essential oil (Laurel Nobilis) to a homemade all-purpose spray and use it for cleaning.
The Takeaway
Remember, pantry moths hitch a ride into our homes through foods we buy and bring home. To get rid of a pantry moth infestation, clean everything thoroughly then store food in airtight containers. Prevent new pantry moth problems by washing cans and jars when you bring them home and freezing dry goods before you transfer them to your containers. With diligence and patience, you can get rid of pantry moths naturally and keep new ones out of your home, too.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens