Prevention is generally better than cure, or so they say – and this is most certainly the case when it comes to household pests. 

There’s nothing worse than having a serious infestation of some kind on your hands and they can be very difficult to sort out, depending on the pest in question, so taking precautionary measures to guard against invasions is perhaps most wise indeed.

Where moths are concerned, if you see one fluttering about, you know that there are going to be more tucked away elsewhere. But what exactly is it that attracts moths in the first place and what can you do to deter them?

Of course, as we all know, moths are drawn to the light so if it’s dark outside and you’ve got your interior lights on, they’ll likely try to find a way into your house. 

But it’s not just the light that you’ve got to worry about and food sources are also very attractive to pantry moths, so keep a tight lid on any bread, flour, pasta and cereal you’ve got in the cupboards or you may find you’ve got some very well-fed lepidopterans to deal with.

Clothes moths, meanwhile, are attracted to fibrous fabrics like wool, silk and fur, so keep a close eye on your upholstery and favourite clothes to see if you can find any holes popping up here and there, which could indicate a moth problem.

If you find any larvae in stored food packets or elsewhere in your cupboard and pantry, make sure you remove any affected products and give the space a good clean. If your clothes are affected, everything will need to be washed or dry-cleaned to prevent a recurrence. You may also need moth fumigation to help you sort the problem once and for all.