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How To Choose The Best Moth Killer?

Because they like dark, warm and humid places, it’s easy to miss a moth infestation until half your wardrobe is damaged.

Moths (moth larvae, to be specific) leave holes in clothing and fabrics. The worst part is that they target clothes made with natural fabrics, which are typically the most expensive in the closet. These include wool, fur, and cashmere.

Two moth species are responsible for this damage: casemaking and webbing clothes moths.

The most effective way to kill the moths is using an insecticide. Today, there are safer moth killers than the older naphthalene moth balls that have since been discontinued.

If you prefer a non-insecticide alternative, lavender and cedar fragrances are also good repellents of clothes moths.

In this buying guide, we recommend the best moth killers and give you tips on how to choose the best one for your home.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Moth Killer

A. Type of Moth Killer/Repellent

There are three types of moth killers and repellents.

The most common, and the most effective, are insecticide moth killers. These contain transfluthrin or cypermethrin as the main active ingredients.

Insecticides don’t just repel clothes moths; they kill them. On the downside, they are potentially harmful for humans and animals. You have to use them with extreme care and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Insecticides come in two forms, mothballs or aerosol sprays.

The other type of moth killers are pheromone traps. These don’t contain any insecticides. Instead, they produce sex pheromones that attract male webbing moths.

The moths get stuck on the glued surface of the trap, keeping them from reproducing. This reduces the number of clothes-damaging larvae.

Note, however, that pheromone traps are usually not 100% effective on their own. For best results, combine the traps with an insecticide or repellent.

The third option is a natural moth repellent. This is ideal for those who don’t want any potentially harmful chemicals in their home.

The two most common repellents are lavender and cedar. You can get lavender sachets or cedar wood rings and keep them in your wardrobe and cupboards.

B. Lifespan

Check how long the killer or repellent is effective for. If the product needs frequent replacement, it’s going to cost you more in the long run.

The best moth killers are effective for at least three months.

Cedar wood rings can be used for years. Some require regular sanding down to refresh the cedar scent.

C. Safety

If you are planning to use the moth killer in a closet that’s away from kids, pets and common areas of the house, you can use an insecticide.

But if you want to get rid of moths in your kids closet or a kitchen cupboard where you store food, we recommend a safer natural alternative like cedar wood rings.

Tip: Before you use any of the products we recommend below, get rid of any severely damaged clothes and clean out the closet and the remaining clothes (get them dry cleaned). Then place the moth killer in the closet. For extra protection, place premium natural fabric clothes in garment bags or airtight clothes bins.

Also, wash clothes before storing them. Body oils, foods and dirt on clothes will attract moths and spark an infestation.

Best Moth Killers: Top 5 Reviews

1. Our Top Pick: Zero In ZER436 Moth Balls

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This Zero In pack of 10 mothballs is the best choice for most homes. They are fairly cheap, and highly effective.

Zero In mothballs contain the insecticide, transfluthrin. So you need to be careful when handling it. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.

The balls are in individual sachets, so you never come into contact with them. Unlike some mothballs, Zero In mothballs do not have an unpleasant smell. They have a very subtle fresh linen smell. You can still sleep comfortably in your bedroom.

One ball covers a space of 1.17 cubic meters, so the total coverage for the pack of 10 is 11.7 cubic meters. Calculate the volume of your closet to see how many you need.

Results occur really quickly. The moths disappear within days. Just make sure to check other hidden areas of the house to make sure they’ve not migrated to another place. If they have, place a couple of mothballs where they’ve gone.

Zero In mothballs have a lifespan of 3 months. We recommend noting the date you start using them, so that you can replace them in time. If you don’t, you could have another moth infestation on your hands.

What we like about it:

  • Extremely effective against clothes moths.
  • Low price.
  • Easy to use.
  • Long lifespan.

2. Best Pheromone Trap Moth Killer: Entopest Professional Common Clothes Moth Traps

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If you’d prefer not to use an insecticide, try the Entopest pheromone trap. This kit includes five traps and 10 sticky pads.

The pads produce pheromones that attract male webbing/common clothes moths. They then get stuck on the glue and can’t reproduce anymore.

You can place the traps wherever you have an infestation. You can hang them in the closet, place them under the couch or put them on the carpet.

Most customers have found that laying the boards flat is the most effective method. It traps more moths compared to hanging the boards.

You need to be patient with the traps. The pheromones start attracting moths almost immediately, but it’ll be a few days before you see a decent number of moths trapped on the pads.

The pads last up to 3 months, after which you need to replace them.

We recommend buying new pads before the three months are up, so that you can replace the old pads in time. This ensures you don’t give the moths time to rebuild their population.

What we like about it:

  • No insecticide.
  • Highly effective at trapping male webbing moths.
  • Slim profile allows you to place the traps anywhere.
  • Scent-free.

3. Best Natural Moth Repellent: LAVODIA 30x Premium Cedar Wood Rings

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While the scent of cedar doesn’t kill moths, it’s an effective repellent. It’ll keep moths away from your clothes and other fabrics.

These cedar wood rings provide a continuous source of cedar scent, and they are 100% natural. They are great if you don’t want to use any chemicals or insecticides.

They are also safe for kids and pets.

The pack contains thirty pieces of cedar wood. The rings have holes in the middle for easy hanging on clothes hangers. You can also place the rings in drawers, clothes bins, show box and anywhere you want to deter moths.

In addition to keeping clothes moths away, they also produce a pleasant cedar smell.

The smell will fade with time, but can refresh it by sanding away a layer of wood on the rings. A small piece of sandpaper is included.

As for effectiveness, these cedar wood rings won’t kill moths and their larvae like insecticide mothballs do. They only repel clothes moths.

We recommend cleaning out your closet first to get rid of the moths and larvae. If you have a serious infestation, call a professional exterminator.

After that, use these rings to keep the space moth-free.

What we like about it:

  • No chemicals or insecticides.
  • Safe for kids & pets.
  • Effective at repelling moths.
  • Lifelong repellant – just needs to be renewed regularly by sanding.

4. Best With Lavender: Acana 2675-1 Hanging Moth Killer and Lavender Freshener

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Lavender is another good repellent for clothes moths. The Acana hanging moth killer combines a lavender scent (which also acts as an air freshener), with the insecticide, transfluthrin, to kill moths, larvae and eggs.

And don’t worry about your clothes smelling like lavender. Customers say the scent doesn’t transfer to clothes. It’s just gentle enough to fill the closet space.

The Acana moth killer comes in an easily hangable design for easy placement in a wardrobe or cupboard.

The manufacturer says the moth killer lasts up to 6 months, though many customers say the automatic end of life indicator (the word END) displays sooner than that. But you should get at least three months of moth protection from it.

Keep in mind that the Acana moth killer contains insecticide, so be careful how you handle and dispose of it. Follow instructions on the label and keep kids and pets away from it.

What we like about it:

  • Low price.
  • Long lifespan.
  • Highly effective.
  • Pleasant lavender scent.

5. Best Moth Killer Spray: Zero In ZER434 Clothes Moth Killer, 300 ml Aerosol

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If you prefer a spray to mothballs, we recommend the Zero In moth killer aerosol. The 300ml can contains cypermethrin, another highly effective insecticide against clothes moths.

To kill moths, spray it inside cupboards, wardrobes, and drawers. DO NOT spray directly on clothes, or any fabric.

Any moths that come into contact with the chemical will die. It also kills larvae and eggs. The manufacturer says the effects of the spray can last up to 12 months, but we recommend spraying more regularly than that to keep moths away.

If you are worried about the chemicals, you can spray once initially then use a natural repellent like cedar rings or moth trap to keep the moths from reproducing.

Note that the spray is irritating if you inhale it and can cause a coughing fit. Wear a mask when spraying and keep kids and pets away.

What we like about it:

  • Highly effective.
  • Long lasting protection.
  • Easy to use.

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