Moth infestations can turn your garage into a place you avoid rather than a place you enjoy. If you’ve been having moths slap you in the face any time you reach for a tool, you’re going to need to take care of it ASAP.
You’ll find out why moths are inside of your garage and 9 ways to get rid of them below.
If you’re ready to get rid of these weird creatures and reclaim your garage, let’s get to it!
Signs of a moth infestation in your garage
- Holes in clothes stored in your garage
- Webbing, cocoons, and droppings visible in the garage
- Droppings and cocoons in stored food
- Larvae around the corners of your garage
- Moths flying around in your garage
What causes a moth infestation inside the garage?
Moth larvae like to eat fibers from animals like wool and fur. They also enjoy living in dark, warm, and humid spaces. Moths can hide in your clothes and then lay eggs when they make their way inside of your home. It’s no wonder they’re in your garage, it’s their preferred environment during the warmer months.
Pantry moths can also lay their eggs inside of dry foods like flour, cereal, fruit, and coffee. Once the moths are eating your stored food, they have plenty of energy to lay eggs creating an infestation problem inside of your garage.
How to Get Rid of Moths Inside Garage: 9 Ways
1. Remove Stored Food
If you aren’t storing your food in airtight containers in your garage, then you’re going to need to do so from now on. If you have a moth infestation, then it’s a good idea to throw away any food that wasn’t stored properly. You don’t want to chow down on some moth larvae unknowingly!
Pantry moths live on dry food, so make sure they have no food sources to continue their life cycle. Any pet food that’s lying around in your garage should be thrown out as well. In the future, store your dry food in the pantry to prevent moth infestations.
2. Use Cedar Oil
Cedar oil is a great moth repellant, they are repelled by the pheromones found within the oil. What you’re going to do is get a spray bottle, fill it with water and a few drops of cedar oil and then spray it around your garage.
You can also place cedar blocks around your garage as well if you have them on hand. Another trick is to soak cotton balls in cedar oil to prevent moths from coming into your garage. You can also use the oil in a diffuser if you have one.
3. Use a vacuum to suck up the moths
A trick to get the moths to start flying around is to turn the lights off and wait a few minutes. After some time has passed, turn the lights back on simultaneously with the vacuum cleaner and they should start swarming and making themselves visible.
Take the hose from your vacuum cleaner and start sucking up the moths. If there are a lot of moths, you’re going to need to spend some time capturing them all. When all is said and done, empty out your vacuum cleaner to prevent them from laying eggs (or rotting).
4. Use a pantry moth trap
A pantry moth trap utilizes pheromones which attract the moths to the area. It’s sticky, so as soon as they land on the area, they’re going to be trapped. You can stick the traps all around your garage and let them get to work. I recommend this method if you are squeamish and don’t want to vacuum up the moths.
5. Dried/crushed powdered herbs
It sounds strange, but this natural method gets rid of moths! Gather up the following herbs:
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Bay Leaves
- Lavender
- Cloves
Crush or grind them and keep them in a bag, preferably fine mesh that lets the smell permeate. Moths hate the smell of these herbs, so hang up a bag of them around your garage and watch them fly away.
6. Keep your garage clean
Since moths are attracted to dirt and dust, it’s a good idea to do a deep clean of your garage. You’ll get rid of moths and your garage will also be squeaky clean. Not a bad deal, eh?
It’s recommended to also use vinegar and spray any areas that you find moth eggs or larvae.
7. Wash and Freeze Clothes
If you’ve found holes in your stored clothes, you’re going to need to remove the larvae that may not be visible to the naked eye. You can store the clothes in your freezer for at least 24 hours to kill them off.
If you don’t have room in your freezer, you can also use wash your clothes with hot water. After they’ve been washed, turn your dryer on high and it’ll kill off any remaining moth larvae.
Store your clothes in airtight containers or find them space within your home to prevent any moths from finding their way back to your garage.
8. Use a bug zapper
Common knowledge is that moths are attracted to light, so why not use light to your advantage?
What I love about bug zappers is that they’re great for attracted not just moths, but flies, bugs, and mosquitos. They’re a low-cost investment that works while you’re away from home, and will keep your garage bug-free for years to come. This model also comes with 2 replacement bulbs so you’ll be set for a long time.
9. Call a Professional Exterminator
Getting rid of moths can cost anywhere between $100-350 depending on the type of infestation. If you’ve exhausted all of your options, it may be your best bet to call a pest control company.
You’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your garage will have ample protection and you’ll get guidance on how to prevent any further moth infestations. Considering the cost, it can be a better option than spending money on traps and bug zappers that may not be as effective.
Final Thoughts
Getting rid of moths in your garage can be overwhelming, but if you take your time and approach it at the right angle, you’ll get rid of the moths in no time.
Spiders and rats can also make their way into your garage, but proper garage maintenance will prevent most infestations. Keep up with cleaning and proper storage practices and you shouldn’t have any problems.
