Does lavender really repel moths?
This article takes a look at moths vs lavender. Do these pests stand a chance? You might have heard a lot about the effects of lavender on moth control.
What we seek to find out is if these pests are really repelled.
Using Lavender Sachets For Moths
Lavender flowers as well as their oil are widely used for a variety of purposes. These range from being used as a pharmaceutical product, like fragrance, as a flavoring in food, and also to relieve a wide range of health problems.
More important to our discussion is the pest repellent properties of lavender essential oil.
Being a versatile product, it’s easier to appreciate the many benefits of lavender.
Does Lavender Repel Moths?
Before we attempt to answer the question on the repellent effect of lavender on moths, we’ll first need to establish a fact. A lot misconception about moth activity exists that needs to be clarified.
While it’s common to think that moths cause all sorts of damage to fabric materials, it isn’t entirely true.
The damage or holes you find on your bedding, upholstery, clothes, and curtains aren’t actually caused by adult moths. Rather, it’s the larvae that are responsible for such.
These are mostly in the form of caterpillars or maggots. This isn’t to absolve adult moths from such damage as they lay the eggs in the first place.
Natural Preference For Lavender Moth Repellent
With moth, there’s a need to adopt natural repellent strategies due to its many advantages.
First off, you get the benefit of safety. Like other essential oils, lavender oil treatments have no adverse or toxic effect on humans.
Generally, it’s considered a safer alternative compared with chemical pesticides like mothballs. So, is this a confirmation of its repellent effect on moths?
You’ll need to stick around to find out as we discuss this shortly.
Lavender For Moth Control
Lavender is a natural product you can trust due to its pest repellent effect. Among these pests are moths. Users have the option of settling for dried lavender plants or their essential oil.
Both of these have similar repellent effects on moths.
However, dried lavender seems to be mostly used due to its convenience. Now, convenience can is relative.
While some people may consider it better to have dried lavender-filled in sachets and placed in their closets, others may prefer the cotton ball approach.
The cotton ball approach is quite simple too.
Here, you only need to soak some cotton balls in lavender essential oil and place them at strategic points. Such points will be areas with the most moth activity such as cupboards, drawers, boxes, and wardrobes, etc.
How Lavender Works as a Moth Repellent
Whenever you read about the moth repellent properties of lavender, what you’re likely to find is that scent it gives out. This seems to be the main reason why lavender flowers, as well as essential oils, repel moths.
-
Do Moths Hate Lavender Smell?
Lavender gives releases a pleasant scent that permeates your surroundings.
However, while you enjoy such scents, moths and other pests like mosquitoes don’t. In other words, they dislike its scent and will keep off from treated areas.
So, is there any scientific evidence backing the efficacy of lavender as a moth repellent?
We’d have to consider its constituent compounds. The lavender essential oil has over 300 compounds. Do all of these compounds contribute to its aroma and repellent effect?
Not really. The main compounds contributing to its fragrance are linalool and linalyl acetate.
These aroma compounds, though desirable aren’t solely responsible for lavender’s pest repellent effect. A combination of these and others like camphor and 1,8-cineole all found in lavender oil help get the job done.
This family of constituent aroma compounds is known as terpenes. Their insecticidal properties go beyond moth control. In other words, such compounds will readily repel other pests including mosquitoes.
So, while getting relief from your moth problem, you also get to keep mosquitoes out.
How to Use Lavender For Moth Control
Lavender is quite easy to use.
With this product, you won’t have to worry about safety as it won’t cause harm to humans and pets. To have the most impact, all you have to do is dip some cotton balls in lavender and place them along with different moth-infested areas.
Such areas will mostly include closets, drawers, and the likes. While lavender essential oils will drive out adult moths and maggots or caterpillars, they could leave a mess behind.
How so? Placing lavender-soaked cotton balls around infested areas may not be appeal to you.
However, there’s a way out. Using container lids to place lavender-soaked cotton balls may be agreeable to many.
However, if both of these don’t appeal to you, consider using dried lavender plants. Such plants still give you the desired effect as they contain the compounds responsible for repelling moths.
You can sew up a bag to place dried lavender plants in. This should be tied up and placed in targeted areas such as closets etc. For best results, consider squeezing such backs every week.
This increases the intensity of the scent released.
So, while you enjoy the scent, moths have a tough time staying around. They’ll have no option but to leave due to the overwhelming scent being released.
Does Lavender Kill Moths?
So far, our focus has been on the repellent effect of lavender on moths. With such established, it’s also important to consider if lavender kills moths.
When it comes to exterminating moths, there’s no clear scientific affirmation regarding such.
With no clear confirmation about its ability to kill moths, there’s no need to worry as repelling these destructive creatures is good enough.
However, you’ll need to maintain this preventive treatment by always keeping lavender around. Part of the benefits includes a pleasant-smelling home.
Mind What You Bring into Your Home
If you love to buy antique items from thrift stores, consignment stores, or garage sales, you’ll need to pay more attention to what’s brought into your home.
Moths can easily hitch a ride on these items to get into your home.
With the moth-repellent property of lavender confirmed, you can adopt the essential oil treatment for such antique items before bringing them in.
Now you know! This natural repellent treatment or product can be applied as discussed for relief from moths. Even when moths are gone, you can still protect your home by using lavender.