Getting Rid of Rug Moths: Does Freezing Kill Carpet Moths?

Do you have small worn circles on your rugs? This could be a sign of pesky rug moths. These are especially troublesome in the spring when new leaves start budding, so are moth larvae being born and feeding off your plants – or worse, your rugs.

Household dirt attracts moths for a good reason. It’s practically their best source of food. Remember the food spills you forgot to clean up? This is considered a feast for moth larvae.

Here’s everything you need to know about rug moths: signs of damage, what it looks like, how a professional can help, and answers to other FAQs.

What Are the Signs of Moths in Carpets and Rugs?

Recognizing rug moth damage early can save your rugs from extensive harm. Here are the key signs to look for:

• Small worn circles: Indicate where moths have fed on the rug fibers.
• Threadbare patches: Larger areas of missing pile or threads.
• Larvae cases: Small, rice-like casings attached to the rug.
• Webbing and cocoons: Often found in dark, undisturbed areas.
• Fecal pellets: Tiny dark pellets near or on the rug.
• Flying moths: Adult moths flying around your home, particularly near wool rugs.
• Musty odor: An unusual smell emanating from the rug, indicative of an infestation.

What Does Moth Damage on Oriental Rugs Look Like?

This is what rug moth damage looks like:

And since moths are sneaky, they can crawl under your rug to lay their eggs. Once hatched, the larvae will eat your rug slowly. Natural fibers like wool are another favorite food source. Moths predominantly feed on the keratin found in wool and other similar materials.

A moth infestation can become costly and can cause irreparable damage to your rugs and other soft furnishings in the home. This is bad news, especially for rug and carpet collectors. You wouldn’t want these critters near your collection, ever!

While moths love dirty rugs, they hate clean ones. So if you want to prevent your valuable rugs from getting damaged by these pests, make sure you keep your fine rugs clean.

How Do You Know If You Have Carpet Moths?

It’s a bit challenging for homeowners to know if you do have moth larvae. Since these are practically babies, they don’t feed off your rug in one sitting. But rather, they munch your carpets away slowly. You’ll only know they’re there once you start seeing some serious damage.

Moth infestation damage can mostly be found on the softer pile of the rug than the hard webbing. A common sign of larvae infestation is threadbare patches especially if you keep your rugs in dark areas, in an unused room, or under long-standing furniture.

Another sign is larval cases dotted around the room’s edges. This is a much more obvious sign and sometimes you can even notice some of the adult moths lurking around.

Our Professional Rug Moth Removal Method

As a leading rug cleaning service in Atlanta, S&S Rugs uses the safest, most eco-friendly method to get rid of pests like moths and their larvae. One of the techniques we use is freezing. Freezing is a non-toxic approach that kills moths and larvae without harmful chemicals. This is the safest approach, especially if you have young children at home. 

Compared to commercial pesticides, freezing does not leave residue on your rugs or fumes that your family can later on breathe. In our freezer solution, our experts pack the infested rugs into plastic packets and store them in the deep freezer.

Freezing as a Moth Treatment for Rugs

At S&S Rugs, we prefer using the safest, most eco-friendly method to get rid of pests like moths and their larvae. One of the techniques we use is freezing.

Freezing is the ideal way to eradicate moths in your rugs without using toxic chemicals. It’s both good for the environment and safest approach especially if you have young children at home. Compared to commercial pesticides, freezing does not leave residue on your rugs or fumes that your family can later on breathe.

Also, exposure to pesticides can have several health risks. The use of these chemicals has been linked to serious illnesses including respiratory problems and even cancer.

Cold temperatures kill moths much as heat does. In our freezer solution, our experts pack the infested rugs into plastic packets and store them in the deep freezer. We don’t use ordinary freezers though. Unlike your home freezer, our freezer’s temperatures go as low as zero degrees. Zero temperatures kill larvae and make sure your rugs are free from pests.

How to Get Rid of Moths in Rugs for Good 

Professional rug cleaning assistance addresses existing infestations and helps protect your rugs from future damage. If you notice extensive rug moth damage or find it challenging to get rid of moths eating wool rugs, S&S professional rug cleaners can help. We’ll eradicate all moths and pests, plus repair and restore damaged areas, prolonging the life of your rugs.

As the best rug cleaning service in Atlanta, S&S Rug Cleaners guarantees exceptional results and customer satisfaction. Don’t let rug moths ruin your valuable rugs. Fill out our online form to get a free quote or call us at (404) 355-2126 to schedule a professional rug cleaning appointment today!

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