Storing Woolen Items

RAW Uncleaned Yarn

Many, many years ago (2010), my daughter had a destination wedding in Hautulco, Mexico, The sister-in-laws (SIL) all went shopping in the quaint little town.  On the town square there was a great little shop with hand dyed and hand spun wool.  They were busy weaving rugs with this yarn.   SIL's and I wandered into this great shop.  They even turned the lights on in the open air shop when we came in to browse!.  Laurie (experienced knitter) and I (beginner knitter) Donna (not a knitter at all) went to the back of the shop where we discovered skeins and skeins of hand dyed wool hanging from the rafters.   We were thrilled and bought a 'bunch' of yarn and brought them back to the USA. 

So, mine, because I am more of a quilter than a knitter, was stored this wonderful yarn in a plastic bag under a counter in my quilting shop.....  Soon, forgotten, and I proceeded with my quilty business and life in Houston, TX.  

About six months later, I notice that my shop is filled with these nasty little moths!  WTH???  Me, can't figure out what is going on, generally those moths come from things like oats, flour, and other grains. I cleaned, cleaned again, purged, and cleaned some more over the course of a couple of months.  Imagine my surprise when I opened a cupboard door and opened that plastic bag!  A CLOUD of moths flew into the room.  (I won't mention me running screaming from the room waving my hands in the air).    After calming down, I managed to grab the bag of EATEN UP YARN CRUMBLES and put it into the trash.  

After a opening all the windows and doors for a few hours, the cloud of moths finally cleared out.  I cleaned the shop top to bottom again with Clorox and other cleaners. Finally, no more moths.

So What is the Deal With Wool?

Anyone that has more than one season which includes a LOT of WINTER,  probably has more than one wool sweater or a pair of wool socks.  Maybe you even slept under one of  those old 'boiled wool' blankets that I grew up with in Wichita Kansas - (mine was a bright red with a black stripe across the top and bottom from dad's Army days).

Stored wool items can be damaged by insects, specifically moths.  You can tell when you have moth damage when you start seeing random holes or other fiber breakage. Usually, the hole will have sharply defined edges.

What Is The Culprit?

The easiest way to avoid moth damage when storing wool items is to clean the item thoroughly before storing it, thus removing any insect larvae.  Store it in a sealed container such as a zippered bag to prevent insects from getting in. Keep it in an area of low humidity without temperature extremes.

Wool can be washed in lukewarm water (around 100 F) with a low PH soap. A teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice in the wash water will help lower the PH. Do not twist, agitate or wring out your wool items – they may shrink or felt. Block your wool item by laying it flat and shaping it on a screen or towel to dry. If you can’t wash something, put it in a freezer at -4F for at least two weeks to destroy all larvae.

Use mothballs or other repellents when storing items, but never let them actually touch the wool. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling mothballs.

How to Prevent Clothes Moths

Once you’ve successfully controlled clothes moths, keep them from coming back with a few basic strategies.

• Don’t entice them with food and hiding places.
• Clean natural fiber clothes and other goods thoroughly before placing them in long-term storage; don’t store clothes with sweat or body oils.
• Store valuable or cherished items in vacuum-sealed bags, or keep them in airtight containers, such as plastic bins that have all gaps and seams sealed with tape.
• Clean clothes closets frequently, and routinely inspect for signs of moths. Rotate clothes within the closet to ensure some items aren’t languishing in the dark corners. Frequently worn clothes and other items are less susceptible to infestation due to the moths’ aversion to light and movement.
• For special dresses or suits that you wear infrequently but keep in the closet, store them in plastic (not fabric) garment bags that have all openings sealed with tape.

FAQ

• Do mothballs get rid of clothes moths?

  Mothballs can be effective for killing clothes moth larvae, but the conditions must be just right; namely, the balls (or other forms) must be used in a small, contained area (such as a chest) that is not frequently opened or ventilated. They do not work in most household closets. Plus, they are dangerous around children and pets. Therefore, most experts discourage the use of mothballs for clothes moth treatment.  Not to mention that the SMELL is awful.
  

• Are clothes safe in cedar closets or chests?

  Cedar contains natural volatile oils that are repellent and potentially lethal to clothes moths.   However, the high concentration of volatile oils required to kill moths is difficult to achieve even in a closed chest, and it’s nearly impossible to achieve in a standard clothes closet. You might want to use cedar if you like the smell, but don’t rely on it to prevent moth damage.  

  Note that items stored in direct contact to Cedar can cause other problems.  Brown Spots and other stains.  Always suggested to store ANY wool, cotton or other natural fiber in something like an old pillowcase that has been laundered a gazillion times. 
  

• At what point should you throw away clothes with moth holes?

  If you notice an issue with clothes moths early, you may be able to repair the clothing before it's too late. However, if the damage is beyond repair, then it may be time to simply throw away the clothing or find some way to reuse the fabric.

  I have my mom's dark navy blue WOOL wedding dress (1943).   It has been stored in who knows where for 80 years.  Currently, it is a 'wad' of fiber stored in a trunk with other family photos.   I'm afraid to even try to open it up or do anything with the fabric.  It is still in a 'wad'.  :(
  

Updated 9/26/2024 -  More about Moths and Wool. 
I had quite a bit of 'Wool Felt' yardage and kits that I purchased from reputable distributors over the years.  That being said, I have purchased many Wool project kits (think Penney Rug mats).  Had a really nice collection of wool felt half yard pieces in a curated collection of colors.  While these were stored in the same climate controlled environment as our other product, we ended up having some severe moth damage to a stack of 'felted wool' from Moda/United Notions..  

Those pieces were filled with moth damage. Don't understand why this one stack of fabrics was contaminated, but everything else seems to be just fine.

What caused the damage?  Was it the way it was processed by the manufacturer?   These items were stored the same way as all of the rest of my wool fiber.

d wool items such as sweaters and other garments can be damaged by insects, specifically moths. You can tell when you have moth damage instead of fiber breakage (fraying) caused by age or use because the hole has very sharply defined edges. These aren’t the moths you see fluttering around lights. These moths are tiny 1/8″ insects such as the Webbing Clothes Moths, the Case Making Moths, or the Tapestry Moths that travel on people and animals until they find somewhere to lay their eggs. It’s the larvae of these moths that actually does the damage. They feed on the keratin found in natural fibers such as wool. These larvae prefer fibers that have some moisture in them, which is why they are so attracted to soiled garments. They also like the dark, which is why floor rugs often show damage on the bottom but not the top. The easiest way to avoid moth damage when storing wool items is to clean the item thoroughly before storing it, thus removing any insect larvae. Store it in a sealed container such as a zippered bag to prevent insects from getting in. Keep it in an area of low humidity without temperature extremes. Wool can be washed in lukewarm water (around 100 F) with a low PH soap. A teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice in the wash water will help lower the PH. Do not twist, agitate or wring out your wool items – they may shrink or felt. Block your wool item by laying it flat and shaping it on a screen or towel to dry. If you can’t wash something, put it in a freezer at -4F for at least two weeks to destroy all larvae. Use mothballs or other repellants when storing items, but never let them actually touch the wool. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling mothballs.

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