Moth damage & your handmade Persian rug.
One of my worst fears as a rug curator &, ultimately a rug seller, was realized this past November when I read this DM from a client:
“Hi, Leila! I hope you’re having a good weekend. I did a deep vacuum of the Hamedan today and found two or three of some sort of larvae around the rug. I found a piece of another (gross, I know) in a sticky substance (with some of the rug dye, I think) under the corner of the carpet…”
Room-sized Persian Hamedan wool on cotton foundation.
Worst. Day. Ever. Quick back story, the message was from a young professional who lives locally in Austin & had spent a great deal of time with me looking for the perfect rugs for the home she and her husband were rehabbing. Anna spent time asking me all the great questions about styles, origin, motifs & ultimately she and her hubby chose this beautiful room-sized Hamedan.
Persian Hamedan rug with a central medallion, florals, & negative space
This one is a beast! And I mean that in a good way; it’s 10’x13’6 & weighs a solid 90 plus pounds. Gorgeous design, amazing color palette; it likely took 4 weavers a good 9 months to a year to complete this beauty. Anna bought the rug from me in the spring (of 2022) & asked me to hang onto it while they were continuing to fix up the room it was intended for. I gladly stored it for them until delivering it (in addition to a beautiful Tabriz for their kitchen-breakfast nook) in October. It’s perfect for their home; it immediately cozied up their space & they were excited to start putting it to good use with movie nights, entertaining, & all the usual living you do in a living room.
So fast forward to the day of the DM, which was about three weeks after I delivered & helped install their rugs. Of course, I immediately got to work letting her know what I recommend to do in this icky situation; more on that in a moment. I was also keenly aware that perhaps I had brought her the rugs with moths as their uninvited guests. I did check my storage space & rugs and, thankfully, did not find any evidence of the pesky problem. Good for me, but not good for my lovely clients.
What are the signs that moths (or other pests!) are making themselves comfy in your rugs?
Moths & other bugs are attracted to every home, so be sure to know that the problem is not you or how clean you feel your home is! Lovers of natural fabrics, moths are definitely something to be on the lookout for in your home regardless of how much of a clean freak we may be. Regular cleaning, including vacuuming the front & back of your rugs & rotating them to check for any signs of pests, will help prevent a problem. But, moths & other bugs can eat through your hand made rugs & leave a mess & a heartache behind. While adult moths aren’t the perpetrators, the larvae will cause harm. Also, if there’s a season for moths, it’s typically spring, summer, & fall when the humidity (hence moisture) is higher in your home.
Here are some signs to look for that damage has been done or has begun.
Look for irregular holes or missing pile from your wool rugs.
Check the underside & edges of your rugs. Moths leave a sticky residue that looks like spider webs or dryer lint, like this image.
Moths don’t damage cotton, so if your rug has a cotton foundation, you’ll notice the pile is missing (even in very small amounts) but the cotton foundation will be left behind, like the image above.
If your rug is constructed with wool on a wool foundation, the moths can eat through the whole rug leaving holes behind, however small or large the holes may be.
If you see any larvae, be sure to clean out other areas of your home as well (closets, for instance) to help from spreading.
Okay, so I think I might have a problem with moths. Now what?
Un-invite the pests by discouraging them to stick around! Clean your home by using a vacuum cleaner; dust & vacuum untouched corners, under & around furniture, the fabric on your furniture itself, & any pillows. Don’t forget any wool or cashmere throw blankets or silk drapery you may have; these are natural fibers & easy for eggs to attach themselves to.
Not everyone’s favorite, but you can use an insecticide specific to moths to help get rid of them & to help prevent any future issues. There are essential oil-based pesticides & moth traps that you can use, such as this one, as an alternative option.
Freezing a small rug can help to get rid of the larvae already in place.
For a true infestation, look for the nearest professional hand knotted rug cleaner in your city. Most metropolitan areas have professionals who can help!
How can I prevent a moth problem from happening in the first place?
Circling back to my sweet clients, Anna & her hubby, Anna shared with me that her neighbor had also experienced moth issues in their home. It’s not uncommon to have moths (we have too, in our closet with some of our favorite sweaters damaged by these pests!), but since she’s recently unfortunately experienced it, she shared with me what they did after their own home was thoroughly cleaned.
Choose a pest control trap & spray of your choice. Remember Granny’s hanging moth balls? With so many natural options, we don’t have to worry about the bad smell & damage to our health that the old preventative causes!
A natural deterrent, cedar rings like these can help to keep adult moths away, hence not leave any of their nasty rug-eating larvae.
Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, & tea tree oils have also been shown to be an effective preventative.
Anna also used Dr. Killigan’s Six Feet Under Non Toxic Insect Killer Spray & really like it.
Additionally, Anna used storage bags like these to store any clothing not in season and not in use.
An easy preventative, that you probably already utilize, is to vacuum regularly, meaning weekly or bi-weekly. Be sure to vacuum around the edges of your rugs as well (the selvedges), even the sides that are under the bed or under the sofa, every three months or so.
Lastly, be sure to protect your investment; asking a professional handmade rug cleaner to check in on your rugs or taking them to a professional for an intense cleaning once every 2-3 years is something we do for our own rugs.
What a pain!
Absolutely, 100 percent a pain in the neck to have to deal with a moth infestation. But the prevention (especially since so many natural deterrents are now available) is relatively simple. And if you do come across a problem, there are also products, resources, & people available to help.
Keep in mind that your rug is an heirloom made of natural fibers & (most with) natural dyes; a much better option than the disposable but not recyclable alternative.
Enjoy the beauty of your rugs!
📸 Azadi Mercantile images, Pinterest, & Amy Wilborn Photography @ Wilborn Photo & Video.
Disclaimer: These are some signs to look out for as well as ways of helping to prevent & treat a moth issue. Please contact your professional in your area for even more thorough information.