Now that spring is here, or at the very least approaching, many of us might be getting ready to store our woolen clothes, hats, and gloves for the summer. No matter if those woolen goods are precious handmade items, expensive store purchased things, or thrift store treasures they keep us warm and dry during the cold months and deserve some protection from moths and other bugs while being stored. Rather than packing them away in stinky and chemical laden moth balls, try making these simple and delightful smelling herbal moth repellent sachets instead.
Cedar has long been a natural moth repellent and while it does smell good and works, it only works for as long as the smell stays fresh and is something I have to buy as I don’t have it growing on my homestead. Several years ago, I spent some time researching herbs that repel moths and found that I have many already growing in my herb garden and I bet you do too.
How to Make Herbal Moth Repellent Sachets
- 1/4 Cup Dried Lavender Buds
- 1/4 Cup Dried Rose Petals
- 1/4 Cup Dried Rosemary
Stir the herbs together and place into muslin drawstring bags or tie up in a double layer of cheesecloth.
To use: simply lay a sachet or two in the box of woolen goods to be stored.
These simple little sachets make a great gift too. Think about giving one along with a homemade hat or scarf so that your recipient can protect their treasure.
Note: After one season, the herbs will likely loose their smell and power in repelling moths. Simply compost the dried herbs and refill the sachets or consider using some essential oils of the same scents to refresh, if desired. I personally skip the essential oils here not wanting the oil to leave any kind of stains on my clothing but it could work in a pinch.
How do you protect your woolen clothing from moths in the summer months?
jeanette wyatt
Sunday 3rd of March 2019
i'm tickled that someone else knows what a sachet is. sounds like a nice blend that you have. i like all of those. i've been making popourri. with orange oil, dehydrated citrus peels, slices and my own spice blend. that has been recommended for bug repellent, and air freshner
Faye Corbett
Tuesday 19th of April 2016
Tansy works well too, as a moth repellent. Would be good to use in the sachets.
Lisa from Iroquois
Tuesday 19th of April 2016
I frequently toss a section of freshly clipped cedar bough into the box, So far so good. Apparently woolens attract the moths because they smell like the animal they came from... so meat/flesh. The greenery, any strong scented plant material, overpowers that and confuses the moths and they go elsewhere.
Angi @ SchneiderPeeps
Saturday 16th of April 2016
When I read the title I thought it said "mosquito". It took ma moment to figure out why mosquitoes were getting in your woolens! ;-) We don't have woolens to pack away but I wonder if this would work with pantry moths?
cheryl welch
Sunday 1st of September 2019
Bay leaves work for pantry moths. I would add patchouli and cedarwood or sandalwood to these. Both repel moths well.
Homespun Seasonal Living
Sunday 17th of April 2016
I'm not sure if it would work with pantry moths or not, but it'd be easy enough to try. If you do give it a whirl, let me know if it works, please.