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ewmoda

What is eating our clothes!!!???

256

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 12:07

Clothes in our closets and clothes in our drawers, clothes that we wear often and clothes that we haven't worn in awhile!

Our maid does laundry all of the time, so it's not like we are unclean people.

I'm afraid to find out the answer- I'm sure I will be absolutely disgusted. But I want to get rid of this problem.

Help!!!

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55

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 December 2012 - 15:47

I've had a simailar problem - little holes around the waist area of my clothes. I discovered it was a rough service under the worktops. DH filed the unerneath edge of the work tops, especially by the sink and hey presto no more holes. Good luck.

457

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 24 December 2012 - 17:16

In that case there's not much you can do except take all your clothes out, give them a good airing, clean out your cupboards with hot water and dettol. Bugs could be attracted to areas that are damp or if you have clothes that are compacted together or even have food on them. Try lavender bags.

256

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 December 2012 - 18:32

Thanks ladies. Unfortunately, I know it's bugs of some sort. Totally gross. I read that moth balls are toxic, so since I have small children, I will steer away from those. What a pain in the booty.

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 December 2012 - 18:19

Same thing happens to me! In my case - it's not bugs - it's the zipper on my jeans or trouser combined with leaning towards counters and the kitchen sink. I try to wear my apron when I wash up - think it helps!

457

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 23 December 2012 - 16:15

I posted last year about these mysterious holes in my tee shirts appearing around the waist and tummy area and us expat Sherlocks figure the culprit is the zip pull on our jeans. It's easy to rub against them if you're standing next to a counter top or if you are wearing your seatbelt they snag on the sharp corner. All my cotton tee shirts are ruined like this. You can always try lavender bags or the cedarwood balls you can get in Lakeland. I use one mothball per drawer or wardrobe and it doesn't smell too bad. If you go to Daiso they have the Japanese ones which don't seem to be so smelly.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 December 2012 - 13:08

I've had this problem for years and in a number of different countries. I read somewhere that you either have to wash everything on high temps, dry clean things or freeze clothes. I tried feezing everything before I packed up and moved over here but when I went to iron something yesterday there were the tell tale holes - on something brand new. I'd be interested to see what other ideas people come up with.

355

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 20:05

Fish moths. We have had them here, they seem to like the weather. They look like this only much paler, almost translucent grey. You get those hanging mothball sachets which chase them away and the kids are unable to reach. [u'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverfish[/u'>

256

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 16:48

Well, it's definitely not jeans, a belt, a countertop or a bra that is causing the damage on our clothes. The holes are on my and my children's clothes on the belly, on the sleeves, shoulders, brand new baby clothes, etc.,. It has to be the moth larvae or this nasty carpet beetle. So, tomorrow I will start the process of vacuuming and disinfecting drawers and cabinets, wash all clothes, etc. Thanks to whoever mentioned the cedar blocks at Lakeland! Once again, an insect problem while I live away far from home- my brother in law in the US has a pest control business!!!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 13:48

I went through this last year and it was driving me crazy! Then we moved to Dubai, and it stopped. Recently it started again - I think the culprit is JEANS... possible any pants with a rough zipper? When we got here i was wearing a lot of skirts and shorts and now that the weather is cooler I notice them again. Think about it... it can't be a bug, because it's only around the waist. If it were a bug it would eat indiscriminately...

1050

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 11:45

I thought it was bras as well and got a great bra washer bag from lakeland, but the holes are getting worse. Might have to do what browneyedgirl said and disinfect the wardrobe. I hate the smell of camphor so that is not an option.

2171

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 11:27

I've always washed my bras separately on a hand wash programme (or in laundry bags if they did go in a main wash) so don't think that's the cause, for me anyway. [url=http://www.desismileys.com/'>[img'>http://www.desismileys.com/smileys/desismileys_0543.gif[/img'>[/url'>

426

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 11:24

I had this problem for ages & it was driving me mad!! I did lots of research into it. Moths only eat natural fibers. I thought carpet beetles were the most likely culprit but I couldn't find any evidence of them. I didn't want to use mothballs as I discovered that camphor is highly toxic for children. I laundered all of my clothes on high temps. I disinfected my wardrobe & moved lots of clothes to a separate draw unit. Now I always close my bras before they are put into the machine (I actually think this was the problem!) No holes for months now! Good luck :-)

2171

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 10:13

We have this problem too, my cotton t-shirts at waist height and DH's on the right shoulder. Whatever it is they really like the more expensive clothing too. Initially I thought it was the kitchen tops or belts but when they started nawing on DH's clothing I am positive it's a critter. We have the little moths that look like fruit flys as well but they are in the bathroom, maybe it's them! That's the ones I squish! I've generally seen ours in the bathroom too - but that's also next to our wardrobe area.

1050

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 09:24

We have this problem too, my cotton t-shirts at waist height and DH's on the right shoulder. Whatever it is they really like the more expensive clothing too. Initially I thought it was the kitchen tops or belts but when they started nawing on DH's clothing I am positive it's a critter. We have the little moths that look like fruit flys as well but they are in the bathroom, maybe it's them!

2171

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 08:40

this subject gets raised this time every year with the same answers, some saying moths, some saying belts etc due to the location of the holes. Touch wood I haven't noticed it this year in our clothes, but I have seen several tiny little moth-like critters in the villa which have been squished as soon as possible. None in the wardrobes though. I have cedar wood blocks in our wardrobes now - you can get them in Lakeland.

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 02:39

No, not poor quality fabric :)

337

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 02:31

If it's tiny holes about waist high, it's most likely your clothes getting snagged on the side of your marble kitchen countertop. That was my thought but I've had this problem for 5 or 6 years and in 3 different houses. Mine always get holes about waist height at the front (checked for belt snagging but it's not that.) DS's underpants get them in the bum part :) That sounds like poor, quality fabric and safety belts

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 22 December 2012 - 00:15

If it's tiny holes about waist high, it's most likely your clothes getting snagged on the side of your marble kitchen countertop. That was my thought but I've had this problem for 5 or 6 years and in 3 different houses. Mine always get holes about waist height at the front (checked for belt snagging but it's not that.) DS's underpants get them in the bum part :)

174

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 23:49

Found the following. Bugs that Commonly Eat Cotton • Carpet beetles of the family Dermestidae are responsible for most damage to cotton or synthetic clothing. The larvae of these beetles have a voracious appetite, and will subsist on anything available, even dryer lint. Carpet beetle larvae can survive for weeks without any food source at all, and they are extremely persistent unless you use chemical means to eliminate them.   Getting Rid of Carpet Beetles • Any items that are infested with carpet beetles should be thrown out or destroyed. If this is not possible, freezing them for 48 hours is advised, or exposing them to temperatures above 120 degrees F for four or more hours is indicated. Clean your house or environment thoroughly, including all fibrous and non-fibrous surfaces. If you have a pet, pay special attention to areas where pet hair accumulates.  Could it be them? [url=http://www.ehow.com/about_5195856_do-moths-eat-cotton-clothes_.html'>More[/url'> [url=http://www.desismileys.com/'>[img'>http://www.desismileys.com/smileys/desismileys_6648.gif[/img'>[/url'>

337

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 23:33

Webbing Clothes Moth (Tineola Bisselliella) This is one of the most common bugs that eat clothes. These are winged insects but rarely do they fly. The usual size of the moth is about 1-2 inches. Its body and wings are light brown in color and the wings are spotless. In general, the lifespan of an adult webbing clothes moth is 60-90 days. They may survive longer (a few days more) if the weather condition is cold. They multiply at a very rapid pace. A female moth mates and lays eggs on the very same day. The eggs are laid in groups in between the threads or cracks of the clothing. These bugs do not like to get exposed to light and hide themselves in closed corners. They are found more in cotton and silk clothes and are less common in fur and woolen materials. Your clothes may get attacked by them at any time of the year but they become abundant in warm, summer climate.

63

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 21:48

It's not that. Nor is it them being snagged on a belt. I've gone through all this :(

54

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 21:46

If it's tiny holes about waist high, it's most likely your clothes getting snagged on the side of your marble kitchen countertop.

63

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 21:39

Hello, I've been having the same issue. With me, it's cotton clothes (always) and it doesn't look like moth-holes. It's usually one or up to three tiny holes around the waist of cotton t-shirts, sometimes on clothes I've only worn once. At first I thought it was careless ironing but when I spoke to my helper she said she's getting it on her clothes too and she's careful with the ironing. Then I noticed the same holes on lots of other people's clothes and my friends have mentioned it so I think it's common. But I have no idea what's causing it. Perhaps just cheap cotton and poor manufacturing. No idea. But it's not moths in this case. HTH

256

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 13:52

Ugh. I'm totally sceeved out. Can this happen by drying your clothes outside?

714

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 13:28

Oh, they will eat any natural fibre. We've had this problem before, and the most annoying thing is we bought clothes from shops in the UK and the clothes had moth eggs in them when we bought them! There was a lot in the UK press last year about moth infestations in some very high end shops... My then DH bought polo shirts from a famous polo shirt shop, brought them back to Dubai, put them in the cupboard for a couple of months and when he got them out, they were full of holes. Luckily my clothes were all in a different room! When this was in the press, i remember going into some shops and there being a very strong chemically smell as if they had been 'treated' - needless to say if i smell this now i do not buy. We found lots of advice on google as to how to get rid of them.

256

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 12:58

Maybe you have moths? I think you can buy little sachets with some anti-moth stuff in it, which will keep them away. Don't moths eat wool? Maybe I'm wrong. It's cotton clothes that are falling victim. I figured I'd get a ton of responses- like this was a common thing. Bummer.

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2012 - 12:15

Maybe you have moths? I think you can buy little sachets with some anti-moth stuff in it, which will keep them away.

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