Moths love wool rugs. Add a little neglect, a dash of pet hair and you have a moth magnet. Moth larvae can hide unnoticed in the deep, dark undisturbed recesses of rugs – unless you get them cleaned by professionals in-plant. A moth- infested rug is treated in the plant with a spray made from dried chrysanthemum flowers to protect all the rugs in our care.
Many people even believe that cleaning rugs is not good for them. This is totally false. Dirty rugs are targets for moth infestation. They especially love keratin in hair (dog and cat hair on a rug is a paradise for moth larvae). They can also feed on a mix of synthetic fiber and wool.
There are two types of clothes moths that can damage your wool rugs: the webbing moth and the casemaking moth because they spin a silken tube that protects them. The webbing moth remains stationery and does the damage in one place – the case making moth does not attach its tubes and therefore can move around and cause more damage throughout the rug.
The moths’ life cycle can last from 2 months to over 2 years. They lay their eggs on products their larvae can eat – like wool rugs. The larvae stage (the damaging stage) can last from 2-30 months. A moth infestation, unnoticed in rugs, can result in major damage – pile loss the size of a fist in weeks.
At the Ayoub N&H Plant – your wool rug is thoroughly vacuumed, beaten, dusted and washed. Mothballs, flakes and crystals are ineffective in moth control for rugs and can make some people sick – they are only a minor repellant anyway. It just makes the wool less-tasty to the larvae. A moth repellant, that lasts for up to 3 years or until it is washed again, can be applied by Ayoub N&H Carpet & Rugs. It has no residual odor and is not harmful to people – just your hungry rug inhabitants.
What signs should you look for to check for moth infestation:
- flying adult moths
- loose carpet fibers on top of the rug
- cocoons – slightly fuzzy cylinder, same color as the rug around ⅛ in diameter x 1/2″long
- squirming larvae on or deep inside the rug’s fibers
So protect your wool rugs by having us clean them at our rug cleaning plant. We are experts in the care and cleaning of your valuable rugs. If it’s too late we can repair your rug’s damage and treat your rugs so they’re better protected against future invaders. Give Ayoub N&H Carpet and Rugs a call today: MD/DC 240-430-0994 VA: 703-535-5410 or contact us through our website.
