How TF does one get rid of pantry moths forever? (Hope this sub can help, not sure where else to post)
Posted by ScumBunny@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 108 comments
I keep most things in jars and double-ziploc bags, vacuum seal the things we use less often, have put out trap after trap and disinfected the entire pantry multiple times! I always remove items from their original packaging if it’s in a cardboard box. They seem to stay away from the plastic-packaged stuff.
They keep showing up in unexpected places. I just now found a little nest in my chicken boullion powder in the spice cabinet! These effers can NOT invade my spices. Checked everything else and they seem to be isolated in the boullion🤞…for now
Has anything worked to eliminate them once and for all? I’m so tired of this battle. Feeling defeated, but I will not let a little bug ruin my food stores.
I know they came from a discount grocery store that has since shut down because all their grains were infested with pantry moths. Like, it was ‘a thing’ on the local FB group. But that was a couple years ago and I’m STILL fighting to get rid of them. It ebbs and flows.
Of course, everything they inhabit gets tossed, composted, or relegated to dog food (flax seed meal, nutritional yeast, things like that. I doubt my dog minds a few larvae/moths here and there.) But I do!
Halp! If y’all know of a better sub for this query, please let me know. Thank you!
Attempt-Aromatic@reddit
Hi guys, what brands for traps do you recommend?
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I just get the kind they sell at Ace. They fold up into a triangle shape and are pretty effective. Can’t remember the brand though.
Horror-Judgment-6937@reddit
I need help. I have those traps but they aren’t doint anything
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I honestly don’t know what to do other than what I’ve been doing. Maybe try some things from the post? Good luck!
Ok_Owl2886@reddit
I bought those pheromone traps from Amazon and they worked wonders. It caught hundreds of them which was a relief bc I was killing at least 10 a day and that’s just of what I saw. I then did two rounds of cleaning the cabinets. Threw away most of the food in there and any new food went straight into the fridge. Was able to find their nests and clean the area with bleach. And they were gone within a week. Haven’t seen another since and it’s been over a year.
Horror-Judgment-6937@reddit
Can you link which traps pls
Ok_Owl2886@reddit
Ya. These are it! https://a.co/d/0cE8BEF
Horror-Judgment-6937@reddit
Thank you. The thing is I have these small beetles it’s not moths but I don’t know what to do
krisbo2020@reddit
How do you determine where the nests are after or how to trace it
Ok_Owl2886@reddit
I really just had to go through my cabinets. They make nest that looks like white webbing usually in the corners. Once I cleaned that up they stopped showing up!
big_bob_c@reddit
Well, you have 2 issues: First, the moths may have laid eggs places you can't clean. Second, you may still be bringing in eggs and thinking a new infestation is an old infestation coming back.
To deal with the first: pull everything out of the pantry (not just grains) and clean the heck out of it. Vacuum all nooks and crevices, wipe all surfaces with a mix of vinegar and hot water, then check every food container for eggs before returning it to the pantry. Pay special attention to grains and cornmeal. Open any unopened flour and cornmeal to check for moths, then seal back up with a zip lock bag. (Keeps the moths out, and traps any that hatch so you know the source.) Thoroughly clean the kitchen, including under and behind the stove. Now any moth survivors will starve.
To deal with the second: put new flour or grain packages into a large zip lock bag and freeze for a week. (We had an infestation from a bag of cornmeal 20 years ago, since then I have religiously frozen cornmeal and flour before it goes in the pantry.)
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I have cleaned the pantry quite thoroughly, and with the freezing thing- eating (even frozen) bug eggs makes me feel nauseous. Even if I try to put it out of my mind. I know I probably already have. But unless it’s visible, I’m able to dissociate.
I’ll try the deep, DEEP kitchen clean and immediately freezing anything new I bring in, as a preventative! Thanks!
Mother_Ambassador870@reddit
I’m so glad the idea of the eggs makes someone else feel nauseous. Overnight I have moths in my pantry and EVERY closet. My pheromone traps are covered in different types.
I threw out everything in my pantry (except oils and vinegar and nespresso pods). Now I’m moving to the clothes closets. Ugh.
ommnian@reddit
Hate to break it to you, but basically all flour, grains, beans etc can, and should just be assumed to have weevil/pantry moths/etc eggs. We all eat bugs, almost every day. Just consider them extra protein.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I know…I just don’t like to know so I don’t think about it.
Melch_Underscore@reddit
Friendly reminder. You are still eating bugs. You are welcome!
preppers-ModTeam@reddit
That was unnecessary
TheLostExpedition@reddit
This is the way. Scrub, Freeze, repackage.
IsaacNewtonArmadillo@reddit
This is the way.
alex10281@reddit
I have spoken.
NoDepartment8@reddit
Dry beans too - I found them in a bag of lentils once. Clean, freeze, repackage - personally I don’t trust Ziploc plastic to keep them out so I store everything in glass mason jars, swing-top jars, or heavy plastic food storage containers.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I use ziploc and mason jars. The ziploc works surprisingly well! Just gotta make sure it’s completely sealed. I do need to invest in some heavier-duty food storage containers.
ryan112ryan@reddit
I wonder if there is a fogger you could use in the empty pantry? Or maybe a steam cleaner sprayer?
I’ve heard they also can get in the little cracks of shelves and lay eggs. Saw one video where they built a new pantry and designed it with as few books as possible and then used wood filler, then painted over it all.
formercrazycatlady22@reddit
Realize this is an old thread, but what do you do when they are inside sealed plastic/glass containers?? I realized there was a hatched larvae/pupae in a brand new, sealed jar of pickles which had been in the refrigerator for over a week (but had previously been in pantry). All my Oxo/glass/plastic containers also got moths and their webbing/eggs inside them. It seems like nothing prevents them from entering, and I have no idea what to do at this point.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Jeez I don’t know. Anything in cardboard packaging gets sealed in a big ziploc, or transferred to mason jars. Those are the only methods with which I e been able to keep them out. Not sure about your containers, but there might be tiny gaps in the seals.
SwordfishPast8963@reddit
I just found this post because I’m dealing with the same issue. Any advice that you can give? Anything in particular that you got from these comments that you’ve tried and found to work??
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Honestly, just the traps, and keeping dry goods very well sealed has worked so far. The moths are still kinda hanging around, but with the traps and the jars/airtight bags, they haven’t been able to get into the food as much. 🤞
That’s really the only things that have worked. Seal them out and trap them. Also, if you get grains from a new, or ‘unknown’ source (bulk bins, discount stores, etc) freeze that shit first for about 2 days, then put into airtight jars.
SwordfishPast8963@reddit
duly noted, thanks! I have a salt gun that has been making things more fun around here🤣🤣🤣
GooseGosselin@reddit
I had a tenant leave behind thousands of them when she moved out, they were behind anything they could squeeze into, even behind wallpaper. I had to strip everything out I could and essentially bug bomb the place.
MajicalOne@reddit
Did the bug bomb work? I have an exterminator, but it’s not really helping that much. I have a lot of clothes! It is impossible for me to get all the clothes clean at the same time. Plus I can’t wash in high heat or dry them so I can’t get them hot enough to kill it in the wash. I do wash with vinegar and baking soda, which helps a lot. I have been wondering bomb would help with the clothes issue? Ii have been hesitant to expose my pets & I to a toxic bomb if it isn’t going to help much. But I am very sick from the situation & need to figure out how to get rid them!!
iamsnarky@reddit
Don't wash with vinegar and baking soda in the same mix. It just neutralizes the acid a d the base (it's an acid base reaction) and produces water. Clean with one or the other.
MavDawg1228@reddit
My mom has had a terrible issue. We moved her out and have been doing some remodeling. We totally emptied house and scrubbed it repainted. Pulled up rugs, unscrewed all electrical outlets. Blew them out. No one has lived there since October. As soon as it warmed up they came out. No food in house I’ve put out pheromone traps. I’m catching 10 a day. I don’t know what they’re living on
BookwyrmDreamin@reddit
What brand are the pheromone traps?
MavDawg1228@reddit
Dr Killigans
SimpleVegetable5715@reddit
I moved into a house that was previously occupied by an elderly woman who probably had the kind of stuff that would appear over on Grandma's Pantry.
They're the worst infestation I have dealt with, but I haven't dealt with bed bugs. I have a deep freezer, so everything went in vacuum sealed containers and then in there. Only the canned/jarred unopened stuff stayed out. Then they go into the cat kibble, so we put that in the freezer too. Then they ended up in the bird seed out in the garage.
You might lose your stash, that was required for me. Plus their eggs, we washed every single cabinet inside and out with hot soapy water, also the pantry. I lived there for three years, and was recently unpacking some of my childhood artwork. There was one of those macaroni art things that I guess my mom had given to me. It was covered in dead pantry moths and bits of what I guess was their larvae. They will find every grain in your house.
Inner_Tennis_2416@reddit
Heat treat the house. All food into the freezer, then heat treat. Will kill anything and everything. Nothing can survive it if properly done.
kurtcobain2023@reddit
Bed bugs are the worst trust me!!! At least moths don’t bite and suck ur boood!
drphilmyholes@reddit
I had bedbugs from a new roommate years ago... I got blood poisoning from one of those fuckers
SimpleVegetable5715@reddit
Yes, I hope I never have to deal with bed bugs.
MeasurementIll3433@reddit
I've been battling them for a few years as well. The pheromone traps catch some, but not enough. Surprisingly, the worst of them is in the bathroom where there is no food and there has never been food. We find tons of the moths in there, plus little cocoons on the walls and ceiling and inside the laundry hamper. I never found any infested foods. I'm going insane with this.
RealWolfmeis@reddit
Salt your drains. Not kidding. That's where they make new ones, apparently, and I tried salt and it freaking worked.
RelativeProject7786@reddit
Couple shots of raid down the drain will work too.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I’m not putting that stuff anywhere near my kitchen! I wonder if diatomaceous earth would work in the pantry though🧐
Craig_1988@reddit
Raid is harmless to humans used properly because we have a liver enzyme that breaks it down efficiently.
Zealousideal-Print41@reddit
We just RidX the drains quarterly. Keeps them smell free, bug free and clog free
SimpleVegetable5715@reddit
Those are drain moths, which look similar, but are different. The thing with those is they have protective "fur", so they're kind of impervious to chemical assaults like bleach and boiling water. Glad salt worked for you. I had those in a guest bathroom tub that rarely got used. Multiple kettles of boiling water daily over a couple of months eventually got rid of them.
kurtcobain2023@reddit
We’ve been battling them for over a year. They’re so annoying. It’s warmer now and they’re MUCH more plentiful smh. We did the pantry deep clean a while back too, they came back n
Vegetaman916@reddit
Take off and nuke the site from orbit.
It's the only way to be sure.
Winter_Persimmon_110@reddit
They mostly come at night, mostly.
kurtcobain2023@reddit
Newt!
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I love Newt! Tattooed ‘mostly’ on my boyfriend because it’s his favorite movie:)
ConsequenceFun5739@reddit
I got them from cinnamon scented pine cones I bought as Xmas decorations several years ago. 🧐
They are in my kitchen, various places around the house and I even find them in my wardrobe too.
I have been using pantry moth traps, and trying to clean carefully. But unless you get them all...they just come back again. I want to sue that major home store I bought those pine came from except they went out business i think. 🤬
WarmHeart39@reddit
We've been battling them for about 3 years now, but only in the warmer months. We froze everything and have yet to find any larva, eggs, webbing, cocoons, anything other than adults. We've caught them on pheromone traps set on the top edge of our built-in microwave, nowhere else. Now we're thinking they must be in the venting of the stove fan since they go dormant in the colder months. They must be eating grease and dust because we've addressed everything else. So frustrating!
account128927192818@reddit
Look into Trichogramma wasp eggs.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Wasps? In my house?
account128927192818@reddit
Look them up, they're microscopic
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Oh weird. I’ll look them up.
Correct-Ad-6473@reddit
I realize this is 4 months old, but I'm dying here and cannot figure out where these pantry moths are coming from 😭. Did anything finally work for you???
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I loaded up with traps and caught, literally, hundreds if not thousands. Got rid of any infested food- straight to the compost and covered. Deep cleaned with bleach. And now everything that’s in a box, or otherwise penetrable by moths, goes into glass jars or ziploc freezer bags. Even my baking soda and dry boullion. Everything gets repackaged. It took a long time but 🤞
Correct-Ad-6473@reddit
Thank you for the reply! I'm getting on it this weekend. Hope you stay bug free!!
SunLillyFairy@reddit
I got them from bird food... I did get rid of them, but I'd find some here and there for almost 2 years!
After a total pantry clean out, I used the sticky traps with pheromones to attract them. I learned they only kill the adult make moths, so don't be surprised if you're still seeing moths about, it doesn't mean they are not working. Here's the deal... the clean out will only help to a point because the females lay microscopic eggs where you can't see them, like baseboard or wood cabinet cracks. When they hatch, you might not see them, because they can live in those cracks off tiny crumbs in their larva stage. Then they cocoon, in those same tight spaces. Then come out flapping around - which is when we usually see them. The traps attract the males to break the lifecycle... but even one rouge mating couple and the problem continues.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
I’ve seen them going for my taxidermy too! You’re right. They will eat any and every thing. Fuckers.
ImSendingGoodVibes@reddit
If they're going for your taxidermy, you may have clothes moths, which look similar to pantry moths. Clothes moths will eat fibers made from animals such as wool, silk, or fur.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Good to know!
Slow-Candidate1033@reddit
My infestation persisted after major cleanup. Later we realized the eggs were being laid in the bag of bird seed the wife had laying around.
superg7one3@reddit
I’ve only come across pantry moths a couple times in 50 years, never in my own house til recently. I found some glue traps with pheromones on Amazon they work great. Trouble is I’ve got them in every room of the house and while I only ever see one at a time, I’ve caught dozens in each trap, and I’ve swapped out 12 traps so far. No idea where they’re coming from as I’ve rid the house of every grain, cereal and even dog foods. Been catching them for a month now and still see one about every other day. My bedroom has nothing in there but a bed, no clothes or furniture at all, and I’ve caught at least 30 in there. So strange.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
My traps are absolutely covered in moths. Hundreds. It has decreased over the past few months because it’s been colder here, but it was BAD bad for a bit.
Like imagine each wall of that trap is covered every sticky area, with a moth😳
superg7one3@reddit
Yeah I’ve been throwing them out after a couple weeks, this is a pic of one of the new ones. 😭 no idea where they keep coming from.
Zealousideal-Print41@reddit
Lock Lock containers, 5 gal food safe buckets, Gamma vaults, Seal a meal vacuum packer for mason jars, a 10" vortec fan running in the pantry 365, pantry moth traps
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
These are very helpful suggestions, thank you.
Katlee56@reddit
I find cats like catching and eating moths, flys.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
My old dog hates cats, unfortunately. And I wouldn’t let a cat rampage in my pantry! 😆 but thanks for the suggestion.
Katlee56@reddit
Fair enough lol
SuitableSport8762@reddit
Do you have a chest freezer? If not, could you buy one? The smallish ones can usually be bought for a between 200 to 400 dollars. Keep it cold and all grains, starches, spices, dried fruits, etc that you would normally keep in the pantry need to go in there as soon as you bring them home and after you have thoroughly cleaned and checked all your current pantry items they should also either go in the deep freeze or the trash. Even bottled and canned goods should be suspect. It's so easy to miss one. That one jar you didn't want to throw away could be harboring a pest under the rim of lid that will reinfect the pantry in a few months. I would completely empty the pantry, spice cabinets, adjacent cabinets again. I don't think half measure will work here. You'll be fighting them on and off forever. You have to go nuclear or learn to live with them.
Also, if possible, can you change grocery stores?
You might also switch to mylar bags to contain your pantry items instead of zip lock as you start trying to use the pantry again. They are more expensive, but will do a better job preventing insect infestation.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
We do have a chest freezer, I have switched grocery stores, and I will look for Mylar bags! Thank you:)
Parasitesforgold@reddit
I have a parrot so when I buy seed I immediately throw it into freezer. Sometimes in the summer I will put fresh mint in my pantry. I also keep my flour in the freezer.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
The mint/herbal repellent is right up my alley! We grow lemon balm, mint, and geranium. I’ll throw in some sprigs this spring. Thanks:)
IrwinJFinster@reddit
Shove it all in a metal trash can, and then ideally co2 the contents using dry ice.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
That’s an interesting take!
Sweet-Owl-8975@reddit
What finally worked for getting rid of was taking the hardware off the slide out shelves and soaking/cleaning. Even with vacuuming, they kept coming back.
ommnian@reddit
Yes. Bleach is your friend. Anywhere you've seen them, needs thoroughly cleaned - vacuum, and then washed with soap and water, let dry, and then wipe down thoroughly, with bleach. Let dry. Only return foods that have been frozen and are in completely airtight packages (HARD plastic - ziplocs are not enough!!, glass, metal, etc).
Ladycatwoman@reddit
I got them from bulk cat food a while back. I threw a lot of things away and kept anything else they'd like in the fridge so they couldn't get it. They can be dormant for a year so keep in mind that you'll be seeing them for a while as the eggs hatch. I used to use my vacuum hose to vacuum them off my ceiling before I went to bed. It was not a good time lol
matchstick64@reddit
Wow! Did not know dormancy. That explains where I'm at today. We exterminated and it got rid of most, but they are back.
Ladycatwoman@reddit
You'll have to keep up with it for a year after you see the last adult moth. They infest quickly so they're already in hard to treat places. Don't give up! You will be moth free again!!!!
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Just like cucarachas🤢
ommnian@reddit
I battled pantry moths for months. I learned to freeze ALL grains, flour, etc asap when I brought it home. I stopped using Ziploc bags for such, except very short term)a few days or maybe a week or two at most!!), as they can and will chew through them. Instead, I use glass jars for everything, after freezing for at least a few days. Anything that I can't freeze (pasta, crackers, tortillas, etc) goes into an old, unplugged freezer which is airtight.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Pasta can be frozen! If I use part of a box or bag of dried pasta, I store the rest in the deep freezer with no issues.
Thanks for the tips!
Dangerous_Order_4039@reddit
I have a dumb question, do you put the flour and other grains in zips locks to freeze, or in the glass jars to freeze? Can you just put a whole large bag of flour in the freezer as it is from the store?
ommnian@reddit
Just drop the bag of flour in the freezer.
That_Play7634@reddit
I have found them in my malted barley, rice, mild red pepper powder, kids' cereal, soup spice packs, boxes of instant potatoes, corn meal, oatmeal, indoor worm bin, etc etc etc, even an UNOPENED plastic bag of quinoa. Yup, they somehow made or found a tiny tiny hole. I've been surprised that so far I have not found them in wheat flour, coconut cream powder, curry powder, or red pepper powder. We still ate some, but if got a lot it got cooked and fed to chickens. I got fed up one weekend and grabbed all the starchy stuff in the house and set it outside to freeze for a few days. Of course, squirrels then found the stuff and made a mess. But it really cut back on the moth problem. Then I started doing like you; traps, jars, mylar, airtight containers, and freeze the questionable stuff for a few days. I also don't bother my house spiders and they help. But, we keep accidently leaving stuff out like cereals. Just keep up your vigilance!
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
Maybe I need to encourage some pantry spiders!
I hate how those moths get into everything!
Winter_Persimmon_110@reddit
I had them in a grow tent. I went after them one by one with a hand vacuum. Eventually, i won.
Dangerous_Order_4039@reddit
Thank you
stream_inspector@reddit
There are scented sticky traps. Do that and throw away the cereal or flours, etc, that have them in it.
divinemsn@reddit
When we had some, we bought moth traps and set them around the house. I was amazed at how many we caught.
learn2cook@reddit
Freeze grains for several days before putting them in long term storage
Keep food in air tight containers
Be vigilant. Remediate at the first sign of a moth.
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
I used pantry moth traps and started putting EVERYTHING in sealed Tupperware-type containers or glass jars with airtight lids. Washed the pantry down and kept using the traps for about 6 months after I stopped seeing them. Never had a problem since.
This-Satisfaction-71@reddit
I had problems years ago because when I used to live with roommates, one of them loved baking and did all her shopping in the bulk section. Then, she would store all the thin bags full of various grains and flours up on top of the cupboards by the ceiling. When my partner I moved out to get our own place, our new house became infested because her moth friends hitched a ride. I solved this by throwing everything away, buying all new stuff, and just storing everything in a big freezer. Cold cereal seemed to be ok because it got eaten quickly, but all flours, grains, nuts, all are stored in the freezer. Once I did this, I haven't seen another moth since.
New_pollution1086@reddit
Xlure pheromone traps and cidetrac and good ol alpine wsg.
Also, find the source and clean everything. A small spill under a shelf or something is a likely food source for them.
EnergyLantern@reddit
We use to store corn meal at work for a customer. There were parasites in the corn meal, and they hatched so we had to get a vacuum cleaner and vacuum up all of the bugs. We stored the product in drums.
Plastic Drums, Plastic Barrels, 55 Gallon Plastic Drums in Stock - ULINE
We used the plastic drums with the metal ring that goes around the top to keep it sealed so that if there is an infestation, the bugs stayed inside the drum. We don't sell these food items to the customer anymore.
Rapidfire1960@reddit
Plastic bags won’t stop pantry moths, even vacuum sealed. They chew right through them. I buy the pantry moth traps from eBay. It took use 4 months to get rid of them. We just put them in every cabinet and on top and every nook and cranny, until they were no more. I left traps about a month after to make sure and they were eventually clean. Haven’t seen any more since.
prettyprettythingwow@reddit
You gave me a terrible flashback. I dealt with them for a year until my lease was up and we moved. I kept all of our food in the fridge and dog food was sealed in a box. I have no idea why they stuck around. Never found any traps to be useful either.
mistercowherd@reddit
Jeez we had an absolute infestation after The Incident of the Organic Dried Bananas. Still get occasional flare-ups or the occasional moth on a sticky trap.
They get into areas you can’t clean (I had some in the light fittings). Also between the leaves of paper towels or serviettes.
I assume everything will get them, so everything gets sealed - ziploc or Tupperware or glass jars. Or big white buckets. It has put a real damper on buying / storing bulk foods, I still buy rice in 5-20kg but won’t go over 5kg for bakers flour and other flours are 1 or 2 kg at a time. Haven’t tried freezing things yet but have heard that it helps.
Big clean out if there is an infestation. Then insecticide then clean again after a few days to get rid of the insecticide. Then pheromone sticky traps in case any come back.
Someinterestingbs-td@reddit
I worked as a bulk foods manager at a food coop for 8 years. put everything in the freezer. then while the inside of the cabinets down with very soapy water. keep things in the freezer for a bit. most importantly freeze anything new that comes into the house before storing it. but don't freeze cornmeal it destroys the vitamin d. keep in in your fridge tightly sealed instead.
kkinnison@reddit
remove sources of food. Clean up, make sure everything is airtight. Use wax if needed. Put everything in containers. No more boxes they were bough in
i had a infestation because I had a can of bread crumbs that didn't seal. Threw it out... no more problem
vxv96c@reddit
Freeze and then store in gamma buckets or mason jars or some other container.
They sell yellow sticker things for garden bugs but I use them inside too. They'll catch stuff flying around and help stop the life cycle.
ChaosRainbow23@reddit
I thought you said, "PANTY MONTHS" and got a decent chuckle out of it.
Thanks.
ScumBunny@reddit (OP)
😆 that’s hilarious. ‘Hey preppers, help me get these moths out of my vag!’