How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths

Pantry moths, also known as Indian meal moths, cupboard moths, larder moths, or cabinet moths, are troublesome little critters that, while they aren’t harmful to your health, are very annoying! They love to feast on dry foods like flour, breadcrumbs, cereal, spices, pasta and couscous, dried fruit, grains and nuts, which is not great for your cooking needs. 

Unfortunately, if you notice any small brown or grey moths in your kitchen, that usually means an infestation has probably already started. If some pesky pantry moths have moved into your cupboards, check out our tips to get rid of them and prevent other infestations.

Where Do Pantry Moths Come From?

While pantry moths can find their way into your home through doors and windows, it’s more likely that they have hitched a ride to your house from the supermarket. Infestations usually start in dried food products that you have purchased from the shops, even originating from the mills or processing warehouses. Accidentally bringing home these critters, especially to a kitchen with lots of unsealed containers or spilled food, offers a breeding ground for more pantry moths to appear. They can even eat through cardboard products or thin plastic storage containers, getting into other foods faster. 

Using high quality containers, like the Décor Design Series™ Pantry Storage range, is a great way to protect your ingredients from pantry moths while also bringing beauty and practicality into your home.

How to Identify if Moths Are in Your Pantry

If you think you might have pantry moths, here are some of the things to look out for:

• The first noticeable sign is often little brown moths flying around your kitchen, especially towards lights.
• Another sign is strange webbing in dried foods like cereal or flour. These webs can also appear on pantry container lids and crevices in your cupboards.  
• If you look closely at your dried ingredients and see tiny cream-coloured caterpillars or holes in thin containers of paper or plastic, this is another sure sign you have pantry moths.

How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths

1. Completely empty out your pantry. That means absolutely everything in it! 
   
   
2. Inspect each item and product you have taken out for any signs of pantry moths.
3. If you think something might be affected, place it in a rubbish bag with other contaminated food and throw it into your outside bin.
4. If you believe a product looks moth free, place it in the freezer for a few nights to kill any potential pantry moth eggs. 
   
   
5. Thoroughly vacuum every corner and crevice of your pantry. Throw away the vac bag or wash the dust compartment afterwards too.
6. Wash pantry shelves with hot soapy water as well as any containers, both inside and out. 
    
7. Wipe down each shelf, wall, and door with a 1:1 warm water and white vinegar solution to help further eliminate any eggs. This also acts as a preventative for future infestations. 
8. Once everything is pantry moth free, it’s best to store your dry ingredients and pantry staples in clean, airtight containers to prevent them from getting into your food again. 

Clear storage containers, like Decor’s great range of pantry storage containers, are both a stylish and practical solution for storing dry goods. Not only do the clear containers help you to see what ingredient is inside, our iconic design means they are airtight to further stop pantry moths from getting into your food.

How to Prevent Pantry Moths

Once you’ve gotten rid of an infestation of pantry moths, you don’t want to have to repeat the process again! Here are some of our top prevention tips to maintain a pest-free pantry:

• Before buying ingredients, check for any rips or tears in packaging where pantry moths may get in.
• Freeze any dry foods for a few days and inspect them before putting them away in your pantry.
• Use your oldest products and ingredients first to ensure freshness.
• Regularly clean up spills and crumbs and keep an eye on things
• Vacuum cracks and crevices where crumbs can accumulate, and insects can shelter
• You can even use natural repellents in scents like lavender, peppermint, cedar, and bay leaves to keep pantry moths aways.
• Store any opened packages in air-tight, insect-proof containers, like the Décor Design Series Pantry Storage collection! These stylish airtight containers are made right here in Australia, with a durable design that keeps pantry moths out and your ingredients fresh. 

Benefits of Using Décor Design Series™ Pantry Containers

The Decor Design Series™ Pantry Storage range does more than just help prevent pantry moths from enjoying your food! The modern modular design stack seamlessly to truly adapt to your space and the crystal-clear look turns your shelves into a vision of stylish organisation. Each container in the range also features an inbuilt accessory that ensures exact measuring and can even be used for dusting cocoa or icing sugar over baked goods. For the perfect blend of elegance and functionality, check out Décor’s pantry storage container range today!