The Use of Cedar Hangers

Your wardrobe contains your favourite clothes and you love wearing them, but how long will they last in good condition? Just because your hang you clothes nicely so that they don't crease, they aren't necessarily safe.

The threat to your clothes is the clothes moth, Tineola Bisselliella. It will chomp its way through wool and silk leaving unsightly holes. In some cases the damage can be extensive. It's not the moth itself that actually does the damage, it's the larvae. The moth lays eggs on your clothing and when they hatch, they eat the fabric.

A great natural way to get rid of or prevent clothes moths is to use cedar. The oil in the wood kills small larvae and therefore your clothes are protected.

Simply buy cedar hangers to put your clothes on, and when you find the strength of the oil diminishing (at between 6 and 12 months), lightly sand the wood to release more. Another benefit of the cedar is that it helps prevent mildew too.

Wooden hangers look a lot nicer than the plastic ones that High Street clothes come with. They are also more durable because they are made of solid wood, not cheap plastic.

Of course cedar hangers come at a cost, whereas High Street hangers are free, but if you want to protect the clothes you have just bought and keep them looking nice for years to come, cedar hangers are definitely worth considering.

As well as hangers, you can also buy blocks of cedar to put in your drawers, and discs on ribbon to hang on your wardrobe rail.

Using cedar as a moth repellent is better than using chemical moth balls if you want to keep things as natural as possible and the cedar smells much nicer too - a lovely fresh smell.

Of course prevention is better than a cure, so if you are lucky enough to be moth free at the moment, try to keep it that way. Check second-hand clothing to make sure there are no silvery looking threads (about an inch long), and only put away clean clothes. A good wardrobe is also important - it should be made well so that it is difficult for the moths to gain access. Of course you can also buy clothing covers which give an extra layer of protection to your clothes and they have the added bonus of keeping dust off too. Regular hoovering also helps keep moths at bay.

If you do find moths, don't despair. Put fresh cedar wood in with your clothes to kill the small larvae and regularly take your clothes into the light and shake them. The larvae do not like the light and will fall off. You can also wash clothes in a hot wash to kill the larvae. Anything that can't be hot washed might be able to be frozen - wrap the items carefully in plastic and pop in the freezer for a day.

With a bit of care, all of your gorgeous clothes should stay looking good and your wardrobe will be a safe place for them.