DIY Moth Repellent Sachets
Added 7/19/21- These are more important than ever now that we live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Moths are RUTHLESS!
Living in the Pacific Northwest requires moth repellent. Growing up in North Carolina, a moth getting anywhere near my favorite sweaters was practically a nonissue. Windows were usually closed up all summer (I always say it was 68 degrees all year long). But in Seattle, air conditioning is not the norm, and windows are usually open during the warmer months. I actually kind of forgot about those pesky moths until a few summers ago when several of our sweaters were eaten up. Now every Spring, our sweaters are cleaned well, folded and stored for the season, and I make up a big batch of this lavender and cedar mix and fill up lots of muslin bags. It seems to work, and has the added benefit of making our closet smell great.
DIY Moth Repellent Sachets
Supplies:
- Loose, dried lavender (I use between 1/2-1 lb, Any leftover stores well.)
- Muslin or cotton drawstring bags
- Cedar essential oil
- Optional- Aroma beads
I use the aroma beads soak up the Cedarwood essential oil. (Nice to use in a closet all year round.) Follow instructions on the package for ratio of beads to liquid. Err on the side of less is more to avoid staining anything the sachets will sit on in your closet.
After sitting overnight, my beads felt dry to the touch after absorbing the oil. In the photo below left, I’d just added the oil. The right photo was taken the next morning.
I can’t leave anything alone and decided to use my hand carved stamps on the muslin bags.
Lastly, mix equal parts aroma beads and dried lavender. Or make some sachets with only lavender.
Be warned that making these can cause you to spend an unnecessary amount of time cleaning your closet. Stuff these all around your sweaters (and make enough to put in your drawers as well). You can also soak a few cotton balls with the cedar oil and put them in your drawers.
Our closet smells amazing!
Erin | house on hill road
July 1, 2013 at 7:26 amdamn. that is one clean closet. (and thank you. fatty has a moth problem – going to show him this and put him to work!)
Seanna Lea
July 1, 2013 at 7:58 amI’m with Erin. My closets are clean too (because we are selling a house, not because I’m super neat), but that is super clean!
Molly
July 1, 2013 at 9:50 amCool that you grew up in NC!!! We just moved there from east Texas at the end of May. We’re in(or near) Burnsville, about 45 minutes northeast of Asheville and the cool mountain air is woooonderful! Humidity not so much though. I will have to make some sashets to counter the musty smell my vintage quilts are acquiring in the wardrobe on our landing/living area. We are currently living in a bachelor pad apartment above my dad’s gallery and woodshop. Its not all the way insulated and there is no ac/heat so the windows have to be up a lot.
blair/wisecraft
July 1, 2013 at 8:58 pmGirl, you should see what’s around it. Hot mess.
blair/wisecraft
July 1, 2013 at 8:58 pmAs I told Erin, it was quite a different story outside the lens frame.
blair/wisecraft
July 1, 2013 at 8:59 pmHey, you’re in a beautiful area of NC! I love the mountains there so much. And I think these sachets would actually work well for musty odors, let me know if you give it a try.
Sarah
July 2, 2013 at 1:37 pmThat looks like a great project! I just planted a bunch of lavender this year and right now it’s going crazy blooming–I’ll have to harvest some and get to work. Great to know about Zenith Supplies, too!
Heather
July 5, 2013 at 5:37 amThis looks like a project I can do. Thanks for the tutorial. Also, I’m really looking forward to your post about how you hand wash sweaters.