Is Garlic Really All You Need To Get Rid Of Pantry Moths?

It is beyond disappointing to reach into your pantry for a bite to eat or ingredients needed to prepare dinner, only to find your items are no longer usable due to bug infestations. Pantry moths are a common culprit that invades our dry goods, from cereal and snack mixes to pet foods and other grains. While remedies like insecticides and mothballs help eliminate this pest issue, these chemicals can contaminate food. They shouldn't be placed in close proximity to anything we plan to consume. However, that doesn't mean we are at a loss and forced to succumb to unwanted moths. Instead, the simple and natural remedy of garlic is enough to deter the pest and salvage the goods in your pantry.

Attracted to warmer temperatures and most prominent during spring and summer, pantry moths can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, with the larvae hatching within a rapid pace of one to two weeks. It is these caterpillar-like insects that eat through plastic and cardboard to gain access to our foods. Working in tandem with other preventative methods, such as storing dry foods in glass canisters and keeping the area clean and tidy, you'll be rid of those pesky moths in no time with this garlic hack. 

Garlic has been a long-known pest deterrent, not just in the pantry and cupboards, but also outdoors in the garden. The bulbous allium contains compounds of diallyl disulfide and diallyl sulfide that obstruct the sensory receptors of insects, primarily with its pungent smell. To utilize garlic in the pantry and rid your home of pantry moths, begin by gathering peeled garlic cloves and paper towels, or another breathable option, like cheese cloths.

Place a handful of the cloves in the middle of your chosen material and wrap it up, tying it close with a rubber band. Once you have your bundles of garlic ready to go, it is as easy as placing them in containers of dry goods or along the shelves. You don't need to worry about the smell or taste of garlic transferring to the food it is placed in or beside, as the odor will dissolve to our senses but remain prominent for moths and other insects looking for a bite to eat. If you want to go a step further, some other natural herbs that can be paired with garlic to eliminate a pantry moth issue include lavender, rosemary, thyme, clove, and eucalyptus.