CasaSugar

How-To: Get Rid of Fabric-Eating Moths

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:34 -0700

If you've opened your closet and realized that your favorite cashmere sweater has holes all over it, you've probably got a moth problem. It's unlikely that the moths are attracted to just that one cardi, so there are a few steps you should take to ensure your whole wardrobe doesn't suffer the same fate. That is, unless we're talking about all those reindeer Christmas sweaters from grandma.

To learn how to kick those buggers to the curb, read more.

Clothes moths feed on wool, feathers, fur, hair, lint, paper, and even cotton, linen, silk, and some synthetic fibers. But in general, they especially crave fabrics that have been stained or soiled with food, beverages, perspiration, sweat, oil, and urine. In many cases, you can't even tell that your apparel has been stained, so you should always clean your garments before you store them.
If you've already discovered you have a moth problem, you should wash all of your clothes in the infested area in hot water and detergent or dry clean them.
When it comes time to store your out-of-season clothes, you should keep them in airtight containers such as plastic boxes and bags, metal containers, or wooden (cedar is ideal) chests.
Moths tend to develop under humidity. So, if your closet or storage space is near a bathroom or humidifier, you should ventilate the area by opening windows or using a fan.
Clothes moths also prefer darkness. So if you have an alternative place to store your apparel that is bright, consider moving your clothes. You might also leave on low-energy lightbulbs such as CFLs or LEDs to light your closet.
To capture the male clothes moths in order to stop the breeding process, use a pheromone trap in your closet.
You should also vacuum your closet thoroughly in all cracks and crevices, as well as carpeting. Use a flashlight to identify lint and hair at the baseboards, in air ducts, and corners of the room that you might not see otherwise. If you have upholstered furniture in your closet (lucky lady), make sure to vacuum it thoroughly as well.
As for moth repellants, mothballs are tried and true, but they can also be harmful to your health, and leave a strong odor on your clothes. So, you can make a sachet with these herbal mothball alternatives. Cedar chips tend to lose their effect after the wood has dried, but cedar chests, which are airtight, are often effective.

How-To: Get Rid of Moths in Your Kitchen

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:30:27 -0700

I just discovered a moth infestation in our kitchen. While I can handle a lot of creepy crawly things, finding moth worms in my nut mix is not okay. It turns out that in warmer climates, infestations like this are very common. In fact, it's unusual that it's taken me this long to get overrun by moths! While researching ways to send them packing, I came across some very handy how-to advice, which I've compiled here.

To find out how to get rid of moths if they've invaded your kitchen, read more.

Here's how to get rid of those pesky winged invaders, courtesy of How To Get Rid of Stuff:

Identify all of the places where the moths are present.
Clean these areas exceptionally well.
Remove all items from the areas.
Vacuum every surface, walls, shelves, cabinets, carpet, etc.
Scrub hard surfaces with a mixture of hot water and detergent. Scrub every inch because moth larva can attach themselves in even the tiniest of spaces.
If the shelving is removable, pull it out and clean the edges and walls around it.
Clean every surface that comes into contact with food, including your spice rack.
Follow up the scrubbing with a vinegar rinse. Either put some white vinegar into a spray bottle, coat, and wipe, or apply it directly to a cloth and wipe everything down.
The moths are likely originating from one or more of the food items previously stored in this area. Throw away every grain-based food item - even if it appears to be sealed well. Also dispose of nuts, raisins, flour, and tea.
Any remaining food containers and items should be thoroughly cleaned with the same detergent/water solution and vinegar rinse before returning to the freshly scrubbed area. A single egg or caterpillar left hanging onto something can start this whole thing all over again, so be thorough.
Kill any moths left flying around in the air. You can do this with a fly swatter, or use moth traps.

I'll be attempting all of these cleaning changes this weekend, and I'll let you know how it goes! Do you have any other ideas for getting rid of kitchen-lingering moths?
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Casa Verde: Mothball Alernatives

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0800

A moth is one pest you don't want to invite into your closet. But, mothballs are party poopers, too. Mothballs slowly evaporate into gas, and if their two active ingredients, naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, are inhaled, they can be harmful to your health. Luckily, there are alternatives that'll keep your sweaters and your health safe from harm. To hear them, read more.

Cedar blocks or chips
Rosemary
Thyme
Dried cloves
Lavender
Cinnamon sticks
Eucalyptus
Bay leaves

Nearly all household ingredients! If you're going to use herbs as an alternative, make a sachet for them by filling a small canvas drawstring bag with a mix of ingredients. You can also add drops of essential oils of any of those herbs.

Love It or Hate It? Jonathan Adler Peace Hand

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:00:06 -0800

At last night's Moth Ball, an annual benefit for The Moth, a New York-based not-for-profit storytelling organization, Indian-British novelist and essayist Salman Rushdie was presented with a Jonathan Adler-designed Moth Award. Peculiarly, you can purchase the very same statuette, Peace Hand ($225), in Adler's stores or online. I'm all for harmony, but I think it's a bit taboo that anyone with the dough can take home their own Peace Hand statuette. Poor Rushdie.Source

Designer Spotlight: Shannon Shapiro

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 04:30:30 -0700

Shannon Shapiro of Moth Design takes great inspiration from nature. Her lamps, sconces, and chandeliers sprout branches, coral outcroppings, and leaves. A designer from Los Angeles who creates lighting, furniture, and interiors that are inspired by shapes in the natural world, her work has been broadly covered in shelter mags like O at Home, House and Garden, and Elle Decor, among others.

Shannon refined her art and design skills through an apprenticeship with author and architect Arthur Andersson, as well as her study at the California Institute of Arts, where she earned an MFA.

To find out more about Shannon and to see a gallery of her gorgeous lamps, read more.

Shannon founded an interior design firm in 1998, working with celebrities in LA, as well as on residential and commercial projects in LA, Chicago, Boston, and the United Kingdom. During this time, she continued working as a metal sculptor, experimenting with incorporating natural objects into her work, which was the inspiration for Moth Design, established in 2000. Moth Design initially focused on lighting and is expanding into furniture and furnishings. In her artist's statement, Shannon writes, "I wanted to introduce organic elements to evoke a vitality or sense of respiration in a room." I think she's accomplished just that.

View 14 Photos ›

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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:30:00 -0700

Give your home a kick with some furniture and accessories that will make you blush.
Learn how to get rid of pesky fabric-eating moths.
Spice up your kitchen with some terrific tea towels.
Betsey Johnson will design an Eloise-inspired suite for the Plaza.
Check out the Dexter- and Weeds-inspired rooms from the Metropolitan Home Showtime House.
A former Domino editor launches an online decorating magazine.

How-To: Spring Organize Your Living Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:00:26 -0700

Spring is the perfect time to get your home clean and organized. To help you get inspired, I've whipped up a Spring Cleaning Checklist, which you can download and print out. The PDF lists cleaning and organizing duties room by room, to keep things simple. Earlier today, I expanded on my PDF tips for cleaning your living room, so if you haven't read my post on cleaning, definitely do so.

To see my tips for organizing your living room, read more.

Relocate Winter-related items such as fireplace tools and wool throws. Make sure to toss some cedar balls in with the wool throws, so they won't suffer from moth damage.
Donate old furniture and accents that are cluttering the space. Choose your favorite local charity, or go with one of the bigger, national charities that does great work, such as Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul.
Recycle magazines that have spent too long sitting on the coffee table.
Toss anything not in good enough condition to donate. If the objects are large, arrange a pick-up from your waste service, or take it to the dump, which will probably involve a fee.
Add media storage for CDs and DVDs and baskets for storing items such as games. Consider digitizing your music collection to save space, and see my picks for storage below!

Dawson Storage Ottoman in Dela Gunmetal - $449.00	Sedona Magazine Basket - $34.95
Canvas Media Box - $34.00	Sawhorse Media Credenza -Small - $299.00
Windham 48" Corner Media Stand - $399.00	Wooden Magazine Rack - $100.00
Canvas Magazine Butler - $22.00	Black Riley Media Stand - $349.99

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Your Favorite Product Designer of 2008

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:00:18 -0800

As part of our Best of 2008 polls, you named Jonathan Adler as your favorite product designer this year. I'm with you on this one; from pottery and pillows to furniture and rugs, Adler does it all, and fabulously I might add. He even designed the award statuette for this year's Moth Ball! And, he's got something for everyone, at prices high and low, so even the most cash-strapped of us can get in on the Adler. This year especially, I've been wowed by his updated needlepoint and cheeky pottery pieces.

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Roundup: Busy Bees

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I may hate to find moths in my kitchen, but when it comes to bees, those little striped insects can do no wrong. That's why I'd gladly decorate my house with bee wallpaper, stock bee glasses in my cupboard, and sweep curtains back with bee curtain holders. Of course, it's probably due in part to the fact that I'm the daughter of a beekeeper. Bees are also thought to represent a happy, well-organized life, and satisfaction in love. Who can argue with that?

To see some of my favorite bee home accents, read more.

How-To: Share a Closet With Your Main Squeeze

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:45:11 -0700

If you've grown accustomed to the relative luxury of a closet space that belongs to you and you alone, it's often a reality check when you move in with a new spouse. Many times, your former sanctuary of neatly hung dresses and perfectly aligned heels is interrupted by the need to share that closet space with your honey's stinky sneakers and college sweatshirt collection. If closet space is at a premium at your home, and you're suddenly splitting one closet's space between two people, there are still ways to get around the possibly distressing mess that this closet can become.

To see my tips, read more.

No matter what, try to keep things neat. Don't let clothes collect on the floor of the closet. If one of you is the repeat offender, start fining a quarter per messy item, or better yet, create a system of rewards related to keeping your joint closet clean.
Invest in some organizing systems. Ikea has some simple and effective closet systems, and I also love this one.
Matching hangers really make a difference, as does organizing them!
Figure out what you really wear! Donate all of the clothes you haven't worn in the past year to a charity of your choice. This will free up needed space in your closet, while also benefiting your community.
Rotate seasonal clothing. Put Winter clothes in storage, along with some cedar balls to keep away the moths.
For some inspiration, check out Haze's closet remodel.
Keep stinky shoes (such as you or your honey's running sneakers) in another area, where they won't overwhelm your closet.
Consider using a multipurpose piece of furniture for additional storage, such as a Brighton bed, which has coordinating storage drawers that slide underneath.

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Bee Pillow - $49.00	Dolittle Dishtowel, Critters - $18.00
dVider - Kids 07 Wall Sticker - $33.00	Garden Toile shade - $78.00
Set of 3 Entomology Plaques - $39.00	Napoleonic Bee Tieback - $20.00
Bee Wallpaper -Charcoal Double Roll - $59.00	Set of 24 Style Tacks - $24.00
Honey Bee Rug - $49.00	Parvez Taj - Busy Bees Stretched Canvas - $44.00
Bee Curtains - $200.00	Bumble Bee Glasses, Set of 4 - $24.00
Flight of the Bee Bedding - $58.00	Bee Sheeting - $154.00
Bees & Flowers Ceiling Fixture - $415.00	Bee Chandelier Shade - $26.00