Jungle Property Blog

Part 1 of the article can be found here

The Solution

One of the main reasons I wrote this article was that I heard many tales from people how difficult they are to get rid of. I believe that in many cases, this is because the infestation has not been treated fully or properly. In most instances, if all procedures are followed step by step, the treatment is highly successful. Dozens of times, I have witnessed the ‘light bulb’ moment on a client’s face, who, having struggled to combat these pests, understood instantly when I explained the importance of moving and treating under all the big, heavy furniture because those are exactly the places the moths seek out!

Localised treatment.

In order to save our client’s money and try and provide a less blunt instrument than the oft quoted, “you’ll need to fumigate the house and it’ll cost £150.00 per room!”, we have developed our own system of treatment where moth is detected in its early stages, perhaps in a single room, we recommend, initially at least, carrying out a localised treatment in that one room.

The carpet needs to be thoroughly vacuumed, particularly around the edges using a crevice tool, moving all furniture and then treated with a moth eliminator. (As it is a water based spray, it is important to put the furniture back on foil or polystyrene blocks to prevent dye transfer or rust marks forming from metal studs on the furniture legs).

IMPORTANT !!

A very important point often overlooked, is that once the eliminator is applied, the carpet should not then be vacuumed for three weeks. The reason for this is that the treatment remains effective killing fresh larvae as they emerge from any surviving eggs. Carpets throughout the house should then be monitored closely with furniture moved regularly to check for moths. If they reappear, particularly in other rooms, full treatment of all wool/wool mix carpets and susceptible clothing is recommended.

Full Treatment

Where moth infestation has taken hold in more than one room, we recommend treating all wool and wool mix carpets in the home. All furniture will require moving, thorough vacuuming and treatment with eliminator as described above.

Ongoing Care

Once treated, (after the 3 week no vacuuming period), we recommend regular thorough vacuuming particularly around the edges with a crevice tool, also regularly moving furniture particularly beds, sofas and wall units etc. Be vigilant and look out for adult moths or the silken cases of the larvae/pupae which resemble grains of rice.

One useful aid to keep moth numbers down are pheromone traps. Female moths emit pheromones to attract a mate. These traps employ a synthetically produced equivalent to lure males to a sticky pad from which they can’t escape. They are inexpensive yet highly effective, helping to greatly reduce the problem.

Guarantee

Can you guarantee they will not come back again?

On a long term basis no. The treatment will get rid of the moths present now but can do nothing to prevent further infestations in years to come. The eliminator will only remain active in the carpet for a matter of weeks.

Other than for the localised treatment, should moths be found in any room following a full treatment, we will return free of charge and re-treat up to a period of 90 days. (We will not make the same guarantee following a localised treatment because it is possible the moths are from a different source.)

Precautions/Safety Information

You should vacate rooms being treated for at least 30 minutes after spraying to avoid inhalation of any airborne mist. Modern treatments are less toxic than their forebears but it is important to stress the following point.

Important

Moth eliminator is an insecticide and is fatal to fish. It attacks their respiratory system in the same way it attacks those of the intended victims. Fish tanks or bowls should be covered during treatment and for at least 20 minutes afterwards with a sheet or towel.

I Think I Have Moths, So What Shall I Do Now?

1. First and foremost; don’t panic! Moth attack is a gradual process. They aren’t going to destroy your carpet overnight and they represent no health threat to you, children or pets.

2. Call for advice. We’ll do what we can to help over the phone and, if necessary, we’ll send a suitably qualified person out, (usually at no cost), to give advice. You will be amazed how often we are called to a problem and find it isn’t carpet moth at all!

3. Treatment. People’s attitude to moths varies greatly. At one end, the householder wants them dealt with now, period. Others are more concerned about the treatment, after all, it is an insecticide and they don’t want it in their home. There are many who have installed pheromone traps and happily manage the problem by keeping numbers to a very low level.

4. Future Carpet Purchases. There are now wool carpets on the market which are being sold as ‘moth-proofed. Moth proofing is a factory applied treatment which makes the protein (keratin) in the wool indigestible to insects. The treatments are designed to last for the lifetime of the carpet and the ones we have discovered come with a manufacturer’s guarantee.

This is a great step forward for those who love ‘proper’ wool carpets and they have been developed with human health implications at the forefront, ensuring they are perfectly safe for children and pets.

Please Note: Moth proofing can only be applied at the point of manufacture, it is not available as an ‘aftercare’ product.

Article written by Phil Hall of TLC Carpet Cleaning Specialists 01761 235600 info@rugandcarpetcleaningbath.co.uk

The Common Clothes Moth (Tineola biselliella) or carpet moth as it is commonly known, has become a major pest in our area over the past few years. I have read many articles, both in print and on the internet and have been amazed at the amount of contradictory, conflicting and wrong information that is out there.

Through the carpet cleaning side of our business, we have encountered and successfully tackled carpet moths for many, many years and can offer some advice and reassurance.

What Are They?

The Common Clothes Moth (Carpet Moth) is small, typically with a wingspan of 14 to 18 mm and is usually a silvery bronze colour. It is a widespread moth found in most of Eurasia and has now been accidently spread by mankind to Australia. The moths themselves do not eat our fabrics, it is their larvae that cause the damage.

Unlike most moths they are not drawn to light. In fact, both adults and larvae shun bright light. The adult female seeks out dark, undisturbed places in which to lay her eggs, usually around the edge of carpets, behind curtains or under furniture e.g. sofas, sideboards and beds, or of course, suitable clothing. The eggs usually hatch in 2 to 3 weeks but in ideal conditions the whole life cycle from egg to adult can take as little as 8 weeks, enabling the carpet moth to produce several generations in a single year. The rate at which they reproduce is governed by temperature, humidity and availability of food. The larvae feed on keratin, a protein found in wool, silk and other natural fibres including cotton, linen and fur. They can tolerate mixed fibres and we have seen countless 80:20 wool/nylon carpets that have been seriously damaged. As for water, there is enough in the food they eat to sustain them without the need to drink.

Why Have Cases of Moth Infestation Become so Common?

No doubt these moths have caused problems as long as humans have used natural fibres, the problem has become noticeably worse in recent years. The reason appears to be a combination of factors, mostly due to our modern lifestyle. Heated houses allow the moth to breed more quickly, especially during winter months when previously they would have been killed off.

I personally have noticed that our company has been asked to deal with many more cases since 2007, the first of a run of poor summers when the atmospheric humidity would have increased significantly compared with the early 2000s when we enjoyed a run of good summer weather.

Such was the increase in the problem, I recall re-ordering stock of moth treatment in late 2006. For an unknown reason, 10 times the amount ordered was delivered! Given we were in the midst of a really busy period, rather than waste inordinate amounts of time, I swallowed a bitter pill and found storage for an estimated 10 years supply! Amazingly, we re-ordered just 18 months later!

How to Identify the Problem

Firstly, you need to identify the problem. Occasionally we see the adult moths flying around but they actually don’t like flying, preferring to scuttle away without taking to the air, somewhat like pheasants or partridges when you drive towards them in a car. More frequently, the more obvious indication that moths are there, is the presence of the pupal cases which look like grains of rice, found in the same dark undisturbed areas that the female chose to lay her eggs. Of course, in advanced infestations, you may become aware of bald patches where the larvae have chomped through the carpet fibres!

It is a problem that needs attending to, as matters will only get worse. The adult female can lay as many as 200 eggs during her life, therefore in good breeding conditions, the infestation can rapidly get out of hand.

Article written by Phil Hall of TLC Carpet Cleaning Specialists 01761 235600 info@rugandcarpetcleaningbath.co.uk

Part 2 of the article can be found here

It seems that few landlords understand what their obligations are for copying Right to Rent documents. So what exactly does the law and associated guidance state? read on to find out…

Landlords must make a clear copy of each document in a format which cannot later be altered, and retain the copy securely: electronically or in hardcopy. Landlords must make a record of the date on which the check was made, and retain the copies securely for at least one year after the tenancy agreement comes to an end.

In respect of what parts of the documents should be copied, the statutory guidance says:

Passports: any page with the document expiry date, nationality, date of birth, signature, leave expiry date, biometric details and photograph, and any page containing information indicating the holder has an entitlement to enter or remain in the UK.
All other documents: the document in full, including both sides of a Biometric Residence Permit.

Where the copies are being stored electronically, they can be saved as PDF, JPEG or similar and should be securely stored.

Any electronic copy should be set up to record the date of copying to show it was done before occupation.

If a photocopy of a document is being taken, the dates can be recorded somewhere on the copy – possibly on the reverse of the page.

In order to be allowed to store copies (whether electronically or by hardcopy), a landlord or agent must be registered with the Information Commissioners Office under the Data Protection Act 1998.

If follow up checks are required, a reminder should be made of the date.

A reminder should be made upon the tenancy ending to destroy the copies 12 months after the tenancy ends. The legislation specifically says that there is no right to retain the copies beyond 12 months from when the tenancy has ended. But, the copies must be retained for at least 12 months after the tenancy has ended. Because of the possible long time that copies could need to be stored, careful consideration needs to be given to where they should be stored and either stored off site or backed up off site regularly.