How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths in the Kitchen

Chances are, you are reading this post because you are wondering how to get rid of the moths in your kitchen! Keep reading to find out natural, non-toxic methods to get rid of pantry moths for good.

A few weeks ago, I noticed some moths flying out when I opened my pantry cabinet. I haven’t ever dealt with moths before, so I started experimenting with natural ways to get rid of the moths and deter them from coming back. I think its safe to say that our kitchen is moth-free, since I haven’t seen any in the last week.

Where Did the Moths Come From?

I was pretty grossed out when I saw the larvae squiggling in my pantry one day and I was blaming myself for not keeping the pantry in tip-top organized state. However, the truth of the matter is that moths can find a way into any kitchen, no matter how clean and organized you are!

Pantry moths, also known as the Indianmeal moth, most likely entered your home from the dry goods you bought from the grocery store. Often, the tiny invisible eggs are carried into your house in the flour, grains, rice, nuts, dried fruit, or spices that you buy. The larvae can chew thru the packaging and then turn into a moth before you even know it. Moths reproduce pretty quickly, so they can get out of hand fast!

Signs of Moth Infestation

• adult moths flying around in your kitchen
• webs or silk-like threads inside food packages/containers
• clumped grains(from larvae secretions)
• small caterpillars(larvae) crawling along shelf edges
• little holes chewed through packaging

Steps to Get Rid of the Pantry Moths

1. First of all, you will need to take out each and every item from your pantry and inspect it for any signs of moths. If you see any sign of moths, throw it away(or give it to the chickens). If you cannot see any visible signs of moths in opened dried goods, place those items into the freezer for 48 hours to kill any possible eggs.
2. Make sure to take the trash out immediately to the outdoor trash can so the moths don’t fly their way back into your pantry food items.
3. Vacuum out every nook and cranny in your pantry.
4. Make a soapy solution with dish soap and warm water and use a rag to wipe down all the canned goods and unopened/sealed containers, as well as the pantry shelves and walls.
5. Additionally, mix some vinegar with equal parts water and a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle to disinfect the pantry.
6. Before placing the pantry items back into the pantry, scatter bay leaves onto each shelf to deter the moths. Bay leaves contain natural essential oils that have a bitter fragrance that moths cannot stand. This will stop adult moths from settling back into the pantry.
7. Make sure to transfer any dried goods into glass jars with tight-fitting lids to prevent any more moth infestations.

Moth-free Home

After one big deep clean of your pantry, the moths will not be flying around in your kitchen anymore. If you still see signs of moths, dig around in other parts of your kitchen where moths may have settled or repeat this process one more time in a week to see if you missed something.

The source of my moths in my kitchen was the rice and chia seeds, which went straight to the chickens. We have been a moth-free home and it feels so good to get rid of the nasty pests in a natural way!