![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/placard.jpg\")
<\/figure>Step 1: Empty all infested cupboards and drawers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Start by emptying your cupboards and drawers completely, even if the infestation seems to be limited to a single packet. Food moths move quickly, lay their eggs in corners, and their larvae can hide in unexpected places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inspect each food item one by one.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not hesitate to throw away any suspicious food, especially dry goods that moths love:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good to know:<\/strong> even a sealed package can be infested. Packaging can be contaminated during the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Before throwing away infested food, place it in a sealed bag and put it directly into the outside bin. This will prevent moths or larvae from escaping and re-colonising the kitchen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Once your cupboards are empty, it’s time to clean. The aim is to eliminate eggs, larvae, pupae and moths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the narrow nozzle of the vacuum cleaner to clean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a0\ufe0f Important:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed bag and then in the outside bin to prevent re-infestation.<\/p>\n<\/div> Use hot water + a few drops of washing-up liquid, then rinse. Leave to dry completely before applying white vinegar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n White vinegar is THE product to have in your kitchen. It cleans, eliminates odours and repels moths thanks to its acidic smell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n How to use it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the cupboards are dry, you can add natural repellents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These scents are known to repel food moths.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> Freezing allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If necessary, you can freeze all dry goods that tolerate cold temperatures well: cereals, seeds, almonds, nuts and other dried fruits, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Place them in your freezer for at least 48 hours.<\/strong> Allow them to return to room temperature without opening the bag to prevent condensation. Then transfer the food to an airtight glass jar before storing it in your cupboards.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Be careful, food moths are capable of piercing certain types of packaging, infiltrating tiny nooks and crannies, and even getting into sealed packages. Therefore, nothing can replace airtight containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Glass jars with mechanical closures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Food-grade plastic boxes<\/strong> with silicone seals<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Airtight metal containers<\/strong> (tea, semolina, flour)<\/p>\n<\/div> Food moths are pests that feed on our food supplies and reproduce very quickly. An infestation often starts discreetly, then spreads to all the cupboards, drawers and kitchen cabinets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s how to identify them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the larvae of food moths that are responsible for contaminating food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They can be recognised by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They love to lay their eggs in dry foods and can squeeze through even the thinnest packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good to know:<\/strong> you can also purchase contaminated batches directly in shops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Adult moths resemble small brown-grey moths measuring approximately 1 cm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may see them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They will readily enter poorly sealed jars, attracted by the smell of cereals and other starchy foods.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n It often takes<\/strong> 3 to 4 weeks<\/strong> to permanently solve the problem. Even after a thorough cleaning, a single egg or larva is enough to restart the cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For your information, a food moth goes through four stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Egg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Deposited on foodstuffs or at the bottom of packages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u27a1\ufe0f Hatching: 3 to 7 days depending on the temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Larva<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It feeds and burrows tunnels in the food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u27a1\ufe0f Duration: 2 to 4 weeks on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Chrysalis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The larva hides in a corner of the ceiling, cupboard, behind a package or in a crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u27a1\ufe0fMetamorphosis into a pupa: 4 to 10 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Adult moth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Males fly, females lay up to 300 eggs in a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Step 2 – Clean thoroughly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vacuum every nook and cranny<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/menage-cuisine.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/nettoyage-placard.jpg\")
<\/figure>Wash surfaces with hot soapy water and then white vinegar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step 3 – Apply a natural repellent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/clou-de-girofle.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/frigo.jpg\")
<\/figure>Step 4 – Freeze certain products<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Step 5 – Store in airtight containers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which containers should you choose?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/placard-range.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow can you recognise a food moth infestation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Presence of larvae<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mite-alimentaire-1024x808.webp\")
<\/figure>Grey moths in the kitchen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How long does it take to get rid of food moths?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Natural solutions against moths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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