Using Moth Foggers and Bomb Treatments at Home
Once a moth infestation has gripped your home, you’re going to want to try every single solution in the book to kill moths. Vacuuming, sweeping, spraying bug spray, freezing and steaming clothes. You’ll also find out that those microscopic little eggs that moths lay are hardier than you’d expect and those seemingly invincible moths keep coming back. That means you need a reliable way to rid your home of moths.
Moth foggers and moth bomb treatments may have popped up in your research, but the term “bomb” may be sounding a little intimidating!
So let’s dial it back a notch and figure out where moth foggers and bombs fit into a moth elimination plan for your home.
Can You Fumigate For Moths?
Yes. Fumigation with a moth fogger is a crucial part of dealing with house moth infestations. Moth fumigation has grown in popularity in recent years, because it is known to remove a variety of insects, not just moths. During fumigation, chemicals or gases that are toxic to the moths are released into the air. One of the benefits of fumigation for moths is that the chemicals can reach places adult moths could be hiding that other methods—traps and moth sprays—cannot.
The best source of fumigation is professional pest control.
What are Moth Foggers and Moth Bombs?
Fogging and fumigation are generally the same process, except buying moth foggers for your home is more convenient and less expensive than a professional service. There are various types of foggers, ranging from various styles and sizes, but most will come in a can or sealed plastic tub.
Also known as total-release foggers (TRFs), moth bombs work only in a single room for more intensive treatments. The moth bomb is set in the center of the space. Once activated, the insecticide is released and fills the room.
So, technically, moth foggers and moth bombs are both methods of fumigation and the names are often used interchangeably.
Don’t you love it when things have 2, 3 or even 4 different names?!
Some foggers release an aerosol spray by removing a tab from the top of the can, while others require you to light a wick to create fog like a traditional bug bomb or smoke bomb. In this regard, moth foggers and moth bombs ultimately serve the same purpose, but tend to be referred to differently based on the release mechanism; Aerosols commonly referred to as moth foggers, fumers referred to as smoke bombs or moth bombs.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1 oz of fogger per 1,000 cubic feet will work against a moth infestation. That means a 6-8 oz can of moth fogger is suitable for most average-sized homes.
At Moth Prevention we supply total release aerosol moth foggers within our Clothes Moth Killer Kits, and Carpet Moth Killer Kits, as these have proven safe and effective in the hands of our many DIY customers across the USA. All of our clothes and carpet moth killer kits come supplied with an aerosol moth fogger.
How Do Moth Bombs Work?
As mentioned earlier, the selection of moth bombs and foggers is vast. The most common type is a small aerosol can. Place the moth fogger on a chair or stool in the middle of the room. You then activate the fog by removing a small tab that is on the top of the can. Droplets of pesticide are released into the air by an aerosol propellant before settling on surfaces throughout the space or home, depending on the size and coverage capacity of the fogger.
Do Bug Bombs Work on Moths?
For the most part, yes. The formula used to create most bug bombs and fumigators will work on moths of all kinds as well. The reason for this is the ingredients used within the bug fogger or bomb. Home fumigators use a mixture of silver iron, hydrogen peroxide, pyrethrins and pyrethroids (made from chrysanthemums). Some will contain dangerous chemicals to which you and your pets should never be exposed.
Do Moth Foggers Work on Moth Larvae?
Moth foggers generally work best on adult moths that are out in the open, not hidden. Moth larvae is best taken care of with more direct methods, such as sprays that kill eggs and larvae on contact.
This is true for all forms of bug bombs and foggers. The chemicals that settle must come into contact with the insect. Anything that is missed, such as eggs hidden within the folds of clothing or in corners of the room covered by furniture, may not be affected by the fogger.
Since it is the moth larvae, not the adult moths, that are destroying your clothing, carpets, or pantry items, you will want to utilize other methods to fully combat the infestation. We highly recommend use of our Moth Killer Kits specifically designed for this purpose.
Our moth prevention moth killer kits are purposely designed to help you combat moth infestations with multiple forms of control including moth foggers - as moth infestations require a multi-prong attack.
How to Use a Moth Fogger or Moth Bomb
- Gather and put on suitable protection such as a mask, gloves, etc.
- Read Moth Fogger Instructions Carefully
- Remove Items You Don’t Want To Be Contaminated
- Confine The Space But Also Expose Confined Spaces Such As Cupboards
- Locate The Moth Fogger Centrally In The Room
- Activate The Moth Fogger Carefully
- Wait Whilst The Moth Fogger Works
- Ventilate The Room Thoroughly
Step 1 - Read Instructions Carefully
To use a moth bomb fogger correctly, you should always read the instructions on the packaging. Activation may differ.
Step 2 - Remove Items That Can Be Contaminated
Be sure to first remove any items that can be contaminated by the chemicals in the fogger, such as pots, pans, foodstuffs, water, toys, plants, and pets. If you cannot remove everything, cover them up and put them somewhere safe. The same applies to food-processing equipment, utensils, and aquariums.
Step 3 - Confine The Area & Expose Affected Surfaces
Seal ventilation. Open any cabinets, closets, and drawers in the infested room. Lastly, make sure the windows are closed and that any fans or window air conditioners have been shut off.
Step 4 - Locate The Moth Fogger
Then put the moth fogger in an appropriate location. It is recommended that you take a chair or stool or table and put it in the center of the room that needs to be fumigated. Cover the chair or table with a couple layers of paper towels, since the chemicals the fogger or bomb releases could cause stains.
Step 5 - Activate The Moth Fogger
Shake the moth fogger well before use. Make sure the spray nozzle on the can is turned away from your face and at an angle, since the spray could be released directly upwards. Press the valve or tab on the can down. The spray will begin releasing immediately. Do not inhale any of it. Exit the room quickly and shut the door.
Step 6 - Leave The Moth Fogger
In most cases the room should not be entered for at least two hours. Check packaging for details specific to your chosen product to be sure when it’s safe to enter. The longer you wait, the better.
Step 7 - Ventilate The Space
Once you are ready to reoccupy the space, it must first be aired out. Open the windows and turn on fans, allowing the room to air out completely for another two hours. Like previously stated, please refer to the packaging for specifics on when it’s safe to re-enter the space.
Tips for Safely Using a Moth Fogger
Here are some tips to make sure the moth fogger bomb you choose is used safely and successfully:- Never use more than 1 fogger in a room. A single 6oz fogger is usually enough to cover 25ft by 25ft feet of space.
- Make sure you are using the right sized fogger. You may have to calculate the living area within a room to figure out which size is right for you. To do so, multiply the length, width, and height of each room that you wish to fumigate. Then add those volumes together.
- Never use a fogger in a small enclosed space, such as a closet, drawer, under a table, or an enclosed pantry. Using a fogger in a small space could cause the product to explode.
- Keep foggers away from flames. Some moth bombs and foggers are safe enough that you do not have to extinguish pilot lights or electrical appliances that cycle off and on, but to be safe, you should place the fogger 6 feet or farther from any ignition source.
Why Use Moth Foggers and Moth Bombs?
When the non-chemical pest prevention methods you have used against invading moths have failed, the next step is to try a moth bomb or fogger. Although foggers and bombs do not always kill hidden larvae, they are key in tackling the population of adult moths in your home.
About MothPrevention®
MothPrevention® speak to customers every day about their clothes moth issues - clothes moths are a species that are ever increasing and that can cause significant damage to clothes, carpets and other home textiles.
To date, we’ve helped over 150,000 customers deal with their moth problems. We have developed professional grade solutions including proprietary pheromones, not available from anybody else in the USA, and engineered in Germany to the highest production standards.
