How I Finally Got Rid of Pantry Moths!
How I Finally Got Rid of Pantry Moths for Good!
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been graced with the horrifying act of opening your pantry and have been greeted by a tiny moth fluttering around. It’s not the kind that eats your clothes — it’s a pantry moth, and it’s likely been munching on your food! Pantry moths are almost impossible to get rid of… almost. I tried everything from pantry moth traps to deep cleaning, even unsafe bug sprays, and nothing worked. Finally, I discovered the key to wiping them out: Boric Acid or Diatomaceous Earth (DE). Here’s how you can use them to keep your pantry moth-free!
Here’s a free checklist of the exact products that get rid of pantry moths for good
Top tools for fighting a Pantry Moth Infestation: Click here.
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Click here to get the free 20-Minute Pantry Moth Audit
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Or, for bigger problems, See the 48-Hour Battle Plan
Why Pantry Moth Traps Don’t Work
You might have heard about pantry moth traps, which use pheromones to attract moths and prevent reproduction. In my experience, however, these traps actually seemed to make the problem worse! They can attract more moths to your home and aren’t effective for treating an established infestation.
Instead, focus on thorough cleaning, airtight storage, and natural powders like Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and Boric Acid. These methods target pantry moths at every stage of life, from eggs to adults.
Supplies You’ll Need to Get Rid of Pantry Moths
Here are the essential supplies you’ll need to effectively eliminate pantry moths:
- Boric Acid
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) (food-grade) – safe for use around food
- Soapy water and sponge (for cleaning)
- Airtight glass containers (for storing grains and other pantry items)
Diatomaceous Earth and Boric Acid are natural solutions to get into those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies where pantry moths lay their eggs. DE is safe to use around food as it’s non-toxic to humans (just be sure to buy food-grade DE).
No fumes, no smell, no human poison. How safe? A study by John Ball Park of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Brookfield Zoos of Chicago, Illinois; and Buffalo Zoo of Buffalo, New York, found that a mixture of feed incorporating 2% diatomaceous earth was sent to three zoos for evaluation. John Ball and Buffalo Zoos reported that their black bears on the special feed showed a better coat and clearer eyes. The primates fed at the Brookfield Zoo displayed a pronounced improvement in both appearance and behavior. Stool samples taken at all three zoos showed an absence of any internal parasites – adult or egg. Parasites in these animals were present before using the diatomaceous earth food mixture.
So, there you have it.
Step 1: Empty and Clean Out Your Pantry
To start, you’ll need to clear out everything in your pantry. Yes, this is a big job, but it’s necessary to find all the places where pantry moths might be hiding.
Finding and eliminating pantry moth nests in your home requires some sleuthing. Start by grabbing a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, then clear your pantry shelves. As you remove items, inspect packages of whole grains, beans, and other dry goods—pantry moths love nesting in these foods. Look closely for any webbing around package folds, as this is a sign of infestation.
Once your shelves are cleared, thoroughly wipe them down, checking both under and on top. Pay special attention to areas around light fixtures, as pantry moths prefer laying eggs in warm spots. Dispose of any nests or webbing outside immediately, and don’t forget warm places like the top or back of the fridge.
As you clean, wipe off cans, bags, and boxes. Consider storing grains and beans in the freezer or sealed glass containers (pantry moths can eventually chew through plastic and even hide under metal lids).
Even after clearing out nests, remember that pantry moth eggs can remain hidden, waiting for food to reappear. Stay vigilant, as these stubborn pests are known for reappearing when you least expect it. Keep up the cleaning and regularly check for signs of pantry moths to keep them from coming back.
- Remove all items: Remove every box, bag, can, and container.
- Inspect food packages: Check grains, flours, and dried goods for signs of moth larvae or webbing, especially around folds and seams. Pantry moths love whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
- Dispose of infested food: If you find any signs of infestation (tiny webs, larvae, or moths), throw out that food immediately.
Tip: Move whole grains and seeds to the freezer. This kills any hidden pantry moth eggs and keeps them from hatching.
Step 2: Deep Clean Your Pantry Shelves
Once you’ve cleared the pantry, it’s time for a deep clean. Pantry moths can hide in tiny crevices, so be thorough!
- Wipe down shelves: Use a sponge and soapy water to clean every surface, including under the shelves. Pantry moths like to lay eggs in warm, dark corners.
- Clean around light fixtures: Moths may lay eggs around the warmth of light fixtures or the top of your pantry shelves.
- Check the pantry door and walls: Pantry moths can hide in places you wouldn’t expect, like door hinges or behind shelf brackets.
Pro Tip: Take any paper or cardboard items, like wicker baskets or thin paper bags, out of the pantry. Pantry moths love to hide in woven materials and can lay eggs in tiny crevices.
Step 3: Apply Diatomaceous Earth and Boric Acid
This step is crucial for long-term pantry moth control. Diatomaceous Earth and Boric Acid work as a deterrent and a killer for moths, larvae, and eggs.
- Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth: Apply a thin layer of DE around the edges of each pantry shelf and in any corners. DE is a natural insecticide that dehydrates and kills insects by cutting through their exoskeletons.
- Use Boric Acid in Hard-to-Reach Areas: For added protection, place a light sprinkle of Boric Acid in the back corners of the pantry, especially where you’ve seen moth activity. Boric Acid is also effective, but use it cautiously and keep it away from food items.
Safety Note: Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth is safe to ingest in small amounts, but it’s best to keep Boric Acid away from food. Only sprinkle these powders where pantry moths might travel, like corners and behind items.
Step 4: Store Your Pantry Items in Airtight Containers
Once your pantry is clean and dusted with DE, it’s time to put everything back — but with a little extra protection.
- Use airtight glass containers: Pantry moths can chew through plastic bags and cardboard. Transfer grains, flours, and other loose pantry items into sealed glass containers. These prevent moths from accessing the food.
- Avoid metal-lidded jars: Moths can lay eggs under the rim of metal lids, so make sure your containers have a tight, screw-on seal.
- Store seldom-used items in the freezer. To avoid another infestation, Keep whole grains and specialty flours in the freezer.
Bonus Tip: Label each container with the date. This helps you keep track of older food that might be more susceptible to moths.
Step 5: Repeat Regular Inspections and Keep DE in Place
One thorough cleaning won’t be enough to prevent pantry moths forever. Pantry moth eggs are tiny and hard to spot, so ongoing diligence is necessary.
- Inspect regularly: Once a month, check your pantry for signs of moth activity, especially around food packages and in hidden corners.
- Leave DE in place for long-term protection: DE doesn’t lose its effectiveness over time, so you don’t need to reapply it often. Leave a thin layer in the back corners of your pantry as an extra line of defense.
- Vacuum up DE once the problem is under control: Once you’re sure there’s no moth activity, you can vacuum up the DE. But if you’ve had a stubborn infestation, consider leaving a small amount in the most problematic areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Rid of Pantry Moths
Is Diatomaceous Earth safe to use around food?
Yes, food-grade Diatomaceous Earth is safe around food and even used by farmers to prevent pests in animal feed. However, avoid inhaling DE dust as it can be irritating to the lungs.
How long should I leave DE in the pantry?
Leave DE in your pantry for at least a year if you’ve had a severe infestation. It doesn’t lose effectiveness over time and acts as a continuous barrier against moths.
Can pantry moths come from new food packages?
Absolutely. Pantry moths can lay eggs in food packaging at warehouses or stores. This is why it’s essential to store your pantry items in airtight containers to prevent any new infestations.
Final Thoughts: Say Goodbye to Pantry Moths
Pantry moths are persistent and can be incredibly frustrating to deal with, but you can win if you are tenacious! Remember the life-cycle of the moth — you’ll have to be tenacious with the Diatomaceous Earth and Boric Acid to ensure you catch the moths in every stage of the lifecycle.
Then, use airtight containers — glass — for storage.
Remember, pantry moths are tenacious, so a one-time clean-up may not be enough. Keep an eye on your pantry and maintain these practices regularly, and you’ll enjoy a moth-free pantry for years to come. Good luck, and happy cleaning!
172 Comments
Millie
We originally found them in an old silk rug (rolled up and brought in from storage). We had no idea, and left it sitting in a corner of the lounge for a few months till we got organised and moved furniture and unrolled it.
Oh boy, we were in for a shock! So many holes eaten in the rug, especially the underside where the silk was woven through the webbing framework. Their casings, grubs and moth bodies and live moths were the evidence. Needless to say our house is now infested, no crevice is safe. They love natural fibres (ahem, silk) warmth and dampness. Once they get moving those grubs will cocoon themselves in any nearby miniscule crack. It’s just coming on Spring here in Oz, meaning warmer weather so they are really upping the numbers game. We have used surface spray and fly spray (my husband was hugely disappointed to observe that the overly-liberally-applied sprays had very little effect on the flying moths, at least in the short term, a hard pillow or tea towel was more effective and had less of us choking and sneezing), brooms to rub the walls and ceiling corners for cocoons, vacuuming over and over for eggs in all the carpeting, moth traps, games where you win 10 dollars for each genuine flying kill and the evidence is clear (we win from each other so have to keep tabs), scrubbing, washing, annihilating the pantry ( I taped over all those little shelf holder hidey holes), laying in wait to see where they emerge from next. They are literally all over the house. Under table and chair corners, window frames, in the back of the leather couches (yum, leather). The dogs are bored with them and if they land in the fish tank even the fish aren’t interested any more (found some in the fish food too). There are many sources of food and pantry items are only one of them. We are almost on top of them but are aware it only takes one….
Still mourning that eye-wateringly expensive silk rug devastation, but at least we haven’t spent any more money on the moths aside from the traps and and bit of almost useless spray in the beginning. I squash and murder each one I see and the pantry seems static with very little in it and no more moths. I might look into the boric acid thing for those hard to reach places. It would be nice to have an insecticide that’s safer than surface spray and hopefully more effective. Earth from diatoms doesn’t really grab me, 😀 Good luck all…
Joan Koehler
Another suggestion: Scrub the pantry, then paint it. Fill every hole and crack. It worked for us!
June odell
The diatomaceous earth is really the very best thing in the world and does have so many more uses than just getting rid of pantry moths. I have been dealing with them for a few months now. I have it all almost totally under control,I’m not seeing any in the last sticky traps I put out however they have made me paranoid now. I cannot believe that the most effective and safe thing to kill them is diatomaceous earth. Which I have a huge bag if. I put a spoonful of it in my coffee every morning…NOT the pool diatomaceous earth,,,the very healthy safe kind. It helped me clean a bit of a flea problem and also ant problem. I am safe and secure knowing thanks to this article I found the cure for them. Go to food grade diatomaceous earth to look at all the amazing testimonials from people that it has helped. I swear by it
Lacey
I had to come back and leave a comment, because after so much time and money – this finally worked! We had exterminators come out, I cleaned my house top to bottom so many times, and nothing worked! After reading this, I got rid of the traps, cleaned my pantry again and used the DE. I wore rubber gloves and a face mask due to some of the comments about the dangers of breathing it in. It’s been nine months of moth-free living! I worried they might return after the cold months, but we are still clear. I am so thankful for this post and highly recommend her suggestions.
Cheryl
We’ve battled pantry moths for five or six years & I’ve tried & done everything I can think of, like everyone else on here. They started in our kitchen cabinet in a bag of rice. Cabinet is clear now as we quit storing any grains, etc., but for the last three-four years they’ve come from our fireplace. Gone in winter & back in summer with hot weather. I’m going to throw out all the traps & get the Killigan traps, the boric acid & corn meal & ortho home defense (?) spray as those are the only things I haven’t tried. Last summer I even covered the fireplace opening into the den with thick plastic & taped it off. That did help some but did not get rid of them. It was also quite attractive. I’ll be checking back. Thanks for new tips. They are truly moths from hell.
Frankie
Hi all,
I too have been battling the moths – both pantry and clothing. I noticed them last year during Covid. I spent lots of $$ on exterminators with no success. I hired a contractor to fix any and every crack I could find. They are back in numbers this summer – all coming in through my fireplace. I get at least 30-50 a day. I had a chimney sweeper say cleaning won’t help but I have to believe there is a birds nest or something up there. My husband thought I was crazy but after putting 5-6 Killians traps in there at 1 time – they were all filled within a few days. And a mix of clothing and indian meal moths. I haven’t seen more than 1 flyiing around the house and have traps in other places of the house but it all seems to be coming from the chimney. I am thinking of getting a complete gas insert to seal off the outside completely and hoping this will eliminate most of the problem. Has anyone had success with Chimney issues? Thanks.
Holly B.
Thanks so much for posting this!! I’ve had them off and on for years, but this year there has been an absolute explosion of them… and the worst part of it is that my laundry area is across from my pantry area in the kitchen, and these little buggers are laying their eggs IN MY CLOTHES – I’ve either gone to put something on or put things away and seen fuzzy little webbing… then saw larvae crawling around on my clothes!!! How disgusting!!! So, it is ON, and I am determined to take these guys down!! I am also seeing their little webs at the top of my walls where they meet the ceiling all over the place. I used to be able to reach them to clean them off, but now it’s a bit more problematic. I’ll figure it out, though!!
Thanks again for posting this!! What a life saver!! =)
Toodman
We have had them in our fireplace also! Awful! I couldn’t see where they were I could only see them coming out at night with a light on. We were doing a remodel on our home and were painting around the fireplace. The fireplace was tapped off from the rest of the room and plastic taped around the fireplace. I decided to cut two holes in the plastic and then I put in two bug bombs. The ones that are foggers that you are able to get at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot. I set off the bug bomb foggers and quickly taped up the holes in the plastic with painters tape. The fireplace was pretty much sealed. None of the gasses from the bombs were coming into the rest of the room. The bug bomb box says to leave the area that has been bombed for at least two hours. I left the plastic on the fireplace for about 5 days. I didn’t not want those annoying pantry moths to survive. Usually I feel like the bug bombs don’t work on the pantry moths, maybe because it might kill the moths but nothing the eggs or larve, anyway… it worked!!! I couldn’t believe it. The plastic worked great and we no longer have them in our fireplace. I hope this is useful to others. Thanks.
Ellen
Hi,
Your post was very helpful and we followed all of your tips. We purchased a home that was infested. It was almost 2 months in before we figured it out.
For anyone who keeps seeing them and doesn’t know where the food source is coming from–check your attic!
It turns out a squirrel had nested in our attic area over the kitchen, had likely brought in nuts, which kept the moths very happy in the attic, then the larvae would travel down through our light fixtures and ceiling access lid.
We had the exterminator set off a bomb in the attic which helped slow everything greatly. Between that, your cleaning and DE tips –and also the traps, we are now a month without a single new moth.
Fingers crossed. The traps really have helped because it gets the moths before they reproduce- but really this worked only after the attic bug bomb. There were so many before it was probably easy for them to make before they found their way to the traps.
We have the traps in every single cabinet, attic area, and garage. I did a count every week to check the progress- and will continue. We have kept every single food item that’s not in glass or metal-in the refrigerator. It’s been 8 months living like this.
I think we will wait another 4 weeks before we store our food in a cabinet- in glass jars of course. We also will only use one big new cabinet for our food.
It’s an IKEA cabinet, so no hidden places in there compared to our cruddy site-built builder cabinets with 1000 crevasses for these guys to hide. If one get’s in, we will see it quickly enough and can deal with it.
robin hayes
About 35 years ago, I lived in a two-bedroom duplex.
It came with roaches my husband and I found out later. Our landlord had the place sprayed but after the third try, I was moving out.
His last try was an exterminator, who said the roaches would be gone in a week, he had a powder that would kill them almost immediately.
We were skeptical but agreed. In one week they were gone as he said! He used BORIC ACID, He threw it on everything (we weren’t happy about that) but it worked and we did not have to move.
Now we have food moths and I am sure I bought those horrid things from the store. I have spent so much money on spray and traps, and it has gotten worse. They have reeked havoc in my home.
TODAY I am getting boric acid for the tight places and Diatomaceous Earth everywhere else. They are literally everywhere.
Please wish me luck! I will keep you posted!!
Susiej you are a Godsend! God bless you for your valueable information!!!
Sarah
When I first moved into my aunts 2nd apartment I am sure nothing was here. I believe I brought them from school as I see them there. Of course the store is also an option. First found them in pantry box of cereal and I thought I got rid of them then. Now they are in the attic. No exterminators can find where they are nesting. My great Aunt used to store food in the attic at the bottom of the stairs for years so I’ll start the DE there. Nothing any of the exterminators do fully solves the problem. We are in the dead middle of summer and they are making a come back in there. I feel the exterminators are a waste of $$. My aunt wants to get new windows installed in the attic. I’m worried they will come infest my apartment b/c the workers will leave the door open or come in and out. I really wish I could find where they are nesting and be done with this. It’s been 7 years.
Jane Ehret
Thankful to find this even though I am a few years late to the party. Been over a year since we started this journey. Have two areas still a problem and one is our fireplace. Have had a chimney sweep out and then it was winter so low activity in traps. Spring hit and lots of activity. Is this blog still active?
Cindy Gillis
Hi Jane, I hope it is still active. I just bought a bag of this stuff. Can’t wait to see if it works!
Tina TooOldForThis
I am battling pantry moths now, and came across this article. I’ve spent so much time, money and effort Im willing to try anything. My question: how do you get the diatomaceous earth into all the possible cracks and crevices? Or is it sufficient just to sprinkle it on the floor of your pantry and on the shelves? I can’t think how I would apply it to the upper corners and roof of my cabinets and all the lit spaces in and around the cabinets. Can you mix it with water and spray it? How does this work?
Margaret
Tina, get a sprayer like this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00967J4PK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
you can mix boric acid powder (not granules) and diatomaceous earth together in it. It take a bit to get the hang of, but it reaches into crevices better than you can imagine.
Marie
Diatomaceous EARTH….
I will never live without it. It works on so many insects. Poor grasshopper even lost its legs one time. I have diatomaceous earth in cracks and crevices over ants. I will admit that I did not understand why the flying moth were dying. I just thought they lived through their cycle. I got online looking for a way to solve this problem and ran across this article. Diatomaceous Earth is so great that it has been accidentally on my part working on these moths. Now I can use it intentionally for them. Thanks for posting.
Kate
For anyone wondering how to get DE into cracks and crevices and hard-to-reach areas, you can get what I call a “poofer” on Amazon (a bulb duster). I bought the “Bizzy One” mega kit which is a silicone squeeze bulb with an angled brass tube attached to it. Squeeze and it expresses DE as a fine powder. You can shoot it under baseboards, etc. and it worked well to do my cupboards. Just be sure to wear a good mask that is sealed well against your face so that you don’t breathe in the fine particles. Not good for the lungs.
Allen Carpenter
We “acquired “ pantry moths when I opened a new box of coffee pods. When I opened the box a BUNCH of them came into our life.
I am going to try Diatomaceous Earth. I know I am going to win but the battle might go on for a while.
Kathy Andring
I use glass jars but they have metal lids. Don’t all glass jars?? What else can I store dry beans and grains in if we should avoid metal lids?
SusieJ
Metal lids are fine! No worries! I have no idea why anyone would say that it is a problem. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you… Have a great day.
Kathleen
Send me free guide please for pantry Moths
Diane H
I had them in my fireplace room! So great to read the comment about the fireplace infestation. The diatomaceous earth is amazing. My spider infestation under control in a day. Still searching out all the pantry moth infestation. I cleared my pantry but they had spread through the house going after woolens for keratin. Found them living around and in the lower edges of my bed frame. Under and behind my fridge Everywhere. This is the most helpful post!