Second hand clothing

bluebells100

I've bought some second hand clothing. Is there any way eliminate the risk of moth infestation and kill any bacteria? I'm not overly worried, but since I dont know anything about the seller I would rather take precautions if possible in case they have moth eggs they might not be aware of. Is it best to freeze items?

VfM4meplse

Have you given it a thorough visual inspection? A hot wash will kill eggs, as will freezing as you note.

Take a look at MottenShop's tips.

bluebells100

Was considering freezing then before unwrapping as a precaution! Probably paranoid I know.

bluebells100

Thanks for the link. I've bought a woolen item so I think I might freeze that. Other items are cotton so might just wash them as normal.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Do you have a particular reason to suspect a moth problem? I buy most of what I wear (undies and shoes excepted) from charity shops and have never had any issues.

GreyQueen

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

Do you have a particular reason to suspect a moth problem? I buy most of what I wear (undies and shoes excepted) from charity shops and have never had any issues.

Ditto me, and I've never had anything with a cargo of critters, nor have the many people I know who source 90% of their clothing from chazzers and jumblies.

McKneff

Youre right, you are paranoid

Pop_Up_Pirate

Charities wash clothes before they display.
Presumable you will wash again before you wear.

I don't think there will be any moth eggs around by that stage.

Prinzessilein

I have donated to Charity Shops...they always steam clean the items, however nicely laundered they are when I bring them in...it is simply their policy.

It is very unlikely you would find moth eggs in them.

However, the OP does not specifically mention Charity Shops...if they were bought from a market stall or over the internet (like ebay) then maybe extra precautions would be in order?

Living_proof

I think there has been a lot in the press about a moth infestation due to last winter having been so mild. I can report that one woollen jumper left in a lloyd loom laundry basket for a couple of months (awaiting a rare hand wash) did succumb to moths. We can;t go back to moth balls though can we?

Art_Deco

All my clothes are second hand from charity shops barring undies, i find no enjoyment what so ever buying from " normal" shops, i wash things before i wear them but have to admit rarely buy woolens as i tend to shrink them:( Ive just remembered before Xmas being in a local charity shop buying a lovely sausage dog Xmas jumper ( not wool,) for £2 the elderly lady behind the counter was saying how nice it was and then showed me a hole she had just noticed in the sleeve of her own jumper that she was wearing , probably from moths she thought, she had only had it 6 months and it had been in a special bag to protect it, she had paid £89.00 from M&S :eek: