The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-13
FIGHTING MOTHS IN CARPETS.
Liquids Which Are Repugnant to the De-


stroyer of Woven Goods.
Carpets were never cheaper nor bet
ter than now, but until times are better
we shall have to take care of our old car
pets. The moth is the great enemy to
be fought and defeated. There are eff
ticacious remedies. One is to steep one
fourth of a pound of cayenne pepper in
one gallon of water, then adding two
drachms of strychnia powder. Strain
and pour this into a shallow vessel.
such as large tinned-iron milk pan.
Roll the carpet up and set each end al
ternately in this mixture for ten min
utes. or long enough to insure the sat
uration of it's edges for about an inch.
do this after beating the carpet The
ends should likewise be treated. Be
sure the carpet is dry before lacking
down, as the wet poison might injure
the fingers while lacking. When done
with the liquid throw where it possibly
cannot harm anybody, or bottle and
label for future use, marking it Carpet
moth poison" This preparation will
not stain the carpet nor corrode metals
III COHJdCL Will Tile CdTptUs
Another mixture calls for one pound
of quassia chips, one-fourth of pound
of cayenne pepper, STEPPED in two gall
Ions of water, strained and used as
above.
When the carpet to be treated is not
no be taken up, spray ends, edges, mar
gins and corners with the atomizer
Perhaps two or three applications
might be better than one with the atom
tizer.
The carpet moth loves the bindings
and margins of carpet. Ingrains or
three-plys may be treated successfully
while down by wringing cloth out of
hot water, laying it over the bindings
and edges and ironing with a hot iron.
This will destroy both moth and eggs.
This method is not effectual with mo-
quettes or other heavy carpets, as the
heat will not sufficiently penetrate
them, besides which, ironing Injuries
the pile of velvets; still, the tacks can
be drawn occasionally and the carpet
laid over on its edge, one side at time,
and steamed on the wrong side. Then
wipe the floor under the carpet as far
as the arm can reach with hot cayenne
tea Also wipe the edge and bindings
OF carpet with hot rag, rubbing hard
before renailing. Some recommend
sprinkling salt around the sides of the
room before mailing down the sides of
the carpet, but this seems wrong, be
cause the salt will surely attract too
much moisture
Be on the lookout for the Buffalo car
pet beetle as early in the year as Feb
ruary and March. Look out for them on
the windows and window sills, and over
all wooden clothing not In frequent usa
The moth has a special liking for red
carpet But the pest comes also later
In the year, being sometimes brought
into the house in flowers. Il has par
ticular love for the blossoms CT the
spirea- Il is g good plan. where the
moths are unusually bad TO saturate
the floor with benzine, or preferably,
we think. with spirits of turpentine,
which is not so inhamable nor volatile,
and then lay newspapers down unde.
the carpet This prevents an attack
from the underside. IL is important 20
remember that the moth always abhors
the light. which is death TO the eggs
and larvae, and is really the best thing
with which 10 circSmveat them
Corrosive sublimate ard alcohol n
the proportions of 90 grains Of the form
er 70 one pint OF the latter IS useful toT
treating the edges Of the seams Of the
carpet where the pest IS bad. but the
poison Is 50 de-7.- tl-at gree - I,-.oo