San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09
CARE Of COSTLY
f URNIT URE IS
!. NOT DIFFICULT.
But Housewife Must Know
How or Deterioration
Will Be Expensive.
MOTHS DAMAGE HERE
They Are Easily Controlled
If One of Several Meth
DDS Is Employed.

The first and most important rule
tn follow in caring for upholstered
furniture is TO brush it thoroughly
at least twice each month, and 10
use the vacuum cleaner on 1t once
each week. This procedure will
keep it clean and free from dust,
and in addition it will practically
eliminate any danger from moths.
There are three species of clothes
moths that attack articles made OF
wool. fur. bristles. hair and feath-
ers. Their life histories and control
are 30 much alike that the separate
species will not be discussed. They
All mass through the usual life cycle
of insects. That is, there is an adult
or parent moth. the egg, the larvae
or worm, and the pupa or chrysalis.
From the pupa energies the adult "a
the following generation. -.
The adult, or parent moth, Is fne
miller which one sees flying about
the house. The moths are especially
abundant during the spring and late
summer, although in heated houses
they may be seen almost any time.
They themselves cannot damage up
holstered furniture, but they may lay
many small white eggs on it: They
NAV live as long as three weeks. and.
during that time, lay as many as 2OO
eggs each. These eggs hatch in about
five to ten days, according to tenn
perature. The tiny worms, or larvae,
begin feeding as soon as they hatch
and become full grown in not less
than ten weeks, If conditions are faV-
orable.
Weather and Materials.
The rapidity of growth of the lar
vac depends not only on favorable
weather conditions, but also upon the
kind of material upon which they
feed. While the adult moth does not
eat cloth she should be killed when
ever possible, for each female moth
killed means so many less larvae to
attack the goods later. 1t is the
larvae that cause the destruction,
for they have well-developed jaws at
birth.
1t il not necessary to suffer loss
from clothes moth attacks, as there
are several methods of preventing
damage. The first, and most simple,
is TO brush often, as the larvae and
eggs are very delicate and thor
ough brushing will either crush or re
move them. In brushing, pay par
ticular attention to seams and peck
cts. especially those in dark corners
and against the wall Remove the
loose cushions and brush as deeply
as possible in the space between the
seat and the back and arms. Brush
ing in combination with the thorough
use Of the vacuum cleaner, should
serve TO remove any danger OF moth
7ravages.
Killing Moths Important.
In the event that larvae have
Matched and begun their work of de-
struction, proceed as above outlined,
and then spray the infested parts
with a good insecticide. Secure one
that is guaranteed not 30 harm fab
RIGS, wood or varnish, and use con-
siderable of it. There are a few chem
zeal compositions on the market, de-
signed especially for moth treatment,
that are very efficient If used in
quantity. The danger in using them
does not come from using too much,
but too little.
= Another effective method Is the car
! bon disulphide treatment. This is a
fumigating treatment, and should be
carried out In small room. If the
home is equipped with closet large
enough to hold the furniture to be
treated. so much the better, as closets
usually have no openings other than
bone door, Place the furniture TO b.
treated on the floor, as the gas which
IN formed as the carbon disulphidt
evsporates is heavier than air ant
: hence zoe SHOWN. The chemical car
. be secured from any druggist ant
st least ten pounds are needed fol