Anyone who has ever been invaded by pantry moths understands how horribly difficult they can be to get rid of.
 Sometimes an infestation is obvious; you open your pantry, and there they are, fluttering around your packages of crackers and rice and your favorite chocolate bars.
 Or worse, you go to stir in the last ingredient of a recipe, and find a container full of larvae.
 More subtle signs of invading moths include small webs in the corners of your pantry or in packaged foods, and tiny holes in the food packages themselves.
Pantry moths are often brought unwittingly into the house from the grocery store; a prime culprit being the bulk food and grain bins.
 Female moths lay an astonishing 100-400 eggs and once hatched, the larvae build the telltale webbing found in grains, nuts, crackers and even pet food.
      So, you know you have pantry moths.
 Now what?  

• First, remove all infested food items and throw them away OUTSIDE  (do not leave near your doorway) in a sealed trash can or bag.
  
• Check your bags of flour, grains, boxes of cereal and cornmeal carefully; if you have moths, they have most probably laid their eggs in these items.
    Ruthlessness is vitally important here.
   Chances are, anything stored in a plastic bag or a jar that is not airtight, is infested.
  
• Vacuum out cupboards, empty vacuum bag outside and discard into a sealed trash can or bag.
  
• Clean your cupboards and shelves thoroughly with warm, soapy water and dry well.
  Then spray with a strong vinegar solution (add essential oils if you like).
  When doing this, be sure to get the liquid into the cracks and crevices as these are the areas moths tend to lay their eggs.
  This is a very important step in stopping future eggs from hatching.
   **If using essential oils, mix 4oz vinegar with 1/2 teaspoon eucalyptus and lemon oils and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint or lavender essential oil.
  
• Thoroughly wash any canned foods or other containers to remove traces of eggs.
  
• Use pantry moth traps.
   These are inexpensive and non-toxic, trapping the male moths through the use of pheromones, and thus breaking the cycle of infestation.
   In addition to being very effective, these can alert you to the presence of moths before you see any obvious evidence of them.
  

 To Prevent Infestations:

• Freeze all dried goods you bring home from the grocery store for four days.
  This will kill any eggs that were present in the food items.
  
• Store all dried goods in glass jars with tight lids, or plastic air-tight containers.
  This will help isolate any problems.
  
• Keep 1-3 bay leaves in each container of dried goods as a deterrent.
   If using three leaves, place one at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom of each container.
  
• Avoid the bulk aisle at your grocery store.
  

Finally, be vigilant.
  Check your food items regularly for signs of an infestation.
 The earlier you catch these persistent pests, the better your chances of getting rid of them once and for all.