EBAY is a great place to get great deals on wool sweaters and other items. I have bought $60 wool sweaters for a few dollars. If you are like me you LOVE wool-100% wool! Here is all you need to know about avoiding the dreaded moth holes. 

All wool, vintage and otherwise, can be cursed with moth eggs. When these eggs hatch they will live on your precious wool, eating it and making those tiny holes. Of course, you could take your item to a dry cleaner, but there goes your bargain!

 The first thing, of course, is to make sure the item is not already damaged before you bid. If the seller does not say that there are no holes, ASK! It's easy and will save time and trouble later for both the seller and the buyer.

Second, when your item arrives, immediately inspect it for the small holes. If you find one, and still love and want the item, carefully turn it inside out and attempt to pull all the threads together and tie them. This is not as difficult as it sounds. Then add some "Fray Check" available at any sewing area in most stores.

Hopefully, you did not find any evidence of damage.

Next, and this is MOST IMPORTANT, (even if you bought your item in a store) put the item in a zipper baggie and place it in your freezer for 24 hours. YES, in your freezer!

Then, put the item in a HOT dryer for 5 or 10 minutes. This should not shrink it although it may tighten the threads but they will lossen up later.

Back into the freezer for another 24 hours!  The alternating hot and cold tempatures will kill the moth eggs and larve. I know this sounds gross, but they are likly invisible to your eye!

Presto! Now to keep your item free of moth holes follow these guidelines.

Get a bright light for your closet! Follow your light fixtures guidelines for the brightest bulb you can use and leave it on every other day. The moth larve cannot survive bright light.

Forget about mothballs. They stink and so will you if you use them. Also forget about cedar. Smells great but the cedar oils are not strong enough to deter moths and do not last long enough anyway.

A few more hints for wool lovers.

Moth larve also live on dead skin (I know, gross...) unseen food spills and oils.  Better to wear something under your beautiful wool sweater.

Never put an item immeidately in your closet after wearing it. Drape it across a table or chair near a sunny window but not in direct light. Remember bright light is your friend.

If you bought the item extra large, good for you!! Now you can make an even thicker sweater. Remember first! A sweater with multiple yarns throughout (ie more than one color, decorative colors) will shrink much more than a 1 yarn sweater! Keep a sharp eye on them.  Depending on how large it is, either wash it in the gentle cycle or hand wash it. What really shrinks wool is the rubbing of the fibers against each other, not the hot water. Detergent is required. So gently swish it around, rubbing it together. Put it in your washer on the spin cycle and put it in the dryer with a couple of towels. Every 5 min or so check it for size!!  When it is perfect, lay it on something ventilated to finish drying. I have a peice of closet shelf left over that I use. 

You may gently hand wash your wool with any gentle detergent. Woolite is fine or Dreft etc. Rinse Rinse Rinse and follow the above drying recommendations.

(If you completely forget your sweater is in the dryer, look to my guide-what do make out of felted sweaters!)

Congratulations! You are now moth hole free!