Anyone?

 

What are you going to do with cedar blocks hanging in your closet?

 

I think the theory is that if you hang them amongst your suits, it might serve as some sort of moth-deterrent. Certainly smells better than moth balls, if it works.

 

I don't know if it has the slightest effect on the average moth, but get some sandpaper and take a whack at the cedar things every so often. (Shoe trees as well.) At least everything smells nice.

 

My understanding is that cedar as a repellent to moths is marginal at best. That being said, I believe that aromatic cedar is wonderful material for clothing storage.

My closet approach was to apply a dedicated five-sided polyethylene vapor barrier, overlaid with with 1/2 inch plywood on ceiling and sides screwed to rafters and studs, and then tongue and groove aromatic cedar applied using a rented small brad nailer and air compressor (I think I went through 800 brads, plus left no hammer marks). Once up, I sanded the cedar with 320 grit sandpaper to expose the oils. Shelving was fabricated from solid oak stained with Minwax Red Oak. Same with kick boards and moldings. Lastly, I used a solid wood door. The resulting aroma of the closet with cedar and stained oak was sublime.

All materials were available and single-sourced from Home Depot. If you have a penchant for DIY and a skill saw (use a 2x4 as straight edge), it's a fun project.

While your Target strips are a nice touch and earnest gesture, I don't believe there's enough surface area to really achieve what you're after.

 

Use enough to get a pleasant level of aroma - that's the main benefit. "Season to smell", if you will.

 

Naval Wife once brought home a cedar set like you are describing. There isn't enough cedar there to protect a closet. I'd recommend using one hang up block and one little block in a sealed garmet bag. You could get maybe two suits or jackets per bag.

EAP has the right idea with the full-bore cedar closet. Cedar chests work, too. My grandmother kept all her "heirloom" woolens in a cedar chest for decades without ill effect. There just has to be a high proportion of cedar surface area to storage space.

BTW, my experience is that moths always eat camel hair first. That's your first priority for protection.

Scott

 

My understanding is that cedar as a repellent to moths is marginal at best. That being said, I believe that aromatic cedar is wonderful material for clothing storage.

My closet approach was to apply a dedicated five-sided polyethylene vapor barrier, overlaid with with 1/2 inch plywood on ceiling and sides screwed to rafters and studs, and then tongue and groove aromatic cedar applied using a rented small brad nailer and air compressor (I think I went through 800 brads, plus left no hammer marks). Once up, I sanded the cedar with 320 grit sandpaper to expose the oils. Shelving was fabricated from solid oak stained with Minwax Red Oak. Same with kick boards and moldings. Lastly, I used a solid wood door. The resulting aroma of the closet with cedar and stained oak was sublime.

All materials were available and single-sourced from Home Depot. If you have a penchant for DIY and a skill saw (use a 2x4 as straight edge), it's a fun project.

While your Target strips are a nice touch and earnest gesture, I don't believe there's enough surface area to really achieve what you're after.

Mrs hbs and I lucked out--our 1926-vintage bungalow has a full-blown cedar closet upstairs, big enough for out-of-season woolens, sweaters, tweeds, etc.

hbs