Natural Moth Repellents: How to Protect Your Clothes Without Mothballs

You reach into the back of your closet for the cashmere sweater you've been saving for the first cold day. When you hold it up to the light, you see a small hole near the hem, and then another one beside it. The wool you chose with such care has quietly become a meal.

Your first instinct might be to reach for mothballs, but there is a better way. A natural moth repellent routine can protect your clothes without filling your home with toxic chemicals.

It also spares you that unmistakable mothball smell that clings to everything it touches. Better still, the approaches textile conservators actually trust tend to be simpler and safer than the old chemical pesticides.

This guide walks you through what works and what doesn't, so you can keep moths away from your wool and other fibers for good.

Why You May Want Natural Moth Repellents Instead of Mothballs

Mothballs do kill moths, but they manage it by being poisonous, and that is exactly the problem with them.

Traditional mothballs contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both are pesticides that turn from solid to gas at room temperature, releasing fumes that kill insects. Those same fumes don't stop at moths.

The National Pesticide Information Center, a service run by Oregon State University in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, explains that mothballs give off a gas that is toxic to peo[1] [2] ple or pets who breathe it in, which is why the labels direct you to use them only in sealed containers.

In a publication for Oregon State University, toxicologist David Stone and pest-management specialist Tim Stock [3] [4] describe mothballs as pesticides that can harm people or pets who swallow them or inhale their vapors at high concentrations.

There's a physical problem too. Michigan State University's Plant and Pest Diagnostics service points out, in its clothes moth fact sheet, t[5] [6] hat mothballs made with these chemicals should never touch plastic buttons, hangers, or garment bags, because they can cause the plastic to soften and melt right into the fabric.

So you're left with a choice. You can poison the air around your clothing, or you can borrow the methods used to safeguard priceless textiles. That second path has a long history.

Long before modern pesticides existed, the butlers and household staff who cared for England's great Stately Homes protected fine wardrobes with clean, breathable cotton and constant vigilance, not chemical fumigants. That tradition is the foundation of every method in this guide.

Do Natural Moth Repellents Actually Work?

Here's the honest answer most websites won't give you: scent-based natural moth repellents help, but they don't do the heavy lifting. Understanding how a natural moth repellent really behaves saves you a lot of heartbreak.

Lavender, herbs, and essential oils can discourage adult moths from settling in an area. The evidence for this is thinner than the popularity of these methods suggests, but it isn't nothing.

In a 2022 study published in the Bulletin of Insectology, Kayleigh Peace and colleagues at the University of Reading tested four common essential oils against the varied carpet beetle, a fabric pest that plagues museums much as clothes moths do, and found that the beetles were most strongly repelled by lavender and eucalyptus.

That research looked at a beetle rather than a moth, so it isn't proof that lavender protects your sweaters, but it does suggest the scent of lavender is more than pure folklore.

But "repels adult moths" is not the same as "protects your clothes." Adult moths don't eat fabric at all. The larvae do the damage, and a sachet does nothing to a larva already hatched on your wool.

The scent also fades. The essential oils evaporate, the herbs lose their punch, and within weeks the protection weakens without you noticing.

This is why textile conservators treat scent repellents as a helpful supporting player, never the star. The methods that genuinely keep moths off your clothes work with moth biology: deny them food, deny them access, and deny them the dark, undisturbed quiet they need to breed.

A natural moth repellent strategy that combines pleasant deterrents with physical barriers and clean storage will protect your wardrobe. Sachets alone will not. (If you're already battling an active infestation rather than preventing one, our guide on how to get rid of clothes moths walks through treatment step by step.)

Natural Moth Repellent Options: Lavender, Cedar, Herbs, and Essential Oils

Walk down any "natural living" aisle and you'll find dozens of products that promise to keep moths away. Some have real merit as a natural moth repellent. Others trade on reputation alone. Here's how the popular options actually perform.

Does Lavender Work as a Natural Moth Repellent?

Lavender is the most beloved natural moth repellent, and it has earned part of that reputation. Its strong scent comes from aromatic compounds such as linalool that many insects find unpleasant, and the University of Reading research mentioned earlier found lavender among the most repellent oils in its carpet-beetle trials.

That said, keep your expectations grounded. Lavender may discourage some adult moths from an area, but it won't kill eggs or larvae, and its scent fades as the oils evaporate.

English Heritage, whose conservators protect historic textiles across England, lists lavender among the safer alternatives to old mothball formulations while cautioning that it doesn't work on larvae.

Refresh dried lavender or lavender oil regularly if you use it, and treat it as one layer of protection rather than your whole defense.

Does Cedar Work to Repel Moths?

Cedar has a long reputation as a moth deterrent, and the reality is more limited than the reputation. According to the University of California's Pest Notes on clothes moths, written by entomologist Dong-Hwan Choe of UC Riverside, the oil in aromatic eastern red cedar can kill small larvae but doesn't affect larger ones, and after several years the wood loses even that quality as its oils dissipate.

In other words, fresh cedar may help a little against the youngest larvae, but it does nothing to eggs or to larvae that have already grown, and its modest effect doesn't last.

There's an added concern for fine textiles. Cedar oils can migrate onto fabric over time and may cause discoloration or staining on delicate or valuable pieces.

For that reason, you shouldn't place cedar in direct contact with the garments you care about, and you shouldn't rely on a cedar chest or block as your main line of defense. The same source notes that a tightly constructed storage chest matters far more in the long run than the type of wood it's made from.

What Herbs Repel Moths?

Beyond lavender, several aromatic herbs have traditional reputations as moth deterrents. Rosemary, thyme, mint, cloves, and bay leaves all appear in old recipes, and their strong scents can make an area modestly less inviting to adult moths.

But the same limits apply across the board. These herbs may discourage adults, but they don't eliminate larvae or eggs, and their effect weakens as the aromatic oils dissipate.

Think of an herbal sachet as a gentle "keep moving" sign for moths, not a locked door. Used alongside clean storage and proper covers, herbs add a pleasant, non-toxic layer. Used alone, they create a false sense of security while larvae feed undisturbed.

What Essential Oils Repel Moths?

Essential oils concentrate the same aromatic compounds found in the plants themselves, which is why they can be more potent than dried herbs. Lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood, peppermint, and clove oils all turn up in natural moth repellent recipes.

It's worth being candid about the evidence, though. The University of California Pest Notes a[7] [8] cknowledges that while you can tuck herbal oils into a storage container, their actual effectiveness against clothes moths remains largely unproven.

The most encouraging signal comes from the carpet-beetle research noted earlier, where lavender and eucalyptus did repel a related fabric pest.

A word of caution for your clothes. Never apply essential oils directly to fabric, because the oils can stain and some may damage delicate fibers. Instead, place a few drops on a cotton ball or wooden clip tucked near your garments, not on the garments themselves.

As with every scent-based method, reapply often, since the protection disappears as the oil evaporates.

How to Make Natural Moth Repellent Sachets and Sprays at Home

If you enjoy a hands-on approach, making your own natural moth repellent sachets and sprays is simple, satisfying, and keeps synthetic chemicals out of your closet. Just remember these are deterrents that supplement proper storage, not replacements for it.

How to Make Natural Moth Repellent Sachets

A basic natural moth repellent sachet needs only a small breathable cotton or muslin bag and a handful of dried aromatic material. Dried lavender buds make a classic filling.

You can blend in dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, or bay leaves for a more complex scent. Some people add a few drops of essential oil to the dried mix to boost the aroma.

Tie the bag closed and tuck it among your stored woolens, in drawers, or on closet shelves. Keep the sachet near your clothes rather than pressed against delicate fabric, since dried botanicals and oils can occasionally transfer color.

Refresh the contents every few weeks, or revive a fading sachet with a drop or two of essential oil. The scent is the active ingredient, so when you can no longer smell it, the moths can't either.

How to Make a Natural Moth Repellent Spray

A simple natural moth repellent spray combines water with a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender, cedarwood, or eucalyptus. Because oil and water separate, add a small amount of witch hazel or a similar dispersant to help the oil mix, and shake the bottle well before each use.

Here's the critical part: never spray this directly onto your clothes. Essential oils can stain and may harm fine fibers. Instead, mist the inside of closets, the edges of shelves, and storage areas, keeping the spray off the garments themselves.

Let everything dry fully before returning clothing. Reapply regularly, since the scent fades within days. A homemade spray freshens a closet and gently discourages adult moths, but it works only as part of a larger plan built on clean storage and breathable barriers.

The Most Effective Natural Moth Protection: Breathable Cotton Barriers

Here's what conservators understand that most people don't. The most dependable natural moth protection isn't a scent at all. It's a physical barrier the moth can't get past, combined with clothing clean enough that larvae can't thrive on it.

This works because of how clothes moths actually feed. It's the larvae, not the adults, that eat fabric, and they fare poorly on clean material. In the University of California Pest Notes on clothes moths, entomologist Dong-Hwan Choe notes that the larvae draw their nourishment from the perspiration, food, and stains worked into worn fibers, so heavily soiled items a[9] [10] re far more vulnerable than freshly cleaned ones.

A general fact sheet from the University of Maryland's Home and Garden Information Center makes the same point, treating soiled woolens as the larvae's main food and explaining that they can't finish developing on clean wool.

So the first natural defense is simple: clean your wool and other fibers thoroughly before storing them away.

The second defense is a proper cover. And this is where the storage method itself matters enormously.

Why Plastic Bags Undermine Natural Moth Protection

Most people store off-season clothing in plastic. The dry cleaner's bag is already there, so why not leave it on? Because plastic actively works against you.

Plastic dry cleaning bags are petroleum-based. They trap moisture against your clothing and block air circulation entirely. In that sealed, stagnant environment, conditions where mildew could develop take hold, musty odors set in, and the plastic itself can emit gases that yellow and weaken fabric over time.

Worse, a draped plastic bag doesn't actually seal out a determined moth. It offers the worst of both worlds: no breathability and no real barrier.

Museum conservators have moved away from chemical pesticides for exactly the reasons covered above. The American Museum of Natural History describes how worries about health and safety steered collecting institutions toward preventative, non-chemical care, relying instead on sealed storage, climate control, and good housekeeping.

For long-term storage of textiles, that means breathable, chemical-free cotton rather than plastic. Natural cotton lets air move freely, regulates moisture instead of trapping it, and shields your clothes from the dust and light that age them.

Why Unbleached and Undyed Cotton Matters for Natural Protection

If you're choosing natural moth protection, the fabric of your covers matters as much as anything you put inside them.

A cover sits pressed against your clothes for months at a time, so any bleach, dye, or chemical left in that fabric can gradually transfer to the garments you're trying to protect.

That's the opposite of what someone going chemical-free wants. The safest choice is cotton that was never bleached or dyed in the first place.

Worth knowing before you buy: cotton in its true natural state is never bright white. Left unbleached and undyed, the fiber holds a soft cream, beige, or ecru tone — so if a cover looks stark white, it has been through a chemical bleaching process, whatever the label implies.

The word "organic" muddies this further. It's a farming term, describing cotton grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and says nothing about how the cloth was finished afterward.

An organic cotton bag can still be bleached, dyed, or chemically treated at the mill, which means it may carry the very residues a chemical-free household is trying to keep away from its clothes. The wording to look for is explicit: unbleached and undyed, with the natural cream color to match.

Look instead for cotton explicitly labeled as unbleached and undyed, showing its natural cream color. The Butler's Closet uses 100% chemical-free, unbleached and undyed cotton percale, the same kind of fabric museum conservators rely on, developed with guidance from textile conservators.

Choosing Covers That Actually Keep Moths Out

A natural moth repellent barrier only works if it's built to seal moths out. Examine the closures on any garment cover you're considering, because this detail matters more than most people realize.

Quality garment covers use natural button closures rather than zippers. Many people assume zippers seal more completely, but the opposite proves true for protecting delicate clothing. Zippers create two specific problems.

First, they can snag and damage delicate fabrics, with teeth catching on embellishments and metal pulls hooking fine knits. Second, zippers may slip and create gaps even when fully closed, particularly at the top and bottom, and those small openings can give dust and moths a way in.

The Butler's Closet Suit or Tuxedo Garment Covers and Dress or Coat Garment Covers use natural Corozo buttons rather than zippers, paired with an overlapping placket that runs the length of the opening.

That overlapping fabric helps keep out clothes moths, dust, and light, providing protection even if a button shifts during months of storage. Both offer a generous 4-inch gusset, giving your garments more room than many covers allow, so nothing gets crushed.

For folded woolens and sweaters, the Deluxe Cotton Storage Bag uses the same unbleached and undyed cotton with a tight, fine zipper designed for moth prevention. Together, these create the kind of physical barrier that no sachet can match.

Natural Carpet Moth Repellent and Whole-Home Prevention

Clothes moths don't limit themselves to closets. The same species that feed on your sweaters will happily settle into wool rugs, carpet edges, and upholstered furniture, especially in the quiet, undisturbed spots beneath heavy furniture.

A natural moth repellent plan for your home rests on the same principles that protect your clothes.

The most effective natural carpet moth repellent is the vacuum cleaner. A Utah State University Extension fact sheet by entomologist Erin Hodgson and colleagues lists good housecleaning as vital to preventing clothes moth damage, with vacuuming as a direct help.

Pay special attention to the carpet beneath sofas, along baseboards, and in closets, the dark and rarely disturbed places larvae prefer. In the University of California Pest Notes, Dong-Hwan Choe explains that clothes moths retreat and hide whenever they're disturbed, wh[11] [12] ich is why frequent vacuuming and moving furniture to clean underneath make your home far less hospitable to them.

Beyond cleaning, the same principles that protect your clothes protect your home. Store seasonal woolens, blankets, and rugs in breathable cotton rather than plastic.

Keep storage areas dry and well aired, since moths favor humid, stagnant conditions. The American Museum of Natural History notes that fabric pests tend to prefer areas that are dark, warm, and damp, so controlling humidity and light makes a space less hospitable to them.

Inspect natural-fiber rugs and stored textiles every few months, because the simple act of handling them disrupts the moth life cycle.

The Smithsonian Institution Archives, which protects irreplaceable collections, relies on the same low-tech routine you can copy at home: regular inspection, pheromone traps, and good housekeeping such as moving furniture and vacuuming to discourage pests.

Used together, these natural methods protect your whole home without a single chemical fumigant.

Choosing the Right Natural Moth Repellent for Your Wardrobe

That sweater with the hole near the hem doesn't have to be the end of the story. The right natural moth repellent approach protects the rest of your closet without a single mothball.

The secret isn't one magic scent. It's clean clothes, breathable cotton barriers that seal moths out, and regular attention that keeps them from settling in.

Lavender and herbs add a pleasant, non-toxic touch, but real protection comes from storing your wool and other fibers the way museum conservators do. Explore The Butler's Closet collection of breathable cotton covers, and give your wardrobe the lasting protection it deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best natural moth repellent?

The best natural moth repellent isn't a scent at all. It's a combination of clean clothes and a breathable physical barrier moths can't cross. Clothes moth larvae draw nourishment from the perspiration, food, and stains in worn fibers, so thoroughly cleaning your wool and other fibers before storage removes much of what feeds them.

From there, storing garments in breathable, unbleached and undyed cotton covers with secure closures keeps adult moths from reaching the fabric to lay eggs.

Scent-based repellents like lavender and cedar can add a modest supporting layer, but they only discourage adult moths and fade over time.

As a University of Maryland fact sheet points out, larvae can't finish developing on clean wool, so well-laundered, properly stored woolens give them little to feed on.

So the most reliable natural approach combines cleaning, proper cotton storage, regular inspection, and good closet hygiene, with pleasant herbal deterrents as an optional bonus rather than your main line of defense.

How do you make a natural moth repellent?

Making a natural moth repellent at home is straightforward. The most common method is a sachet: fill a small breathable cotton or muslin bag with dried lavender buds, and optionally blend in dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, or bay leaves.

You can add a few drops of essential oil to strengthen the scent. Tie it closed and tuck it among stored clothes, keeping it near rather than directly against delicate fabric.

You can also make a closet spray by combining water with a few drops of lavender or cedarwood oil plus a little witch hazel to help the oil disperse, then misting closet interiors and shelves, never the garments themselves.

Both methods rely on scent, so refresh them regularly as the aroma fades. Remember that homemade repellents discourage adult moths but won't kill larvae, so pair them with clean storage in breathable cotton for genuine protection.

Does lavender really repel moths?

Lavender does have some repellent properties, though its reputation runs ahead of the hard evidence. The strong scent comes from aromatic compounds, particularly linalool, that many insects find unpleasant.

The clearest support comes from a 2022 University of Reading study by Kayleigh Peace and colleagues, which tested essential oils against the varied carpet beetle, a fabric pest related to clothes moths, and found lavender among the most repellent.

Because that study looked at a beetle rather than a moth, it isn't proof for your sweaters, but it does suggest the tradition isn't pure folklore. Even so, lavender only discourages adult moths from an area.

It does nothing to eggs or larvae already on fabric, and its scent weakens as the oils evaporate over a few weeks. Refresh dried lavender or lavender oil regularly,

keep it near rather than against delicate fibers, and treat it as a pleasant supporting layer within a plan built on clean storage and breathable cotton covers.

Does cedar work to repel moths?

Cedar's reputation as a moth repellent is bigger than its real effect. In the University of California Pest Notes, entomologist Dong-Hwan Choe explains that the oil in aromatic eastern red cedar may destroy very small larvae yet leaves larger ones unharmed, and that the wood loses even this limited power after a few years as its oils fade.

So fresh cedar may do a little against the youngest larvae, but it won't touch eggs or grown larvae, and its modest effect is short-lived. There's also a concern for valuable textiles: cedar oils can migrate onto fabric over time and may cause discoloration or staining on delicate pieces.

For that reason, it's wise to keep cedar away from direct contact with garments you care about. Choe also points out that a tightly built storage chest matters more in the long run than the wood it's made from. Treat cedar as a minor, short-term deterrent rather than dependable protection for your wool and other fibers.

What herbs repel moths?

Several aromatic herbs have traditional reputations as moth deterrents, including lavender, rosemary, thyme, mint, cloves, and bay leaves.

Their strong scents come from volatile aromatic compounds that many insects find unpleasant, which can make a storage area modestly less inviting to adult moths. You'll often see these herbs combined in sachets for a layered, pleasant fragrance.

The important thing to understand is what herbs can and can't do. They may discourage adult moths from settling, but they don't kill eggs or larvae, and their effect weakens steadily as the aromatic oils dissipate.

An herbal sachet is more of a gentle deterrent than a barrier. To protect your clothes effectively, use herbs alongside thorough cleaning before storage and breathable cotton covers with secure closures.

As the University of Maryland's guidance makes clear, a clean, well-stored woolen gives larvae nothing to live on, which accomplishes far more than any herb.

What essential oils repel moths?

The essential oils most often used as natural moth repellents include lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood, peppermint, and clove. These oils concentrate the aromatic compounds found in their source plants, so they can be more potent than dried herbs.

The honest picture is that direct evidence against clothes moths is limited. The University of California Pest Notes acknowledges that herbal oils can be placed in storage containers but that their effectiveness is [13] [14] largely unproven.

The strongest signal comes from University of Reading research on a related fabric pest, the varied carpet beetle, where lavender and eucalyptus oils repelled the insects.

To use oils at home, place a few drops on a cotton ball or wooden clip near your stored clothes. One rule matters above all: never apply essential oils directly to fabric, because they can stain and may damage delicate fibers.

As with all scent-based methods, the protection fades as the oil evaporates, so reapply regularly. Essential oils make a pleasant, non-toxic addition to your routine, but they should support, not replace, clean storage in breathable cotton.

Are mothballs toxic?

Yes, mothballs are toxic, which is the main reason so many people seek natural alternatives. Traditional mothballs contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, both pesticides that turn from solid to gas at room temperature.

The National Pesticide Information Center, run by Oregon State University with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, warns that the vapor they release is hazardous to breathe, which is why they're meant to be used only inside sealed containers.

A separate Oregon State University publication by toxicologist David Stone and pest-management specialist Tim Stock makes the same point, cautioning that the chemicals can harm people and pets who swallow them or inhale concentrated fumes.

There's a practical drawback too. Michigan State University's Plant and Pest Diagnostics service has documented how these chemicals attack plastic, softening buttons, hangers, and garment bags until they melt into the fabric.

The smell is also notoriously hard to remove. Given all this, modern textile care leans toward safer options like clean storage and breathable cotton barriers.

How do you make natural moth repellent sachets?

To make natural moth repellent sachets, start with a small breathable bag made from cotton or muslin. Fill it with dried aromatic material that moths dislike.

Dried lavender buds are the classic choice, and you can blend in dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, or bay leaves for a richer scent. If you'd like a stronger aroma, add a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender or cedarwood to the dried mix.

Tie the bag securely and place it among stored woolens, in dresser drawers, or on closet shelves. Keep the sachet near your clothing rather than pressed directly against delicate fabric, since botanicals and oils can occasionally transfer color.

Refresh the contents every few weeks, or revive a fading sachet with a drop or two of essential oil. Since the scent is what deters moths, a good rule is simple: when you can no longer smell it, neither can they, and it's time to refresh.

How do you make a natural moth repellent spray?

A natural moth repellent spray is easy to mix at home. Combine water in a spray bottle with several drops of an essential oil that deters moths, such as lavender, cedarwood, or eucalyptus.

Because oil and water naturally separate, add a small amount of witch hazel or a similar dispersant to help the oil blend, and shake the bottle thoroughly before every use.

The most important rule is where you apply it: never spray the mixture directly onto clothing, because essential oils can stain fabric and may harm fine fibers.

Instead, lightly mist the interior of closets, the edges of shelves, and storage areas, keeping the spray off your garments entirely. Allow everything to dry completely before returning your clothes. Reapply every few days, since the scent fades quickly.

A homemade spray freshens your closet and gently discourages adult moths, but it works only as one part of a strategy that includes clean storage and breathable cotton covers.

What's the best natural moth repellent for wool?

Wool is a clothes moth's favorite food, so it deserves the most thorough protection. The best natural moth repellent for wool isn't a single product but a three-step routine.

First, clean wool items thoroughly before storing them, because the larvae feed on the perspiration, food, and stains in worn fibers and can't complete their development on clean wool.

The University of Maryland's guidance underscores this point, which is why laundering before storage is the single most useful step. Second, store your wool and other fibers in breathable, unbleached and undyed cotton covers with secure closures that seal moths out while letting the fabric breathe.

Plastic traps moisture and can create conditions where mildew could develop, so avoid it. Third, add scent-based deterrents like lavender or cedar near, not on, your woolens as a supporting layer, refreshing them regularly.

Inspect stored wool every few months, since handling disrupts the moth life cycle. This layered approach protects valuable wool far more reliably than any single repellent on its own.

Do natural moth repellents work as well as mothballs?

Not in the same way, and understanding the difference is key. Mothballs are fumigant pesticides that actively kill moths and larvae in a sealed space, which is why they "work" so reliably and also why they're toxic to people and pets.

Most natural moth repellents, by contrast, are deterrents. Lavender, cedar, and essential oils discourage adult moths from settling, but they don't kill eggs or larvae, and their scent fades over time. So a sachet alone won't match a mothball's killing power.

There is one non-chemical method that does kill every stage, though: English Heritage's conservators recommend deep-freezing infested items in sealed bags to destroy adults, eggs, and larvae alike.

Beyond that, the natural approach as a whole can protect your clothes just as effectively as mothballs, without the health risks, because real protection relies on clean storage and breathable cotton barriers that physically block moths rather than on scent.

Done properly, this combination keeps your wardrobe safe while keeping toxic chemicals out of your home entirely.

How do you naturally prevent carpet moths?

Preventing carpet moths naturally comes down to disruption and cleanliness. Clothes moths and their larvae settle in wool rugs and carpet, especially in dark, undisturbed spots beneath furniture and along baseboards.

The most effective natural carpet moth repellent is regular, thorough vacuuming. A Utah State University Extension fact sheet by entomologist Erin Hodgson and colleagues treats good housecleaning as essential to preventing clothes moth damage, with vacuuming as a direct help by lifting away eggs, larvae, and the debris they feed on.

Because clothes moths shelter in still, hidden places and scatter when disturbed, as the University of California Pest Notes des[15] cribes, moving furniture to clean underneath makes your home far less hospitable.

Beyond vacuuming, keep rooms well aired and dry, since moths favor humid, stagnant conditions, and inspect wool rugs and stored textiles every few months. Pheromone traps can help you detect activity early. Together, these natural steps protect your carpets and rugs without any chemical treatment.