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Insect pests typically feed on wool or silk fibres or soiled textiles, and lay their eggs in dark corners or creases where they are often unnoticed. Textiles infested with insects should be isolated before dealing with the problem. Major infestations should be handled only by a qualified professional conservator. Wrap the item in unbleached muslin or acid-free tissue paper and place in a polyethylene plastic bag. Rid the bag of excess air before taping shut (duct tape works well). Place the bag in your freezer for a week and then remove, allowing it to return to room temperature slowly. Do not open the bag. Repeat this procedure. Again, do not open the bag until the contents have thawed. Then vacuum up the insect debris and dispose of the vacuum bag. In order for this procedure to be effective, your freezer must maintain a temperature of -20°C. If you find spiders in an area where you store textiles, it is a warning to check more closely. While spiders do not damage fabric, they like to eat the insects that do; thus, their presence may signal that harmful pests are in the vicinity. Regularly checking storage and display areas for evidence of insect infestation is a simple preventive measure that you can take. Look for damage such as holes or grazed surfaces on wool fabrics, fecal pellets, cast larval skins, webbing, cases and live larvae. Good housekeeping will go a long way towards preventing insect infestations.
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