YOUR MONEY A Low-Cost “Green” Method To Protect Your Expensive Clothes (NAPSA)—You’ve paid thousands of dollars for all the clothes that are hanging in your closet, so you want them to last as long as possible. You also want them to smell fresh. Here’s the problem: Silverfish, an insect common to many homes, like to feed on cotton, linen or rayon. Another common insect, clothes moth larvae, feeds on wool, fur, leather, cotton, linen, silk and synthetic fibers. And if you live in an older home, well, let’s just say air fresheners have become part of your regular home furnishings. “You can protect your expen- sive wardrobe from damaging insects and improve the look and functionality of your closet by adding cedar closet liners,” says HGTV and CedarSafe home improvement expert Pat Simpson, who hasinstalled the liners in his home andothers that he builds. Cedar closet liners made from Aromatic Eastern Redcedar are nature’s pest repellent. An Auburn University study showsthat cedar naturally repels silverfish and roaches, and a report by Cornell’s Cooperative Extension service says cedar-lined chests and closets are effective in repelling moths, but should be lightly sanded to release oils after a year or two of use. There are two options for your closet: Cedar planks are best for master bedrooms because they provide a luxurious look. The tongue-and-groove planks can be nailed to the walls horizontally, vertically or diagonally for an upscale look. Cedar panels, which are made from pressed cedar and come in 4’ x 8’ sheets, are best for secondary closet areas where pure functionality is the goal. Both work well with closet-organizing systems, standard wire shelving or even high-end cedar shelves and drawers. It’ll cost about $500 to line a good-size master bedroom closet with cedar planks, plus the cost of shelving. It’ll cost about $150 to line a standard-size closet with 4’ x 8’ cedarpanels. “What’s amazing is the great cedar scent that people will notice when they walk into your bedroom,” says Simpson. “And when they see what you’ve done to your closet, they’ll say ‘Wow!’” For more information and installation videos, visit cedarsafeclosets.com.
