Clothes moths mainly damage animal fibers such as wool, cashmere, fur, and feathers; the larvae, not the adult moths, do the feeding. Effective control combines finding affected items, cleaning, and storing vulnerable textiles properly.
Look for larvae, cases, and feeding damage
Inspect seams, folds, wool rugs, and stored garments that have not been moved. Irregular holes, webbing, small cases, or larvae are more useful evidence than an adult moth flying near a window.
Clean affected items according to their care label
Washing, dry cleaning, or controlled heat or cold can kill life stages, but the method must suit the fiber. Do not ruin a delicate garment with a temperature its care label prohibits.
Vacuum closets and remove organic lint
Larvae can feed on hair, lint, and debris in dark corners. Vacuum shelves, baseboards, cracks, and under furniture, then dispose of vacuum contents away from the storage area.
Store clean textiles in sealed containers
Clean garments before long-term storage and use bags or boxes that close securely. Pheromone traps can help monitor adults, but they do not replace removing larvae and infested materials.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Integrated Pest Management — Integrated pest management using sanitation, exclusion, monitoring, and targeted treatment.