To Keep Your Clothes Safe From Moths Without The Smell, You'll Want These Garment Bags (2024)

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The 3 Best Garment Bags For Moth Protection

by Jenny White

To Keep Your Clothes Safe From Moths Without The Smell, You'll Want These Garment Bags (1)

Amazon / Bustle

Moths can wreak havoc on your closet by creating holes in your clothes. To keep them at bay, the best garment bags for moth protection are a safe but reliable alternative to smelly mothballs, which are made of insecticide and therefore potentially dangerous to keep around kids or pets. And while cedar and lavender are popular natural choices to deter moths, they’re not the most effective.

When selecting a garment bag, look for designs without significant gaps. Bags that are open at the bottom or have large spaces around the zipper, gusset, or elsewhere are not going to protect your clothing from moths well. Almost all garment bags will have a small opening at the top for the hanger, however, so if you want to be extra-secure, it’s a smart idea to tape that closed after you’ve slipped your clothing item inside.

The next thing to consider is the material of the garment bag. Many garment bags and other storage options are made from plastic. While plastic has many benefits like being cheaper and typically see-through, it is not breathable. PEVA vinyl and non-woven fabrics are popular alternatives because they're breathable and durable while still providing protection from moths, dust, and water. Regardless of the material you select, be sure to wash or dry clean the items right before storing them. This makes sure any moths, larvae, or eggs are dead. If you don’t, the pests will be trapped inside the bag with your clothing, giving them easy access to munch right through your stored items.

Finally, consider the size of the garment bags. With different lengths to choose from, getting the right length makes it a lot easier to avoid wrinkles.

With all of these considerations in mind, I scoured Amazon to find the highest-quality garment bags that will help keep moths away.

1

The Overall Best Garment Bag For Moth Protection

This set of five Plixio garment bags checks off all of the boxes of a good garment bag. Made of a water-resistant non-woven fabric, these bags are breathable yet strong so you won’t have to worry about constantly replacing them due to rips or holes. Each bag has a small, transparent window so you can view the contents and an extra-small opening up top to keep things secure. And with two different sizes in each set, these garment bags are ideal if you have a variety of clothing items to store. With two 54-inch bags and three 40-inch bags in this set, you can stash everything from suits to winter coats to kids' clothing in these bags.

With a 4.6 rating after more than 350 reviews, it's a popular choice. One reviewer wrote: "Christmas gift for my husband. He loved them. Worry free on his suits and sport coats from moths." Add to that a very reasonable price, and you have a great choice for most people.

2

Transparent Garment Bags That Make Identifying Clothes Easy

These Zilink garment bags make finding garments so much easier while keeping them protected. Made of translucent PEVA (a type of vinyl), these garment bags take the guess-work out of identifying what’s inside, which is especially nice if you have many items stored away. The super-strong, snag-free zipper makes these very durable. Plus, the material is both waterproof and breathable. The reinforced hanger opening keeps the gaps small, and more than 500 customers have given these a 4.6-star rating. They're also available in a variety of sizes for everything from suits to long coats.

3

A Set Of Breathable Garment Bags With A Lifetime Warranty

These Univivi garment bags are made of a breathable polyester material. A PVC dust-resistant opening at the top of the bag provides extra protection and keeps the opening small, while the transparent window helps you see what's inside. Best of all, the manufacturer offers a lifetime satisfaction guarantee, but judging from the 4.6-star rating and 600-plus reviews, you likely won't need a replacement or refund. One happy reviewer wrote, "I needed bags that were long enough for long dress coats & that were not flimsy & had protection from moths, etc & these bags met that & at a reasonable price."

4

Also Great: Vacuum Storage Bags For Those With Many Items To Protect

If you have a lot of clothing or bulky items like sweaters that you want to protect from moths for a few months or more, these SpaceSaver vacuum storage bags are calling your name. Plastic bags are frequently recommended to keep moths away, and these jumbo bags will hold a ton. Plus, these shrink in size once you use the vacuum feature to remove air from inside. The double zipper helps make sure that nothing gets in or out. But since plastic isn’t breathable, make sure all of your clothing items are completely clean and dry before storing to avoid musty smells and having moth eggs or larvae trapped inside with all your clothes.

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

To Keep Your Clothes Safe From Moths Without The Smell, You'll Want These Garment Bags (2024)

FAQs

Will garment bags keep moths out? ›

You'll want to hang dresses, suits, and other garments when storing them. Choose wooden or padded hangers for your garments, and then cover them in cotton garment bags. These bags will allow your garments to breathe while reducing moisture. That'll make these clothes less attractive to moths.

How do you store wool sweaters to protect from moths? ›

How to Prevent Wool and Clothes Moth Infestations
  1. Proper Storage: Store woollens in clean, drawers, wardrobes with moth repellents with natural essential oils with a strong fragrance with ingredients such as lavender, cedarwood, rosemary and lemongrass. ...
  2. Regular Use: Frequently use and air out your woolen garments.
Jul 22, 2023

What is the best thing to keep moths away from clothes? ›

When it comes to moth prevention, mothballs are considered the classic technique, and for good reason. Mothballs contain paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene, substances that are lethal to moths. Line your shelves and drawers with these to keep the critters away.

Do Ziploc bags keep out pantry moths? ›

Be sure to clean or launder any items before storing them. To protect dry pantry goods, glass jars, sealed containers with airtight lids, and plastic zipper bags can be helpful. Your freezer is another great tool for keeping moths out of your food items or clothing!

Is it OK to store sweaters in plastic bags? ›

Natural fibres such as wool and silk in a plastic bag can be damaged by the vacuum seal and can make clothing lose shape over time. Although it may seem like a good idea and a quick fix to use plastic bags, they can be a breeding ground for mould and bacteria.

What repels wool moths? ›

The best remedies for moths protection are completely natural and easy to get. Because moths avoid certain smells like Lavender, Bay Leaves, Clove, Cedarwood, Peppermint, Patchouli or Thuja (Tree of Life essential oil) and less effective lemon peal.

How do I moth proof my closet? ›

Lavender. Using lavender to repel clothes moths is another old homemaker's trick. Sachets filled with lavender (and/or laced with its oil), when suspended in your closet or tucked into your drawers, are said to protect wool. They will also leave a pleasant scent behind.

Can moths get into garment bags? ›

The undetected openings and small entry points allow dirt, dust, moths, and other critters to subliminally enter the bag you had 'protected' your garments in and cause further unsuspecting damage.

Can moths get into sealed bags? ›

Adult females can lay hundreds of eggs directly on or near potential food sources, and the damage is done by the larvae (tiny caterpillars). Larvae can chew through plastic bags and thin cardboard, so even unopened packages may become infested.

Can moths get into sealed plastic bags? ›

Adult moths are a sign of infested food items in your house. Female moths lay 100 to 400 eggs on or near stored food. The larvae chew through and damage food sources and their packaging like plastic bags or thin cardboard. Sealed packages can also become infested. The larvae feed on the food surface.

Do plastic bags protect clothes from moths? ›

Store clothing in airtight containers

Plastic bags and boxes are generally recommended for storing clothing you want to protect from moths. Avoid cloth boxes as moth larvae can eat through those.

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