Understanding Clothes Moth Infestations (2024)

FAQs

How do you find the source of a clothes moth infestation? ›

Locate – The Moth Box

The first step is to locate the source of the infestation. Place a moth box in each room. They will be your eyes and ears and will help you pinpoint the infestation if it is not obvious. The Moth Box uses the same pheromone that the female clothes moth uses to attract the male to mate.

But a clothes moth infestation – even a small or emerging one - can be difficult to spot in your home. One small fluttering moth is cause for concern.

The most common and effective method for killing all stages of clothes moths in clothing, blankets, and other washable articles is to thoroughly launder them for 20 to 30 minutes in water that is at least 120°F.

Moths hate light and movement, so keep your closet open, air it out regularly, and move clothes around. Keep an eye on your sweaters and other wool clothes for signs of moths, and be diligent about keeping them clean. Likewise, wash any vintage or used clothes you buy before storing them.

These items are usually unwittingly carried in from the outside. Used furniture, clothing, and rolls of carpet are common hiding places for moth larvae or eggs. Large bags of grain, flour, animal feed, and birdseed can also contain moth larvae or eggs.

The eggs are laid singly or in small groups, hidden away in materials such as folds of clothing or soft furnishings. The eggs are the size of a pinhead. In summer the eggs hatch between 4-10 days and take up to three weeks to hatch in winter.

The larvae and pupa of clothes moths can survive for months without food, which makes totally eliminating an infestation difficult. The entire clothes moth life cycle usually takes four to six months.

Moth eggs, larvae and adult moths can all be killed by a hot-water wash cycle or by dry cleaning. And any that remain in the closet can be vacuumed up or removed by scrubbing.

A: These two types of pests can be difficult to distinguish, because the moths are all about ½ inch long. Pantry pests have wings with sections that are different colors, while closet moths are a single color (beige or tan), and their wings end with furry-looking hairs.

Moths and other insects are repelled by the pheromones in cedar. Combine dried, crushed, and powdered herbs. Combine the following in a bag that you can hang anywhere you keep clothes or food: lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Moths also hate the odors of these herbs.

What kills clothing moth larvae? ›

To kill clothing moth larvae and eggs by heat, place the items in an oven or food dryer at a temperature higher than 120° F (50° C) for at least 30 minutes. Simple. This is probably the easiest way to deal with clothing moth larvae and eggs.

Peppermint oil has been known to effectively repel Pantry Moths. So, you may want to wipe down your shelves with this fragrant oil. Rosemary, clove, lavender, thyme, and Eucalyptus may also be helpful. Each of these natural repellents for pantry moths is safe to use around food items!

Insectrol Powder is a fast and effective insecticidal powder that kills moths.

The best way of killing adults, eggs and larvae is to deep freeze items. Seal them in plastic 'freezer' bags at -18°C for at least two weeks. Adult clothes moths can be killed by spray aerosols, but using these to target larvae is more difficult.

Lavender oil is a good idea for scaring off clothes moths, too. Williams suggests hand-washing “vulnerable garments” with a few drops of natural essential lavender oil at the end of the season. The oil can also re-scent pouches that have faded over time.

Yes, vacuum-sealed clothing storage bags can protect your garments from moths. However, you should be sure that there are no existing moth larvae on your clothes before vacuum-sealing them in a bag. Wash or launder all garments before their storage, if possible.

Moths will happily breed in warm, centrally heated homes throughout the year, says Pinniger, “but there is a peak of adult emergence usually in April and May, and often another one in late August/early September when you get another generation through.

Moths larvae can live in mattresses depending on what it is made of. If it contains wool then moth larvae can live in mattresses.

As part of the moth lifecycle, clothes moth larvae and carpet moth larvae eat clothes. Socks, underwear, designer gear – everything in your closet, wardrobe and drawers could become a food source. Moth larvae chomp at clothes, carpets, crafting wool and furs.

Where do moths hide in your house during the day? ›

Where do they hide? They avoid light and are most commonly found in dark locations such as basem*nts, attics and closets. Within these locations, moths can be found in the folds of fabrics or hiding in corners.

Total development time of clothes moths depends greatly on food availability, temperature, and humidity, but generally lasts to 3 months. In some cases they can survive up to a year or more. On average, females lay 40 to 50 eggs shortly after emerging from the pupal case. Eggs are glued onto threads of fabric.

Clothes moth are most active from May until October, when temperatures are 15-35°C. They're most popular in Spring, when temperatures rise and clothes moth start to emerge and breed. However, due to central heating, clothes moth can be active in winter time as well.

Unfortunately, getting rid of moths fast isn't as easy as you might hope. Once these creatures settle in, they make themselves right at home — and put up a good fight if you try to evict them from their new digs.

They'll eat wool, silk, cotton and any other natural fiber they can find. If they run out of clothing fibers, moths will even eat pet fur or chomp through synthetic materials to burrow into natural fibers underneath.

Heat also works as long, as it's over 120° F for at least 30 minutes, Brumfield says. The hottest dryer setting will do the job.

Mix Baking Soda With Vinegar

One of the best methods to do so is to combine baking soda and white vinegar. It will not only help you eradicate moths once and for all but will also help you remove those annoying spots and stains from your rugs and carpets.

Keep in mind that, if you buy pheromone traps for pantry moths, the pheromones in the trap won't attract and catch clothes moths. Conversely, clothes moth pheromone traps will attract and catch both clothes moths and pantry moths.

Moths can not break into sealed containers. Instead, they squeeze through tiny gaps and can get into tight spaces. If a gap is large enough to slide a piece of paper through, a moth could potentially get in as well. As such, airtight storage is recommended.

Does vinegar deter clothes moths? ›

Vinegar: Vinegar really can be used for anything. And when it comes to cleaning out your closet or storage box to repel moths, it does the job. The strong acidic smell of vinegar will repel moths away from the area as well as cleanse the area from dirt, dust, moth eggs and larvae.

As noted earlier, clothes moths feed on such animal-derived materials as wool, fur, silk, feathers and leather. Articles commonly infested include sweaters, scarves, coats, blankets, rugs, down pillows and comforters, upholstery, toys, decorative items, and taxidermy mounts.

Instead of grains, flour, pasta, and cereal, clothes moths feed on animal fibers containing keratin. This includes wool, fur, silk, feathers, and leather. For the most part, clothes moths do not feed on cotton or synthetic fabrics unless they are blended with animal fibers or are heavily soiled.

Either mend or dispose of moth-eaten items.

If the holes in the fabric are too large or numerous to be repaired, discard the item in a trash bag sealed with twist ties. Immediately dispose of the trash bag outside.

There are certain scents that moths are naturally repulsed by, so utilizing those can be a great way to keep them at bay. Put some lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme in a bag and hang it where you store your clothes or food.

Some customers ask 'what do Moth eggs look like' - they are slightly oval, almost invisible when buried in clothing and food containers (about 1/16th of an inch long) and a creamy color. You can hardly see Moth eggs on clothes.

Also, check in any plastic bags, bins, or even spice drawers where dry goods are exposed to the open air. Even a small crack or opening could be enough for Pantry Moth Larvae to get in. Be sure to thoroughly check cracks and crevices for hidden moth eggs and crawling larvae as you clean.

Open doors and windows are another common way that moths enter a house. They can also get in through your ventilation system, air ducts, or window A/C units.

The Clothes Moth Flat Trap Kit traps will need to be folded into place by hand, according to the instructions on the back of the kit box. The glue pad on each trap is covered with an easily removed plastic cover that should be removed after the traps have been folded into place.

They're attracted to dirty clothes containing traces of sweat or pieces with stains. Larvae can receive nutrients they need from the sweat or stains. Keeping your items clean and in sealed bins or garment bags can help prevent moth activity.