- Size
- Adults 6–8 mm, golden beige
- Behaviour
- Avoid light, often run rather than fly
- What they eat
- Wool, cashmere, silk, fur, feathers
- Peak season
- Spring to autumn, all year indoors
Clothes moths prefer garments that have been worn and put away unwashed, because sweat and food traces make fibres more nutritious. A thorough clean-out, followed by good storage, usually ends the problem.
Signs of clothes moths
- Irregular holes in natural-fibre clothing, often in hidden spots like under collars and arms
- Grazed or thinned patches on knitwear
- Fine silky webbing or small tubes on fabric
- Tiny cream larvae in folded clothes or along carpet edges
- Bald patches on rugs and carpets, especially under furniture
- Small plain beige moths that flutter away into dark corners
How to be sure
Clothes moths are small and plain, without the copper patterning of food moths. Holes alone can also be carpet beetles. Webbing points to moths, while hairy shed larval skins point to carpet beetles. If you're not sure, our holes in fabric case file will help.
What you can do yourself
- Empty the wardrobe and drawers completely and look over every natural-fibre item.
- Wash what you can at 60°C or as hot as the label allows.
- Freeze delicate items in sealed bags for at least three days, ideally a week.
- Vacuum wardrobes, drawers, skirting edges and under furniture. Empty the vacuum outside.
- Treat wardrobes and drawers with a moth-killer spray or papers, following the label.
- Put clean items back in zipped garment bags or airtight boxes.
- Hang pheromone traps to monitor. They catch males and show whether moths are still around, but they don't solve the problem alone.
Call a professional if
- Carpets are widely damaged across several rooms
- Moths keep returning after two thorough clear-outs
- You have valuable textiles, rugs or a large house
Keeping them out
- Wash or dry-clean wool before storing it for the season
- Store knitwear in sealed bags or boxes
- Move and air clothes regularly, and vacuum under furniture
- Check vintage and second-hand wool before adding it to your wardrobe
Kit that helps
- Clothes moth pheromone traps
- Zipped garment bags
- Airtight storage boxes
- Moth-killer spray or papers
Product types only. We'll only ever point you to things we'd use ourselves.
Questions people ask
Do lavender and cedar work?
They have a mild deterrent effect at best. They won't clear an existing infestation. Cleaning and sealed storage are what work.
Why are only some jumpers damaged?
Moths favour items that have been worn and not washed, and those left undisturbed for longest.
Do food moths eat clothes?
No. Moths in the kitchen are a different species that eats dry food.
Can moths damage carpets?
Yes, wool carpets and rugs, especially under beds, sofas and other furniture that's rarely moved.