What are Clothes Moths?
Clothes moths, or clothing moths, are insects that eat your clothing for sport. Their lives consist of eating your sweaty clothes, mating, laying eggs and dying. All within the confines of your wardrobe or storage box.
When a clothes moth opens its eyes for the first time, it's in the caterpillar stage and requires immediate nourishment to survive and grow up. Because moths need nourishment from natural materials, like animal and plant materials, they will often adhere themselves to items like sweaty gym shorts or your favorite wool sweater and chomp away.
Clothes moths gravitate towards wool, cashmere, silk, cotton, linen, fur, feathers, hair and clothing with sweat or stains on them. So while you’re eating a nice steak or a garden salad, clothes moths are eating away at the sweatshirt you wore to the gym last week.
Now, before you freak out, take a breath. There are several safe ways to get rid of clothes moths before they destroy all your favorite sweaters.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Clothes Moths
Vacuum & wash clothes on a high temperature: Before using the preventative measures, make sure you remove living eggs and larvae. Because they are so tiny and don't fly, it’s hard to get rid of them by using only sprays and traps. Vacuum your closet thoroughly and wash and dry all clothing on a high temperature to dispose of eggs and larvae.
Cedar: Moths have an impeccable sense of smell, so using strong scents to disorient them and repel them away from your home can really work if using a powerful concentrate. The smell of potent cedar can be used in oil form, or in the form of cedar blocks and hangers, which you can buy online. However, these can lose their potency after a few months. To make the smell potent again, simply sand the cedarwood down and its natural oils from will reach the surface again.
Pheromone Traps: Moths are guided to their mates by pheromones, so using pheromone smells to trick them into thinking a potential mate is nearby is the perfect way to catch them. Most traps contain glue to catch them. These traps can be easily disposed and you will also see how many moths were lurking around in your closet in the first place.
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.
Lavender: Similar to cedar oil, lavender oil’s strong scent can repel moths. The potent smell will disorient moths and prevent them from invading your closet. Get a sachet and fill it with lavender flowers or dab lavender on paper towels and throw them in your closet.
FAQs
Air, heat, or freeze items you don't dry-clean or wash. A combination of sunlight and vigorously brushing the infested items can kill moth eggs and larvae.
How to get rid of clothes moths fast? ›
One way is to freeze them by placing the item in a Ziploc bag and putting it inside a deep freezer below 10°F. The other way is to solarize the larvae by putting them out in the sun. "That will bring the temperature up to about 140°F, [killing] all the moths, larvae and eggs that are present," adds Kern.
Why do I suddenly have clothes moths? ›
Moth infestations are easier to prevent than to control. One frequent source of moth infestations is old clothing or furniture purchased at yard sales. Inspect any used clothing or furniture carefully for moths before bringing them into the house.
What smells do clothes moths hate? ›
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 is the best homemade moth killer? ›
Moth repellent spray
- Water 4 ounces.
- Essential oil of cedar – 20 to 30 drops.
- Essential oil of lavender - 10 to 20 drops.
- Essential oil of peppermint - 5 to 10 drops.
- Essential oil of eucalyptus - 10 to 20 drops.
- Optional: Citronella essential oil - 5 drops.
Scrub areas you suspect to be infested - using an effective moth killer spray, scrub and clean including crevices and corners. Remove infested items - Items that can't be cleaned should be discarded. Dust and vacuum - floors, crevices and anywhere you suspect moth activity.
Do clothes moths ever go away on their own? ›
Once you've identified you have a moth issue, it's time to take action. It's hard to pinpoint how these things get indoors in the first place, but they do not go away on their own, says Suiter. If you don't want moth hanky-panky in your pantry (translation: lots of babies!), it's time to do some sleuthing.
Should you throw away clothes with moth holes? ›
At some point, you'll have to decide what to do with the belongings that have already been attacked by moths. If the damage is irreparable (which unfortunately, it mostly will be), throw the items in a trash bag, tie it tightly, and remove it from your home as soon as possible.
How to find a moth nest? ›
Adult moths do not have mouths, so holes in clothes are actually made from larvae. You can look out for webbing and cocoons in the corners of your wardrobe and cupboards, and signs of damage on your clothes will alert you to where the eggs have been laid.
How long does a moth infestation last? ›
In the United States, Moth Season usually starts in the spring and ends two to four weeks after you first begin seeing the moths emerge. During this 2-4 week period, the moths will mate and females will lay their eggs to make room for a new generation.
T-gramma (Trichogramma) are tiny, parasitic wasps (less than 0.5mm) that are natural antagonists of the clothes/food moths. They feel most comfortable at temperatures above 20°C and are then most effective.
What is a natural deterrent for clothes moths? ›
Moths tend to dislike lavender and Cedar. Although lavender smells great to humans, it is highly repellent to insects like moths. Cedar is another great choice. Cedar masks the smell of natural fabrics and also gives clothing and linens a fresh, fragrant aroma.
What is a good moth repellent? ›
Cedar wood rings in your wardrobe or drawers can help deter moths. Spritz carpets with lavender. Make a natural repellent by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to water in a spray bottle. Shake well then spray your carpet and clothes lightly.
How to keep moths out of a closet? ›
Avoid fabric containers, which moths can eat through. Airtight storage isn't the only solution, though. Keeping your closets open and moving clothing around frequently will help prevent moths from wanting to hang around in your closet, because they hate light and movement.
Does vinegar get rid of 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.
How do you make homemade clothes moth traps? ›
Here are the steps to create your own homemade moth trap:
- Pour about an inch of apple cider vinegar into your small bowl or jar.
- Add a few drops of dish soap to the vinegar and mix it in. ...
- Cover the bowl or jar with plastic wrap and secure it in place with a rubber band.
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.
How long do clothes moths live in a house? ›
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.
How to find where clothes moths are coming from? ›
Controlling clothes moths requires a thorough inspection to locate all infested items. The primary source may be a wool scarf or fur/felt hat at the back of a closet, an old rug stored in the basem*nt, or an abandoned bird or squirrel nest up in the attic.
