My name is Rebecca and I have moths. If you or someone you love has them too, Mothballers is here to help.
In August 2020, clothes moths invaded my apartment in New York City. They were everywhere – in my closets, under the bed, inside a shoe, even in books. I had no idea what to do, and I was freaking out. I spent hours online digging up advice and then finding more advice that contradicted the previous advice. The Internet did seem to agree on one thing though – the moths would vanish after following a few specific steps. They did not, making everything even more demoralizing. Eventually, I did find a promising resource: knitting forums. Over the next several months, through trial and error and guidance from the forums, I learned what actually worked to combat and control the moths. Then, I started getting frantic calls from friends and friends of friends (so many!) seeking moth advice and moral support.Here is everything I’ve learned about getting rid of moths – from research, friends’ experiences, experts, knitting forums, and most of all, personal experience – channeled into three steps:
#1 What to do when you suspect moths
#2 Driving out the moths
#3 Preventing another infestation
I hope Mothballers (or Mothbrawlers as my nephew prefers) provides you with the frank advice and support I could have used. Now, let's start at the beginning.
STEP ONE
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SUSPECT CLOTHES MOTHS
First, I’m so sorry to hear it. Just know it’s becoming pretty common with extended warm seasons and more natural fibers in wardrobes and home/office decor, so you’re certainly not the only one. It’s frustrating, and you may be panicking. But I promise you can get a handle on the situation.
Gather intel. Become familiar with your enemy. Who exactly are they? What do you look out for?
There are two common types of clothes moths: webbing and casemaking. Both are usually no bigger than the size of a dime, about 1/4” to 1/2” long, and look similar. Moths are terrible fliers, so their flutter can also help you identify them. (Clothes moths are not to be confused with other types of moths, like pantry moths, which are bigger and usually infest foods in the kitchen.)
Pic: Ben Sale from UK
Casemaking adult clothes moth
Pic: Ben Sale from UK
Webbing adult clothes moth
Casemaking moths:
If you have casemaking moths, you can also look out for the casings (i.e. cocoons) that moth larvae wrap themselves in and later shed. (Lifecycle lesson: Moth eggs —> caterpillar shaped-larvae —> the adult moths you see fluttering about.) The larval casings are tiny 1/4” tubes made from the fibers the larvae eat. ***It’s important to know that it’s the larvae – not adult moths – that create the damage, those small sad holes in your sweater or suit, by eating the material. But, it’s still important to get rid of the adults since they will reproduce and create more larvae.***
Pic: Ryan Jones, Bugwood.org
Larval casings
When the larvae turn into adult moths, they discard the cases. You’ll either find casings with the larva head sticking out or empty casings. I found both, which is how I knew I was dealing with casemaking moths.
Webbing moths:
Adult webbing moths are often lighter in color than the casemaking larvae. Their larvae don’t make cases, but you might see some tiny patches of gauzy white webbing where the larvae hide. When they move to a new location, they leave that webbing behind, but know it can be hard to spot or mistaken for some other kind of debris.
Now you know what to look for. Next, assess the situation.
Relentlessly track down the enemy. Where are they? How widespread and how many are there? Can you find the source of the potential infestation?
Just because you see one or two moths fluttering around, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a full-blown infestation, but it’s smart to find out. Maybe it’s worse than you thought, but maybe it’s better.
Look for damage (usually holes in clothing, wool carpets, curtains, and furniture). Also, remember, to search for both adult moths and larvae as well as their casings or webbings and even their excrement (which is not as gross as you think – usually tiny black specks, like sand, but still). And, eggs if you can spot ‘em, but they are almost microscopic. I never found eggs, but I did find everything else.
Larvae are primarily attracted to natural fabrics and materials such as wool, fur, human hair, skin cells, and silk – anything with keratin. Cashmere sweaters, wool suits, fur coats, alpaca blankets, and wool and silk rugs are obvious targets to check. But I have learned that when they are hungry, they will eat almost anything, sometimes synthetics if those items are soiled with sweat, saliva, body oils, or food stains, which provide needed vitamins.
Moths, larvae and webbings/casings can be anywhere, but in my experience they’re usually tucked under or inside things, in the cracks and the corners. They like to hide out in dark and undisturbed spaces, like closets, basements, under a rug or credenza, and inside upholstered furniture. I’d thoroughly check each piece of clothing for damage by holding it up in bright light or with a flashlight to identify any holes. Sometimes the holes are small and can be hard to spot.
Have you checked under the bed? In the living room under the couch cushions? In books? In boxes holding childhood trinkets that seem sealed? Believe me, it’s smart to check inside shoes you haven’t worn recently or inside a hanging lamp. I’ve found casings on the underside of the bed skirt where my cats hang out, in books on the shelf, a couple of boots, a lamp I use frequently (moths prefer cozy temps so I imagine the lightbulb was quite an attraction), and under the radiator where it’s both dark and warm.
Here’s a cautionary tale: I have a friend who saw a few moths fluttering in their office along with a couple larvae on the walls. She got rid of them and thought nothing more of it. But moths kept appearing. A month later, she finally searched the office and discovered, under the corner of a beautiful wool rug, a tiny colony of moths and larvae. It was “a horror show.” BUT they thoroughly cleaned the area as well as the rest of the room and the infestation abated. I know this isn’t fun and you’re probably feeling exhausted just reading this, but trust me – if you see moths or damage from moths, a thorough search is worth it and it’ll save you a lot of time in the long run.
STEP TWO
DRIVE OUT THE ENEMY BY CLEANING. AND CLEANING. AND CLEANING.
If you’ve determined you might have an infestation of any scale, you must clean. It’s the single most important thing I did. You want to clean as much as you can at once so that the moths don’t have a chance to spread to areas you’ve already cleaned. And remember that adult moths, larvae and eggs may be on or in items that aren’t made of wool or silk, but in a stack of papers or a tool box or in a plastic container. I can personally attest to it.
This was my cleaning supply list:
Paper towels
All purpose cleaner
Trash bags
Dr. Killigan's Six Feet Under Plant-Powered Insect Killer Spray
This was my plan:
First, I wanted to get this done in one shot so I cleared my plans for the weekend. Then, I painstakingly pulled every single thing out of my closets and out from under the bed and from the credenza and the dresser and storage boxes. You get the idea. This might sound eccentric, but I wanted to make sure my first pass was thorough enough that I didn’t have to do this big clean again. Use your assessment from the previous step to figure out what areas of the house you need to clean.
Remember, moths are sneaky and can squeeze into the tiniest spaces! Those suckers got into places that I never expected, and I found lots of dead moths, live moths, casings and black specks (excrement). I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t noticed them earlier. My eyes had been opened.
Once I pulled everything out, I cleaned and wiped down ALL SURFACES. Even though the sock drawer or the underside of the book shelf might look free from larvae, you might not be able to see eggs, so don’t take a chance. I used an all-purpose cleaner and paper towels. I avoided using a sponge or rags – things that weren’t disposable. I wiped down all objects stored in my closets – shoes, shelves, belts, humidifier, sewing machine, suitcase, hangers, you name it. And then, even though I really didn’t want to, I did a pass on the walls of my closets, wiping floor to ceiling.
For items that don’t have hard surfaces – clothing, blankets, bags, weavings, even cat/dog beds – I immediately sorted them into plastic garbage bags for laundering. These bags remained closed tightly and double bagged until I could wash, dry clean, or throw out their contents. Washing in hot water at 120°F for 20-30 minutes will kill moths, larvae, and eggs. I threw clothing and textiles that I didn’t want to wet into the dryer on high for at least 30 minutes. Dry cleaning will also kill moth eggs and larvae. I also stuck clothing, textiles, throw pillows and other things (sometimes books) that I didn’t want to dry clean, nor put in the dryer or wash in hot water, into the oven at 200°F for at least 30 minutes. Obviously, just be extremely careful about the oven. I’ve never had a problem, but I always make sure to avoid throwing in anything synthetic and usually use a large cookie sheet so that nothing slips down and catches fire. If you’re going to shake out clothing or blankets, do it outside and make sure to avoid getting debris on you – but even after shaking, I'd still recommend laundering or heating.
I cannot emphasize this enough: before I put *anything* back in the closet or drawers, I made sure it had been either wiped down, washed or heat treated to prevent reinfestation. You have to be methodical and superhuman about it, but it pays off. Anywhere I got lazy, like my credenza where I regrettably returned a few sweaters without first properly cleaning them, it was months before I got that moth situation under control.
*A note about two other methods of killing eggs and larvae you’ll see recommended:
Freezing – BEWARE of misinformation! I was baffled to find that most mainstream publications suggested tossing clothing and objects in the freezer for 72+ hours to kill larvae and eggs and failed to mention this: your freezer must get below 18°F, the temperature needed to kill moth larvae and eggs and your run-of-the mill freezer won’t get that cold, only chest freezers.
Sunlight – intense sunlight should harm larvae and eggs, though I haven’t depended on this method entirely because it seemed hard to ensure there’s been enough sun exposure to do the job.
Lastly, part of cleaning up might rightfully entail giving away or trashing stuff. The less stuff you have, the easier it is to clean in the future. If you give stuff away, please be a good person and make sure you’ve first cleaned it properly. I gave away and threw out a LOT of stuff. Turns out a moth infestation can give you instant clarity: 15-year-old fabric swatches and backpacks with holes are cleaning burdens, not mementos. It felt freeing to get rid of (or properly wash and donate) so much stuff that had been piling up in my apartment. I also finally got rid of my old box spring and bought a new easily cleanable bed frame. At one point there were 14 garbage bags lining my hallway. I didn’t enjoy the process but minimizing and editing possessions became a silver lining. It’s been a few years now, and I don’t miss (or frankly remember) anything I got rid of and cleaning is so much easier.
After emptying closets and other spaces, vacuum everything, everywhere, all at once. Vacuum every surface you haven’t wiped down. Pay special attention to corners and crevices where moths, larvae and eggs may hide. I vacuumed both sides of the rugs as well as the couch very thoroughly. I also took a lint roller and went over the couch after vacuuming. If the covers come off the couch cushions, I suggest laundering them. You could have carpets, rugs or even the couch professionally cleaned, which is probably better than just vacuuming, if that’s in your budget. I vacuumed and lint-rolled my mattress before putting on a protective cover. When I was done vacuuming I made sure to toss the vacuum bag (or clean the canister) and the brush head because the debris might contain eggs or larvae.
I also sprayed Dr. Killigan’s Six Feet Under Plant-Powered Insect Spray (which you can find at Dr. Killigan’s or Amazon) which should kill moths in the crevices where the molding meets the floor and in the cracks in the floor planks where the vacuum couldn’t reach.
In truth, this initial clean and purge took over my life for at least two weeks, not a weekend. It was all I thought about or did (besides work, eat, sleep, and the essential family obligations). But, it did wipe out most of the moths, give me peace of mind, and was absolutely worth it. If you do all these steps thoroughly and faithfully as well, you’re probably unbelievably exhausted and perhaps a little disgusted, but you’re definitely getting the invasion under control. Continue to remain vigilant! Don’t let your guard down.
You are now ready for STEP THREE, but first a word:
At this point, here is one of the most important things to know, for practical purposes, but also for our fragile mental state: It’s extremely difficult to completely rid your home of moths once you have them. It’s true, and it sucks. But do not despair. If you keep them under control, in negligible numbers, you can significantly minimize or even prevent further damage. You might still see a handful of moths every few months, but it’s quite likely they haven’t damaged your wool blanket, wedding suit, or precious rug.
I learned this from experience. No article or website or blog mentioned this, though I wish they had because for the first couple of years I was so demoralized every time moths reappeared. You will likely be sad too, but hopefully less so since I’m trying to prepare you. Keep on cleaning and being careful. It will pay off, and it will get better. The moths in my apartment kept appearing in small bursts every spring through fall. But there were fewer and fewer each time. It’s a few years later, and I still have moths – I know this is not exactly what you want to hear. But they are very few and far between. Sometimes, it’ll be seven or eight months before I see a single moth or casing. When they do reappear, it’s often about four or five in the span of a week and then it’s quiet again. The better news is that in the last two years, I haven’t noticed any damage.
STEP THREE
PREVENTING ANOTHER INFESTATION
Your strategy should include: regular laundering, moth traps, proper storage, climate control, and most important of all, vacuuming and cleaning.
After, my initial cleansing/moth exorcism, I spent months researching, testing and updating my house to prevent another infestation. Fun! But hopefully with the tips below, it won’t be consuming for you.
The single most important thing in preventing another infestation is maintenance. This is not the time to let your guard down. I know you are tired and want to pretend it’s all over. It’s not. The big clean likely got most of the moths, but not all.
After my initial slash and burn, for the next four to six months, I made sure to do these things on a regular basis:
Vacuum – in addition to my usual vacuum routine, about every two weeks I’d step it up and vacuum inside closets, under the bed, under couch cushions and rugs – anywhere the moths could hide. Especially in the beginning, whenever I got lazy, hadn’t seen a moth in a few weeks, and felt less inclined to vacuum in dark, undisturbed spaces, the moths started making little gains. Just keep it up for the first four to six months. If things are still looking good after that, you can start laying off a bit.
Clean – Regularly wipe clean areas like shelving, behind books, inside light fixtures, inside shoes, anything accumulating fur and dander from pets (lint rollers are helpful here), behind paintings, on moldings, the underside of heavy furniture like a credenza or dresser if you can get to it, around the radiator or baseboards, etc. During shedding season for my cats, I use a lint roller on clothing to remove fur before returning it to the closet or drawers. When I cleaned these areas regularly, there were no more moth surprises.
Spray – Periodically spray Dr. Killigan’s Six Feet Under Plant-Powered Insect Spray at Dr. Killigan’s or Amazon in areas that can’t be cleaned easily, like behind and around the radiator, or in cracks and crevices. Why take a chance, I do think it makes a difference.
Moth traps – I found using these to be equal parts despairing and satisfying. These small, sticky cardboard traps sprayed with pheromones attract and kill adult male moths, preventing them from mating and reproducing. I placed a trap in each room and closet where I had seen evidence of moths. Traps are a great way of monitoring the situation; keeping a trap in your closet can sound an early warning of a growing infestation. I check the traps periodically. There were a couple times within the first six moth when the trap in the living room attracted a dozen moths within a week. I was surprised and honestly pretty bummed, but at least I knew to keep a close eye on the room and clean even more thoroughly, which did effectively bring the moths under control (after about a year, TBH, but the point is that it did eventually work and it might be even quicker for you). Now, when I check the traps and they’re empty, I feel surprisingly triumphant. To note again, it took me a long time to get to that point, so don’t lose hope. The traps should be changed every few months.
After trying several, my hands down favorite traps are Premium Clothing Moth Traps with Pheromones from Dr. Killigan's or find them on Amazon.
Launder – remember that moths are drawn to dirty, odorous, sweaty clothing. This can be clothing with lingering perfumes, body oils, and food stains. The dirtier the item the more of a moth magnet it is. Apparently, moths cannot survive on keratin alone. They also need vitamin B, which body fluids and foods can provide, hence the attraction. Use common sense to judge when you might need to launder an item before placing it back in the closet.
Gatekeep – When I bring new clothing, sheets, bags, textiles, especially anything secondhand, etc. into the house, I am extremely strict about washing or heating before I put them away. Some have called me paranoid, like I was warding off the plague. Maybe. But those people haven’t had moths…yet. I now also buy less wool and silk in favor of cotton and linen.
Store clothing properly and compartmentalize – that means clean first and be thoughtful about how you put items away. For the first couple years, I also avoided moving items between closets and cabinets to prevent cross-contamination and made sure to keep closet doors and drawers closed at night when moths tend to come out of hiding.
Shake – Occasionally shake out clothing in your closets. As mentioned earlier, clothing that’s been undisturbed for months makes a nice home for moths. It’s also good to regularly inspect clothing for any sign of moths returning.
Take notice – observe if moths keep coming back to attack the same item. My favorite sweater, which was a lambswool blend, seemed to be a moth magnet. I’d dry clean and heat it over and over again, move it to a different storage location, but there would always be new holes. Eventually, I gave up and tossed the sweater and haven’t had moths in those locations since. You might have just let go too.
Scan – It wouldn’t hurt to scan the walls and ceilings occasionally for moths or larvae – over the years I’ve caught a good number hanging out in plain sight. Fools. So keeping your eyes open is helpful. Cats are also helpful. My cat, Pouncer, and I tag team the moths. He spots them fluttering about, and I go in for the kill. I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting exactly when to pounce.
Last thing – a note on repellents: I haven’t found natural repellents like cedar or lavender to be effective, which is why I have not included them above. Chemical repellents, like mothballs, do work, but they are toxic and emit noxious vapors that can cause headaches and vomiting as well as damage to red blood cells, kidney and liver damage, and possibly cancer. Despite the name of this blog, I never used nor will use mothballs. I’ve also heard of people using moth foggers and bombs – I don’t know much about them and never used them because of the chemicals they contain.
Tips on storage
Canvas storage:
I opted for canvas covers and bags to store items that attract larvae and may also be out of rotation depending on the time of year (think coats, jackets, silk and wool scarves, nice dresses). I chose heavy canvas instead of plastic because I wanted a little airflow. While not 100% moth proof, so there’s still risk, the canvas is quite thick, and it’s been working well for me.
Canvas suit storage for coats, suits and dresses
Plastic storage boxes:
Besides canvas storage bags, I use a few tightly sealed plastic boxes for a couple of sweaters that proved to be moth favorites. I have friends who use these boxes exclusively to store all their sweaters, scarves, etc. rather than canvas. You have to decide what works for you. I also use these plastic boxes to store items that I keep under the bed, deep in my utility closet, or other dark, undisturbed places.
A friend loves these types of plastic boxes, which I also use:
IRIS USA Weathertight Storage Box
IRIS WeatherPro Plastic Storage Bin Clear with Lid
Paper storage boxes:
I also use sturdy cardboard storage boxes with lids. I swapped out any crates or open storage containers for ones with lids (to hopefully deter moths a bit) and smooth surfaces that can be wiped down. Storage baskets or boxes that are woven or have crevices are harder to clean and can give moths places to hide. Like the canvas bags, the cardboard boxes aren’t impervious to moths, but they are an improvement.
Vacuum sealing: Another friend vacuum sealed clothing she wasn’t going to wear for a while. It seemed to work, though I have yet to try it.
Closet organization
After the invasion, I reconfigured my wardrobe closet. I chose the Elfa system from the Container Store because its metal mesh drawers allow in more air movement and light than my old solid drawers, giving the moths fewer dark corners for hiding. I selected white shelving and drawers (or painted them white) so I could see pet hair, debris or evidence of moths more easily. I love my closet now!
I replaced the drawers in my closet with the Elfa Wide Drawer Solution and rested loose Elfa drawers on shelving to use as bins. If you want to go even further you could try the Elfa Classic 4' White Kit or the Elfa Classic 2' Reach-In Closet. You get the idea.
A friend pointed out that Elfa stuff is often on sale 20-40%!
There are a few other things I did to fortify the closets. I swapped my non-slip velvet hangers, which can collect lint, body oil, hair or other debris that attract moths, for white wood hangers that can be wiped down easily.
Also, remember to avoid storing clothing in humid or damp places like attics or basements since those are optimal conditions for moth breeding grounds. If you live in a place that’s humid or is hard to control climate-wise, I suggest Damp Rid. I added a container to each of my closets to reduce moisture in the air and cleaned and refilled them every few months depending on the time of year.
Just keep at it
It’s been a few years, and I continue to follow this maintanence strategy and it’s still working for me. Depending on the intensity of your invasion, it may take some time and adjustment for it to work for you – I continued to see handfuls of moths pretty regularly for the first few months. As I mentioned earlier, outbreaks still occur occasionally, usually in the spring, and I’ll see about five to eight moths and no damage. I expect that with each year those numbers will continue to diminish. Keep reading for some helpful moth FAQs.
Know thy Enemy
Their likes and dislikes, schedule, favorite spots, favorite foods, etc. But seriously, knowing these things was very helpful .
Here are more basics on clothes moths:
What’s their life cycle?
Each female moth can lay dozens of eggs, which usually hatch into larvae within a week. (Remember, it’s the larvae, which are about ¼” long, that eat our sweaters, carpets, scarves, and souls.) The larval period usually lasts three to eight months but can be as long as three years, which is one reason why you might notice a moth fluttering around long after you’ve done your second, third, fourth round of cleaning. It doesn’t necessarily mean a new invasion, maybe just an old straggler.
When do they appear?
Moths like warm temperatures and humidity, so they usually appear in spring or summer. There can be two waves, one around April/May and another around August/September, so be extra alert then. That said, moths can appear anytime of year. Cold weather doesn’t kills moths, only slows down their growth, which is why we usually see fewer or no moths during winter and fall. One year, I noticed moths appearing on chilly days in late October. I realized that was because the heat was turned on and the house was getting toasty.
What are their favorite foods?
Moth larvae love anything with keratin. They will eat anything made from animal fibers, such as fur, wool, cashmere, feathers, etc., as well as our dead skin cells, nail clippings, and hair. They will also feast on materials covered in sweat and body oil. They will even eat synthetic material or cotton when it is soiled. Ewww.
Where do they come from, where do they go?
Moth eggs are usually the culprits behind the invasion. They often sneak in on things you bring into your house. Used clothing, textiles, and shoes are common vehicles for eggs but new items could also carry them. Moth eggs and larvae can also sneak in on objects like lamps, bags, and rugs. Once inside, they can hatch and the larvae will search for food and dark, warm spaces in corners, containers, cracks, etc. I suspect my moth invasion came from a linen dress that I picked up from the tailor and then stuck in the back of my closet for months undisturbed. So, it’s best to wash or heat treat or wipe down things before you put them away in your house. Don’t make yourself bananas, but do as best as you can. Taking some action is better than no action.
If you’ve made it this far and still want to know more about moths, check out this masterpiece by Dr. Kristine Kelly, a professor at Western Illinois University :