Clothes Moth

Where it lives

Wardrobes, drawers, under furniture, the underside of wool rugs, stored blankets, felt underlay, upholstery and any accumulation of natural fibre and pet hair.

Signs

• Irregular holes in wool, cashmere and silk garments
• Small pale moths fluttering weakly from a wardrobe when it is opened
• Silken tubes, webbing and gritty larval cases in folds and seams
• Damage concentrated in dark, undisturbed areas and rug edges under furniture
• Loose fibres and pile loss on wool carpets

Risks

• Irreversible damage to expensive clothing, rugs and textiles
• Damage to upholstery, curtains and heritage textiles
• Infestations spread quietly through a whole wardrobe or storeroom
• Larvae persist for months in dust and fibre accumulations

Prevention

• Clean garments before storing, since larvae go for sweat and food residue
• Store seasonal clothing in sealed bags or vacuum packs
• Vacuum wardrobe corners, under beds and rug edges regularly
• Use pheromone monitoring traps to catch a problem early

Treatment

We treat wardrobes, carpet edges, upholstery and voids with a residual insecticide plus growth regulator, apply steam or freezing to delicate items where appropriate, and install pheromone traps to monitor the male population. Heavy carpet and rug infestations are treated in place; heritage and delicate textiles are handled with non-chemical methods.