Holes in your favourite jumper? Chances are it's the work of clothes moths. These pesky insects lay their eggs in your wardrobe, and the hatched larvae feast on your clothes. Unfortunately, the damage they cause often means you'll have to throw the affected clothes away. If you want to protect your clothes, read on to learn more about clothes moths, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them!

How can you identify clothes moths?

To the untrained eye, clothes moths can be tricky to distinguish from the other moths you might find in your home. They're very small, typically less than 1 cm long. So how can you identify them? Moths are attracted to textiles, so you're most likely to see them inside wardrobes and linen cupboards and on curtains, coat racks and furniture.

Where are clothes moths found and what attracts them?

Clothes moths get into your home through open doors and windows. Once inside, the adult moths look for a good spot to lay their eggs, and your textiles are the perfect place. Adult clothes moths actually don't eat at all, but your textiles are a feast for their larvae.

When are clothing moths most active?

Moths in the wild only reproduce during the warmer months. However, once inside your home, they can continue to breed in autumn and winter, provided it's warm enough. That means you could be plagued by them all year round!

How fast do clothes moths reproduce?

A clothes moth can lay up to 200 eggs at a time. When the larvae hatch, they're almost invisible to the naked eye, so their presence usually only becomes obvious when they start damaging your clothes. Within just a few months, these larvae mature into adult moths ready to reproduce, so it's important to act quickly before you have to buy a whole new wardrobe!

Are clothes moths harmful or dangerous?

Clothes moths aren't harmful to our health, but they are bad news for your clothes and home furnishings. They feed on protein-rich natural fibres such as wool, leather, fur, and silk, leading to holes and other damage in curtains, clothing, bedding, and more.

5 top tips for preventing clothes moths

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to clothes moths, so it's best to make sure they don't enter your wardrobe in the first place. Here are our 5 tips for preventing clothes moths.

1. Keep moths out of your wardrobe

Use natural moth repellents like lavender bags or cedarwood hangers to keep moths at bay. These not only deter moths but make your clothes smell nice, too!

2. Keep fabrics covered

If you have expensive suits or special dresses, protect them by storing them in closed plastic garment bags. Do the same for stored curtains, rugs, and other textiles to ensure moths don't damage these valuable items.

3. Steam clothing and textiles

Moths and their eggs and larvae cannot survive the heat and steam used in the dry-cleaning process. So, if you want to be sure your clothes are free from moths, take them to the dry cleaner.

4. Freeze your clothing and textiles

Another solution you can try at home is to put your clothes in the freezer overnight. The extreme cold will kill the moths, along with their eggs and larvae.

5. Remove larvae from rugs and carpets

If moth larvae infest your rugs and carpets, they can quickly spread to the other textiles in your home. You can remove moth eggs and larvae easily by vacuuming floor coverings well.