Advice
Clothes moths: how to recognise, catch and prevent them
Holes in wool jumpers, scarves or rugs usually come from clothes moths. It is not the moths themselves that do the damage but their larvae, which eat their way through wool, silk, fur and feathers in quiet, dark corners of the wardrobe. Spot the moths early and you save the rest of your wardrobe.
In this article
Straight to the solution: Get rid of clothes moths or go directly to the Super Ninja Clothes Moth Trap.
How do you recognise clothes moths?
Clothes moths are small, pale golden brown moths just under a centimetre long. The scientific name of the common clothes moth is Tineola bisselliella. Unlike pantry moths they rarely fly and prefer to crawl; they avoid light. Typical signs are small irregular holes, fine webbing and tiny droppings the colour of the fabric, especially in places that are rarely moved.
What attracts clothes moths and where do they come from?
The larvae need keratin, a protein in animal fibres such as wool, cashmere, silk, fur, leather and feathers. Worn, unwashed clothes with skin flakes and sweat attract them most. Clothes moths come in through open windows or with second-hand furniture, rugs and clothing.
When are clothes moths around?
Outdoors they only breed in the warm months. In a heated home they breed all year round.
How fast do clothes moths breed?
A female lays up to 100 eggs, directly onto suitable fabrics. The larvae hatch after about a week and, depending on the temperature, feed for a few weeks to months before they pupate. Because the larvae are so small, you usually only notice an infestation from the holes.
Are clothes moths harmful or dangerous?
Not to your health, but they are to clothes and furnishings: the larvae eat holes in clothing, curtains, rugs, upholstery and blankets made of animal fibres.
How do you catch clothes moths?
With a pheromone trap such as the Super Ninja Clothes Moth Trap. It attracts the males with the pheromone of their own species and holds them on a sticky surface. Fewer females are fertilised, and you can see whether there are still moths about. Hang the trap in the wardrobe or wherever you suspect moths, check it after four days and then every week. The trap catches males only: remove eggs and larvae from clothing with the tips below.
How well does a clothes moth trap work?
Our clothes moth trap was tested by the independent laboratory SAGEA (report 2010.BCD.SAG20). In a wardrobe of just over half a cubic metre, a new trap caught 80 to 90% of the male moths within four days. After three months open in the wardrobe, it still caught 77.5 to 87.5%. For comparison, the same trap without attractant, in a wardrobe of the same size, caught 0 to 2.5% in four days. In a room, with one trap per 12 m³, the catch was 86 to 92.5%.
How to get the most out of the trap:
- One trap per wardrobe of about half a cubic metre, or one per 12 m³ of room.
- Hang it somewhere dark, close to where you see moths or holes.
- If it has caught nothing after four days, move it to another spot.
- Replace the trap after three months. Unopened, it keeps for three years.
How do you keep clothes moths out of the wardrobe?
- Only put away clean clothes. Wash worn wool before storing it, or have it dry cleaned.
- Pack clothes well. Keep valuable items in tightly closing garment bags or boxes.
- Use heat. Washing at 50 °C or more, or steam cleaning, kills eggs and larvae.
- Use cold. Put delicate items in a bag in the freezer for about a week.
- Vacuum thoroughly. Including the edges of rugs, under furniture and the bottom of the wardrobe, because larvae often hide there.
My clothes moth trap catches nothing. Do I have the wrong moth?
Possibly. Moths in the kitchen cupboard are pantry moths; this trap does not catch them (read our guide Catching pantry moths). Clothes moths live in wardrobes, clothing and carpets: hang the trap in the wardrobe, close to the holes.
