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Quick answer: Clothes moths are small buff-colored moths whose larvae feed on wool, silk, fur, feathers, and other natural fibers, leaving holes and silk. They avoid light and hide in closets, drawers, and stored garments. Getting rid of clothes moths means cleaning and isolating infested items, thorough vacuuming, and proper storage of vulnerable clothing.
What do clothes moths look like?
Clothes moths are small, buff to golden moths about 1/4 to 1/2 inch across. Unlike moths drawn to lights, they avoid light and scurry into dark corners. The damage is caused by their small white larvae, which may spin silk tubes or cases on the fabric.
Signs of clothes moths
Look for irregular holes in wool, silk, or fur; silk webbing, cases, or sand-like frass on garments; and small moths flitting in dark closets and drawers. Damage often concentrates on soiled or stored items.
What they feed on
Larvae digest keratin in natural fibers — wool, silk, fur, feathers, and hair — and are especially attracted to items soiled with sweat, body oils, or food. Clean synthetics are generally safe unless blended or stained.
How to get rid of clothes moths
Control combines cleaning, treatment of items, and storage: isolate and clean infested garments by laundering, dry cleaning, or freezing; vacuum thoroughly in closets, drawers, cracks, and along baseboards, and under furniture and rugs; and store clean vulnerable clothing in sealed containers. Check wool rugs and upholstery, which are common hidden sources. Cedar and repellents have limited effect and do not replace cleaning and storage.
When to call a professional
For recurring damage or valuable textiles, a professional can locate hidden sources (rugs, upholstery, wall voids with animal nests) and treat harborage that home cleaning cannot reach.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Clothes Moth FAQ
How do I identify clothes moths?
Adults are small (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch across), buff or golden, and avoid light, preferring dark closets rather than flying to lamps. The damage is done by small white larvae that feed on natural fibers.
What do clothes moths eat?
The larvae feed on keratin in natural fibers: wool, silk, fur, feathers, and hair, especially items that are soiled with sweat or food. They do not eat synthetics except where blended or soiled.
How do you get rid of clothes moths?
Isolate and clean infested items (laundering, dry cleaning, or freezing), vacuum closets and drawers thoroughly including cracks, and store clean vulnerable garments in sealed containers. Address hidden sources like rugs and upholstery.
Where do clothes moths hide?
In dark, undisturbed places: the backs of closets, drawers, storage boxes, under furniture, and in wool rugs and upholstery.
Why do they target stored clothes?
Stored, undisturbed natural-fiber garments, especially if soiled, give larvae an undisturbed food source. Regular use and cleaning disrupt them.
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