© 2020 S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/Clothes-Moths.pdf. Moths are repelled by cedar, so keep some cedar balls or sticks in your wardrobe and storage boxes. Moths are attracted to dark and warm spaces, and will seek out clothes that have food, body oils, hair and sweat on them. Clothes moths will feed on cloth fibers and leave small holes in your fabrics. 6. The common clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, has been blamed for munching its way into homes across Britain. That is why clean garments are far less likely to suffer clothes moth damage. Make sure you wash all of your clothes at a high temperature before storing them. Clothes moths come inside to feed on fabrics that are made of silk, wool, cashmere, angora, and fur. Store clothes in vacuum sealed bags, dispose of old fabrics such as rolls of carpet and hoover regularly or thoroughly. They are very weak fliers, so they are more commonly seen crawling across garments and the other items they infest. 1. RELATED: How to prevent and remove pantry moths, RELATED: How to get rid of moths without chemicals. If you pull out a cotton t-shirt or woollen jumper and find it covered in little holes, you may very well have clothes moths. SC Johnson Institute of Insect Science for Family Health. All fabric pests have the rare ability to digest keratin, the main protein constituent of hair, skin and fingernails of humans. Their favorite meals include animal-based fibers like silk, wool, cashmere, angora, and fur. Save 10% Off* for Thanksgiving Using Code 'THANKFUL' at Checkout - Shop Now » *See Details. 8. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. 8. All of the adults have narrow wings that fold over the body at rest and create about a ½" wingspan. Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. Clothes moth larvae need the Vitamin B found in soilage to survive. They are most commonly found in closets, dresser drawers, attics, basements, and other areas where garments are stored. All clothes moths have a complete metamorphorsis (same life stages as a butterfly) with an egg, larva, pupa, and adult stage. A female may deposit 100 to 300 moth eggs. Synthetic fabrics or natural fabrics which are not keratin-based (such as silk) will rarely suffer damage from clothes moths.Purchase ProPest Clothes Moth Traps. Help safeguard your family’s clothes from these fabric-feasting pests with easy tips for how to banish moths in the closet. But it’s actually the larvae, not the moths, which cause the damage. Killing adult moths is easy with sprays and traps, but it’s their larvae that cause the damage. RELATED: How to get rid of moths … 7. Testimonials », © 2004-2020 P&M Solutions, LLC DBA DoMyOwn, Pre Emergent Herbicides (Weed Preventers), Professional Safety Kit with Comfo Respirator, See More 4. Was this article informative and helpful to you? Look for clothes moths in the folds of your clothing as well as dark corners of the closet. Step 1: Wash your clothes and clean out your wardrobe They are most commonly found in closets, dresser drawers, attics, basements, and other areas where garments are stored. Here's how to prevent moths in your wardrobe, and get rid of the moth larvae in your clothes. 1.http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/Clothes-Moths.pdf. It is the moth larvae, not the adult moths, that eat and destroy fabrics. She's a diehard DIY fan and can't go past a good Ikea hack. There are three types of clothes moths common in the United States, with webbing and casemaking clothes moths being far more prevalent than tapestry clothes moths. Alternatively, place your most precious in a plastic bag and freeze for at least 48 hours. 5. Homeowners usually come into contact with one of two types of moths: pantry moths and clothes moths… ", See More Take everything out of your wardrobe at the end of each season and wipe down all of the surfaces with a cloth soaked in water and detergent.