Household pests
Clothes moths: protect your clothes and carpets
Clothes moths are small buff-coloured moths whose larvae eat wool, silk, fur and other natural fibres, leaving holes in clothes and bare patches in carpets. The adults do not feed on fabric; the caterpillars do. Cleaning, hot washing or freezing items, and protecting stored woollens usually clears them without professional help.
- Also known as
- common clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, case-bearing clothes moth
- Easily confused with
- carpet beetle larvae (also eat wool), pantry or food moths (eat stored food, not fabric)
- How serious
- Low to moderate: harmless to people, costly to natural-fibre items
- Typical cost
- DIY cleaning and traps are low cost; professional carpet treatment from around 90 to 200 pounds
How to identify clothes moths
Adult clothes moths are small, about 6 to 8mm, plain buff or golden, and tend to scuttle and hide rather than fly to light. Seeing the adults is a sign larvae are nearby.
The damage is done by cream-coloured caterpillars, sometimes inside a small silken case. Look for irregular holes in wool jumpers, suits, silk and felt, silken webbing or grazed channels, and bare threadbare patches in wool carpets under furniture and in wardrobes.
How serious is it?
Low to moderate: harmless to people, costly to natural-fibre items
Clothes moths are harmless to people. They do not bite or spread disease.
The damage is to belongings, and it can be costly: wool suits, cashmere, silk, fur, felt and wool carpets are all vulnerable. Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed places, so damage often appears in stored or rarely worn items before you notice the moths.
How to fix it yourself
- Identify infested items and isolate them. Check wardrobes, drawers, stored woollens, under furniture and along carpet edges.
- Clean fabrics: a hot wash where the care label allows, dry cleaning for delicate items, or freezing at minus 18 for several days kills eggs and larvae.
- Vacuum carpets, skirting, wardrobe interiors and the backs of drawers thoroughly, then empty the vacuum outside.
- Store clean clothes in sealed bags or boxes; moths target clean and soiled natural fibres alike, but soiling makes them more attractive.
- Use pheromone monitoring traps to track adult activity, and cedar or other deterrents in storage, while you clear the source.
When to call a professional
- A widespread or recurring infestation that returns after cleaning and storage measures.
- Valuable items such as antique rugs, tailoring or heritage textiles where you want specialist treatment.
Who to call
- A BPCA or NPTA member pest controller for a residual treatment of carpets and harbourage.
- A textile conservator or specialist cleaner for valuable rugs, tailoring or heritage items.
Indicative cost: DIY cleaning and traps are low cost; professional carpet treatment from around 90 to 200 pounds. Prices vary by area, severity and access, so always get a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
What kills clothes moth larvae?
Heat and cold both work. A hot wash where the care label allows, or freezing items at minus 18 for several days, kills eggs and larvae. Thorough vacuuming removes them from carpets, and dry cleaning treats delicate items.
How do I tell clothes moths from carpet beetles?
Clothes moth larvae leave silken webbing or small cases and you may see buff-coloured moths. Carpet beetle larvae are hairy and banded and leave shed skins, with small mottled beetles as adults. Both eat wool, so finding the insect itself is the surest way to tell them apart.
Do clothes moths only eat dirty clothes?
No. Clothes moth larvae eat clean wool, silk and fur as well, but soiling from sweat, food or skin makes items more attractive. Storing clothes clean and sealed is one of the best protections.
Why do clothes moths keep coming back?
Because the source has not been fully cleared. Larvae hide in carpet edges, under furniture, in stored woollens and in old nests in lofts. Until you find and treat every harbourage, new adults keep emerging even after you remove the ones you see.
Sources
Editor, HomesAndHedge
Oliver leads HomesAndHedge's editorial coverage of home and garden problems. He researches and writes the plain-English explainers on pests, invasive plants, damp and mould, drainage and wildlife, drawing on guidance from bodies such as the Property Care Association, the RHS and the NHS, and is clear about when a job needs a qualified professional.
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026