How to protect clothes from moths

Clothes moths are small (1/2-beige or buff-colored pests with narrow fringed wings with small hairs that destroy fabric and other materials. They feed exclusively on animal fibers, especially wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, and leather.

Moths find a way into closets and quietly desecrate your garments in a way that they become useless. However, there are simple and inexpensive strategies to curb moth activities that do not  involve pesticides or other forms of chemicals.

The process is simple; identify the situation, clean everything, then take precautions against future infestations. You must actually identify that there are cloth moths in your closet because there are other easier to terminate bugs that eat clothes.

Most moths feed on plants and  anything longer than 1cm is likely not eating clothes. Two species of moth that damage clothes are  casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) and the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella).

Once you identify the moth,  check your clothes for damage then clean your clothes and closet by discarding infested items especially those extremely damaged ans can’t be repaired.

Thoroughly clean the clothes you want to keep and dry cleaning is the most effective method of killing moth larvae or wash clothes in hot water over 120 °F.

Thoroughly vacuum your closet. Air, heat, or freeze items you don’t dry-clean or wash. A combination of sunlight and vigorous brushing of infested items can kill moth eggs and larvae.

Moth treatment strategies are most effective if you act quickly  at the first sign of trouble.

Protect yourself from future infestations by storing clothes made of wool, fur or feathers in tightly sealed plastic storage bins or compression storage bags.

Place suits, dresses, or other hanging clothes in garment bags, sealed and without holes (tape over any seams or joints). Avoid fabric containers, which moths can eat through. Also, keeping your closets open and moving clothing around frequently will help prevent moths from hanging around because they hate light and movement.

Clean clothes before you put them away. When your delicate, moth-vulnerable clothes become more soiled, get them dry-cleaned; dry-cleaning will kill any eggs or larvae embedded in them.

Hang a lavender bag or cedar block in your closet; they smell nice and help keep moth away.

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