How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths and Keep Them Away

To get rid of clothes moths, kill the larvae and eggs, not just the flying adults: launder washable items for 20 to 30 minutes in water of at least 120°F, and dry clean or freeze the woolens that can't take hot water (UC IPM). Then vacuum the closet and store only clean woolens in airtight containers (UC IPM; University of Kentucky Entomology).

The mistake to avoid is treating only the closet. One forgotten wool scarf, felt hat or old rug can restart the infestation, so check every item made of animal fiber (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Key takeaways

Wash infested washables for 20 to 30 minutes in water of at least 120°F; it kills every life stage.
Dry clean wool that can't take hot water, or seal it in plastic and freeze it at 0°F for at least a week.
Vacuum closets, baseboards, carpet edges and vents, then empty the vacuum promptly.
Pheromone traps catch males and show where moths are, but they don't end an infestation on their own.
Store only clean woolens in tight bags or bins; open closets, cedar and loose mothballs don't protect them.

Do moths eat clothes?

Adult clothes moths don't eat anything; their larvae do all the damage (University of Kentucky Entomology). The larvae digest keratin, the protein in wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt and leather (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Most moths you see around the house never touch fabric. In North America the fabric damage comes mainly from two species, the webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Do clothes moths eat cotton?

Rarely. University of Kentucky Entomology says cotton and synthetics such as polyester are seldom attacked unless they're blended with wool or heavily soiled with food or body oils. UC IPM adds that larvae may chew cotton fibers to build their pupal cases.

Why do moths eat clothes?

Because keratin is their natural food: outdoors, the larvae live on hair and feathers in nests and carcasses (University of Kentucky Entomology). Fabrics with food, sweat or urine stains are damaged more (UC IPM), and clean fabrics are less likely to be eaten than heavily soiled ones (UC IPM).

What do clothes moths look like?

The webbing clothes moth, the most common one, is gold with reddish-golden hairs on its head and about 1/4 inch long at rest, with a wingspan of about 1/2 inch (UC IPM). The casemaking clothes moth looks similar but has faint dark spots on browner wings (UC IPM).

Larvae: creamy-white caterpillars with a dark head, up to 1/2 inch long (University of Kentucky Entomology). Casemaking larvae carry a silk case that takes on the color of the fabric they eat (UC IPM).
Eggs: pinhead-sized, about 40 to 50 per female, glued to the fabric threads (University of Kentucky Entomology; UC IPM).
Life cycle: females lay their eggs over 2 to 3 weeks and then die. Eggs hatch in 4 to 10 days in warm weather, and larvae feed for 35 days to 2 1/2 years (UC IPM).
Behavior: weak flyers that aren't drawn to lights, so they stay close to the infested items in dark corners of the closet (UC IPM).

What's the difference between clothes moths and pantry moths?

Where you see them is the quickest clue: clothes moths avoid light and stay in closets, basements and attics, while similar moths in the kitchen are probably grain moths from stored food (University of Kentucky Entomology). UC IPM and Cornell IPM give the other differences below.

Trait	Clothes moth	Pantry moth (Indian meal moth)
Size at rest	About 1/4 inch	3/8 to 1/2 inch
Light	Avoids it	Attracted to it
Flight	Flutters near the infested item	Flies steadily around the house
Larvae eat	Wool, fur, silk, feathers	Grains, flour, nuts, dried fruit

Pheromone traps are species-specific, so a pantry-moth trap won't catch clothes moths (UC IPM).

Do female clothes moths fly?

They can, but they prefer to walk or run (USU Extension). That's one reason you see few moths even when larvae are busy: the flying ones you notice are mostly males, which outlive the females (UC IPM).

What are the first signs of clothes moths?

The first signs are usually on the fabric, not in the air, and they hide under collars, cuffs and folds (UC IPM). Look for these (UC IPM; University of Kentucky Entomology):

Silk tubes or webbing on the fabric, often mixed with fibers and droppings.
Grazed, threadbare patches where fibers are eaten off at the base, then holes.
Tiny droppings the same color as the fabric, because they carry its dye.
Small cigar-shaped cases stuck to wool, from casemaking larvae.
Loose fur clipped at the base on fur items.
Small moths that flutter in a dark closet instead of flying to the light.

What attracts moths to your home?

Clothes moths are usually carried in, not drawn in. Eggs and larvae arrive on secondhand furniture, rugs and woolens (NMSU Extension), or spread from bird and rodent nests in the attic, chimney or walls (University of Kentucky Entomology; USU Extension). Once inside, they settle where food sits undisturbed:

wool and fur stored for months in closets, chests and boxes (University of Kentucky Entomology);
stained or sweaty items put away dirty (UC IPM);
pet hair and lint under furniture, along baseboards and in vents (University of Kentucky Entomology; NMSU Extension).

Clothing in regular use and rugs that get normal traffic or routine vacuuming are seldom infested (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Is it moths or carpet beetles?

Check before you treat: carpet beetle larvae eat the same animal fibers, and their damage is often blamed on moths (University of Kentucky Entomology). Carpet beetle larvae are bristly, 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, and leave shed skins instead of webbing (NMSU Extension). The cleaning, freezing and storage steps below work on both (NMSU Extension).

How do you get rid of clothes moths, step by step?

Find the source, kill every life stage on the clothes, clean the space, then store things so moths can't get back in. This order follows University of Kentucky Entomology, UC IPM and NMSU Extension:

Empty the closet, wardrobe or drawers. Take out every item, including shoes and boxes (NMSU Extension).
Inspect each piece of wool, fur, silk, felt and feathers, especially seams, cuffs, collars and folds (University of Kentucky Entomology).
Sort into piles: washable, dry clean, freeze, or discard. Bag heavily infested items before you throw them out so they don't spread moths on the way (University of Kentucky Entomology).
Kill the moths on the fabric with hot washing, a hot dryer, dry cleaning or freezing (see the table below) (University of Kentucky Entomology; UC IPM).
Vacuum the empty space: closet floor and corners, shelves, baseboards, cracks, carpet edges, under furniture and inside vents. Empty the vacuum promptly, because it can hold eggs and larvae (UC IPM).
Wash the closet surfaces and cracks before anything goes back in (UC IPM; NMSU Extension).
Brush stored items outdoors, along seams and in pockets. Brushing destroys eggs, and larvae drop off in bright light (UC IPM; NMSU Extension).
Put back only cleaned items, and watch the area with a pheromone trap (UC IPM).

Pick the kill method by what the care label allows. UC IPM, University of Kentucky Entomology and NMSU Extension support these:

Method	What it takes	Best for
Hot wash	20 to 30 minutes in water of at least 120°F	Washable blankets, cotton-wool blends, sturdy items
Hot dryer	A regular dryer heat cycle	Anything labeled for tumble drying
Dry cleaning	A standard dry cleaning	Wool coats, suits, sweaters, dry-clean-only items
Freezing	Sealed bag, 0°F, at least 1 week	Small non-washables, hats, felt, feathers
Discard	Bag it first	Items too damaged to save

Most woolens shouldn't go in hot water, so dry cleaning is often the only practical option for them (UC IPM). Take dry-clean-only pieces to a professional dry cleaner, and see which clothes really need dry cleaning if the label leaves you unsure. For the wool you can wash, our guide on washing wool without shrinking it covers the gentler routine after the moths are gone.

Pillows, upholstered furniture and other stuffed items can't be treated by spraying the outside (UC IPM). Widespread or heavy infestations, and stuffing full of hair or feathers, are jobs for a pest control professional (UC IPM; USU Extension).

Does freezing kill clothes moths and their eggs?

Yes, if the item gets cold enough for long enough, freezing kills every stage, including eggs (University of Kentucky Entomology). The sources disagree on the exact time, so use the longest one that fits your freezer:

Source	Temperature	Time
University of Kentucky Entomology	0°F	At least 1 week
University of Kentucky Entomology	-20°F	72 hours
NMSU Extension	0°F	48 to 72 hours, then repeat
Rutgers Extension	Household freezer	2 weeks
UC IPM	Below 18°F	Several days

Many home freezers reach 0°F or colder, so 1 week at 0°F is the safer middle ground (University of Kentucky Entomology; University of Kentucky Entomology). If you don't know your freezer's temperature, give it 2 weeks (Rutgers Extension).

Seal the item in a plastic bag and squeeze out the extra air (NMSU Extension).
Freeze it for the full time (University of Kentucky Entomology).
Let it warm to room temperature inside the bag, about 24 hours, so condensation forms on the bag and not on the fabric (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Cold storage is different: below 40°F larvae stop feeding (Rutgers Extension), but it doesn't kill eggs or larvae, so clean items before they go into storage (NMSU Extension).

Can you heat clothes in the oven to kill moths?

Skip it. UC IPM lists oven heat above 120°F for at least 30 minutes as an option, but University of Kentucky Entomology says heat treatment is not recommended for fabrics. Hot washing, a hot dryer or dry cleaning reach the same goal with far less risk to the item (University of Kentucky Entomology).

What kills clothes moths instantly?

Nothing safe for clothes works instantly on every stage, but pyrethrin sprays knock down adult moths quickly (UC IPM). Use only a product that lists clothes moths on its label and follow the directions exactly (UC IPM).

Where to spray is where the sources split. UC IPM and USU Extension say labeled products can go directly on some fabrics, but some are oil-based and stain silk and rayon. University of Kentucky Entomology and NMSU Extension say not to spray clothing or bedding at all. The safer route is to clean or freeze the clothes and keep sprays to cracks, carpet edges and closet floors (NMSU Extension).

Does rubbing alcohol kill moth eggs?

None of the extension guides we read list rubbing alcohol as a treatment. The eggs are glued to the threads (UC IPM), so use a method that reaches the whole item: a hot wash, dry cleaning or freezing (University of Kentucky Entomology).

How do you get rid of clothes moths naturally?

The most effective non-chemical tools are heat, cold, vacuuming, brushing and sunlight (UC IPM; USU Extension). Scented repellents are weaker:

Cedar: the oil can kill small larvae but not large ones, and it fades after several years (UC IPM). University of Kentucky Entomology says cedar closets and chests seldom work because they don't seal tightly enough. The Woolmark Company recommends cedar blocks over mothballs, but the extension guides don't back cedar as protection on its own.
Lavender and other herbs: little is known about how well herbal oils work (UC IPM), and some dried herbs sold as repellents are toxic, so read the label (NMSU Extension).

Do pheromone traps get rid of clothes moths?

Not by themselves. The traps use a sex attractant that lures males onto a sticky surface, which finds the infestation and gives some control, but you still have to clean or freeze the exposed clothes (UC IPM).

Males can be drawn from 16 to 24 feet away (Rutgers Extension).
Place traps on shelves and closet floors near suspect items, and check them every 1 to 2 weeks (Rutgers Extension).
Webbing and casemaking moths respond to different lures, so match the trap to the species (University of Kentucky Entomology).
More moths caught in one trap points to the infested item nearby (University of Kentucky Entomology).

Are mothballs safe for clothes moths?

Only in a sealed container, used exactly as the label says. Mothballs are nearly 100% naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, and when you smell them you are breathing the insecticide (NPIC).

Airtight only: mothballs are an EPA-regulated pesticide. Using them outside the label's directions is illegal, and the common mistake is a container that isn't airtight (NPIC).
Useless in an open closet: the vapors kill only at a high concentration in a sealed container; otherwise larvae keep feeding (UC IPM).
Children and pets: one mothball can seriously harm a small child who eats it. Call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 if one is swallowed (NPIC).
Plastics: the chemicals can soften plastic buttons, hangers and garment bags into the fabric (UC IPM).
Placement: keep them off the fabric, on paper or in an old sock at the top of the bag, because the vapor sinks (NMSU Extension).

After storage, air the items for a few days and launder the washable ones before you wear them (NMSU Extension).

How do you store wool clothes so moths stay away?

Clean everything first, then seal it. Cleaning kills any eggs or larvae and removes the sweat odors that attract moths; then pack items in tight plastic bags or containers (University of Kentucky Entomology). Tight chests alone aren't enough for long storage (Rutgers Extension).

How to store winter clothes

Wash or dry clean each piece first, following its care label (University of Kentucky Entomology; The Woolmark Company).
Fold knitwear instead of hanging it, so sweaters keep their shape (The Woolmark Company).
Seal it: airtight bins or bags keep egg-laying moths out (UC IPM; USU Extension). Vacuum bags can trap moisture, so add a silica gel packet (The Woolmark Company).
Keep the room dry: low humidity makes a home less friendly to clothes moths (UC IPM).
Check stored items every so often for moisture and insects (The Woolmark Company; NMSU Extension).

For furs and valuable coats, commercial cold storage keeps larvae inactive below 40°F (Rutgers Extension).

Bulky wool blankets and comforters are easier to clean before storage in a large-capacity washer. More than 4,000 laundromats in the LaundroMaps directory list large-capacity machines, and more than 4,100 list dry cleaning, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). If you'd rather hand off the whole seasonal pile, a wash-and-fold service returns it clean and folded, ready to seal. Check each label first with our care label symbol guide, and see how to wash wool and knit blankets.

Frequently asked questions

Do all moths eat clothes?

No. In North American homes the fabric damage comes mainly from two species, the webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth. Pantry moths eat stored food such as grains and nuts, and the adults of every clothes moth species don't eat at all; only the larvae do.

Will moths bother you while you sleep?

Clothes moths won't. The adults don't feed, avoid light and stay near infested items in dark, undisturbed spots such as closets and storage boxes.

Can a moth lay eggs in your hair?

Clothes moths lay their eggs on animal-fiber items stored in dark, undisturbed places. Clothing and bedding in regular use are seldom infested, so a person is not a likely target.

How long do clothes moths live?

Females lay 40 to 50 eggs over 2 to 3 weeks and then die; males live longer. Eggs hatch in 4 to 10 days in warm weather, and the larvae can feed for 35 days to 2 1/2 years, depending on temperature and food.

Do moths make holes in clothes?

The larvae do, not the adult moths. They graze fibers off at the base, leaving threadbare patches and then holes, usually in hidden places such as under collars and cuffs.

How we researched this

We built this guide from university extension entomology publications, chiefly UC IPM, University of Kentucky Entomology, Rutgers Extension, NMSU Extension and USU Extension, plus the NPIC for mothball safety and The Woolmark Company for wool storage. We cited 10 sources and LaundroMaps directory counts, and we state it where the sources disagree (freezing times, oven heat, spraying clothes, cedar). We did not test these methods ourselves. This guide covers clothes moths; carpet beetles and pantry moths come up only to tell them apart. Researched October 2026.