DEALING WITH CLOTHES MOTHS
Moth season is from May to October, but it’s often only as you move things about, e.g. during a clear-out or seasonal wardrobe change (hello summer!) that you notice telltale signs of damage and panic mode sets in.
Moths and butterflies are part of the same group of insects called the Lepidoptera, meaning “scaly-winged.” The colours and patterns of their wings are made up of thousands of tiny scales, overlapping like tiles on a roof. There are over 2,500 different types of moths in the UK; however, when it comes to your wardrobe there are two to keep an eye out for; the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the case-bearing clothes moth (Tinea pellionella).
The common clothes moth (also known as the webbing clothes moth) has golden coloured wings which are held back behind the body whilst its head is coated with reddish hairs. The larvae can reach 13mm and are white with a hardened, brown head capsule and no ocelli (simple eyes).
The case-bearing clothes moth has silver grey-brown coloured wings which are held behind the body and its head is coated with grey hairs. Larvae can reach 12mm and are white with a hardened, brown head capsule and one ocelli (simple eyes).
Below, I’ve put together everything you need to know about deterring and removing moths, as well as fixing any damage they leave behind. After that, read on for extra tips from experts.
DETER
You’ve spotted something that’s been nibbled, and are nervous as to what to do next. It’s important to try and find the source and immediately treat anything which has become a victim of the moths. Here’s how.
Move your clothing
Moths love the dark and hate being disturbed, so try to keep your clothes moving rather than stagnant. A crammed wardrobe is an excellent place for moths to hide so with this in mind it’s a good excuse for regular clear-outs to avoid having things hanging in your wardrobe that you have no intention of wearing, as well as to remind you of pieces you may have forgotten about.
Scents
Strong scents are a classic way of deterring moths — hang lavender bags in your wardrobe and nestle them between your knitwear. Use an essential oil diffuser near your wardrobe or spray with an essential oil like lavender or cedar. You can also place a homemade reed diffuser nearby or even in your wardrobe. Cedarwood essential oil or cedarwood blocks make an excellent alternative to the strong-smelling and often very toxic mothballs, as they also lightly fragrance your clothes and linens. With cedar and lavender the strength of the oil is key and as a natural product it will evaporate and its scent dissipates over time, so you need to be on top of this.
Wash your clothes
Moths often gravitate towards clothing that has been worn, as it will have an attractive layer of keratin-rich sweat, skin, hair and food spills as well as the natural fibres of the fabric (which explains they can also pop up in synthetic carpets too on account of the dirt and household detritus that can lodge in the fibres!) So make sure you don’t leave worn wool jumpers hanging around too long after wearing. This especially goes for any second-hand items you’re bringing into your wardrobe — make sure it’s clean before putting it away.
Extreme temperatures
For any items that you fear could be infected, place them in a bag in the freezer for at least 48 hours to kill off any pests or alternatively you can also heat-treat wool items by placing them in your oven on the lowest heat setting (avoid doing this with anything that has a plastic/bead embellishment as the heat could melt it).
Vacuum
Vacuuming regularly can reduce the chance of moths finding their way into your clothes/carpets. Vacuuming will also remove any moth larvae from carpets before they have the opportunity to hatch. It only takes four to ten days for clothes moth eggs to hatch, so you should hoover twice a week to maximise disruption of that cycle.
Moth Trap
Unattractive as they are to have hanging around, moth traps might be your first indicator, other than finding a hole in something, that trouble is brewing. A moth trap will attract any adult male clothes moths that might have flown in through the window, arrived via some newly purchased soft furnishings or hatched out within your home. While capturing a number of them might slightly reduce the breeding rate, it’s the larvae that actually do the damage, so these traps act more as a full time watchguard — the sticky, non-toxic, pheromone scented sleeves that slot into the plastic cages need replacing every 3 months with refills for effectiveness. For a plastic-free solution, try these which also light up.
REMOVE
You’ve found multiple items with holes in (and worse, some larvae casts, larvae poops or even… yikes... the larvae themselves!) and you’re sure you’ve got an infestation… it’s probably time to call in the professionals or spray the areas yourself — both of these options are toxic (or at least unpleasantly potent if you go for this more expensive option using naturally derived insecticides) though so lots of care should be exercised. If treating the area yourself, read the product instructions carefully, Clear the affected area, open the windows, ideally wearing gloves and a face mask whilst applying. Ensure that pets and children are nowhere near the area being treated, and can’t access it later on and be aware that insecticides affect pollinators and aquatic life too. Once treated, depending on if you are using a spray or powder, allow the room to fully ventilate for a few days, vacuum thoroughly according to the instructions and continue ventilating again for at least a day.
Also be prepared to continue the legwork to ensure no return, with regular vacuuming of carpets and inspections of wardrobes, etc. Bring in the natural deterrents like the lavender and cedar products and regularly monitor and replace them once the scents/oils dissipate. Update your pheromone moth traps to monitor the decline and to help diagnose and keep on top of any new outbreaks.
FIX
One of your beloved pieces of clothing has a moth hole and needs some attention, so here’s what to do next:
Fixing
Moth holes can be relatively easy to fix, it can often just take a little bit of time as there’s usually a few small holes (if you catch them in time) that need to be seen to. There’s lots of tutorials on YouTube which you can follow. If it’s a particularly special piece and could do with expert attention then Clothes Doctor offers repair services for a range of items, or take it to your local dry cleaner/alterations spot. The Restory is also now offering clothing repair services, including mending moth holes.
Visible mending
Rising in prominence, visible mending is a popular option to add a bit of character to your piece. Shelley Zetuni is the expert for visible mending in knitwear. She offers virtual classes and also fixes pieces herself — DM her for a quote. Again, if you fancy a DIY head over to YouTube for lots of follow-along tutorials.
Upcycle
If you have a larger moth hole or want a quick fix, then why not add a patch or badge to cover the hole up? It can take a few seconds to do, and adds a unique spin to your piece — no one has to know why it was added in the first place! Or if you’re a dab hand with the scissors, needle and thread, repurpose the item into something different where the holey part can be disregarded — like shortening a skirt or sleeves to get rid of holes nearer the hem.
EXPERT TIPS
Julia Dee, Managing Director at Total Wardrobe Care
“As soon as you’ve noticed that something has been munched, you need to find ‘the source.’ It could be a rolled up rug under the spare room bed, or a wardrobe of unworn clothes that hasn’t been touched. When you’ve located it, spray the area with our Chrysanthemum spray. After that place a moth box on one side of the room and the moth decoy on the other and some scented sachets in the wardrobe and then replace every 3 months.”
Victoria Prew, CEO & Co-Founder of HURR
“If you have a moth infestation, or even suspect you have one, it’s crucial to get rid of any eggs that moths may have laid, re-wash all of your clothing (including curtains and any upholstery). Follow the care label on each garment or send more delicate items to your Dry Cleaners (my go-to is Oxwash) to remove any remaining larvae and sort the problem once and for all!"
Ruth Summerfield, Co-Founder of GOOD
“Don’t let moths put you off buying preloved! Fortunately they are not a common problem and a good second-hand clothes shop should take care of this for you before you buy. One of the best solutions is moth balls but the smell is not great. You can buy sticky hanging traps and sprays at your local haberdashery but the best way if you are worried about an item is to freeze it. If you have an item that has been damaged then that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for that garment! You can darn the item yourself, get an invisible mender to fix it or why not turn it into a feature by embellishing the area in some way? Perhaps with felting, embroidery or patches. Or if it’s a fabric you love then you could upcycle into something new.”
Orsola de Castro, Author of Loved Clothes Last and Co-Founder of Fashion Revolution
“The best way to prevent moths is to wash your knits and woollens regularly at low heat, and to keep ‘disturbing’ the items once they are back in the wardrobe, or the chairdrobe, or the drawer, or wherever you keep them. By disturbing I mean keep moving them, a little shake here and there, a bit of rough handling, so that the eggs don’t stick. I do this regularly and it is brilliant most of the time. Of course, some years the moths infestations are just too much, and nothing really will work, but this is the best way for me. And then there is the decoy….which is basically a piece that will be ‘sacrificed’ so that moths will flock to that and leave the rest in peace. This isn’t for tightly packed knitwear stored in drawers, but will save your hanging woollens such as coats and suits, by attracting moths away from them.”