Clothes and carpet moths

Clothes moths and carpet moths are small, pale and easily missed. The damage is done by the larvae, which feed in the dark on anything made of animal fibre: wool, cashmere, silk, fur, feathers and the wool content of rugs and carpets.

Finding where they live

Most infestations start from one item: a coat at the back of the wardrobe, a rug under the bed, a box of knitwear in the loft. We look for silk cases, frass (fine grit) and bare patches, and use a torch low along carpet edges where light never reaches. Finding the source is half the job.

The treatment

Once the room is prepared, we spray a residual insecticide to carpet edges, under beds and heavy furniture, inside wardrobes and along skirting. It is safe once dry, usually within two hours. We leave pheromone traps in the affected rooms; they catch males only and show us, at the follow-up, whether the population is collapsing.

Keeping them out

Store wool clean, because larvae prefer fabric with sweat or food on it. Use sealed bags or boxes for anything stored for the season. Vacuum under furniture and along the edges of rugs every few weeks, and empty the vacuum outside. We leave a written plan with the dates of your follow-up.