How to Moth-Proof Your Apartment Closet & Save Your Sweaters

If you pulled out your favorite sweaters this winter and found they were covered in moth holes, then you may unfortunately have a moth infestation on your hands. There is one species of moth — called a clothes moth — that is known to snack on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, cashmere, feathers, and more. (They are different from pantry moths, which you may find in your kitchen.)

Depending on the damage done, your sweaters may not be salvageable. If you take the right precautions, however, your moth infestation may be solvable without professional intervention. 

In this guide, we cover how to identify a moth problem, what to do if you discover a moth problem, and how to treat and protect your clothes from moths.

As with any pest problem, you want to make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start attempting any DIY solutions. With moths, the problem should not be too complicated to identify. 

If you have clothes moths in your closet, you’ll likely see the damage they’ve caused to your clothing long before you see any of the actual moths. However, if you do see a pest that you suspect is a clothes moth, you’ll want to look out for the following characteristics: a solid whitish-gray or dark brown body with spots and aversion to light. While many moths are known to be drawn to light, clothes moths are the opposite — which is why you’ll rarely see them.

Clothes moths like to live in dark, quiet corners near food sources — which, for moth larvae, includes animal materials like wool, fur, pet dander and hair, and down feathers, among other things. This makes a closet or dresser the perfect hiding spot. Dust, food crumbs, and less-than-pristine clothing also all attract clothes moths.

While spring is typically considered moth season, they can invade and live in your home year-round.

If moths have gotten into your clothing, it’ll be hard to miss. Check any clothing made with natural fibers for little (or even large) holes. If any of your clothing is made with a natural fiber and has a series of holes in it, you can almost guarantee that that is moth damage. Adult moths actually don’t eat clothing — their larvae do — so you may also have the unfortunate experience of finding moth eggs on your wool sweaters or silk ties. 

Usually, clothing made with synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon will be safe, while 100% animal-fiber clothing like a cashmere sweater or other wool clothing will be torn up. 

If you’ve discovered even one article of moth-bitten clothing, you need to take action to prevent an infestation. Follow the steps below to ensure you rid your closet of any moths.

First things first, it’s time for a complete closet cleanout.

If you’re opposed to leaving moth balls or moth traps all over your closet, you’re not alone; mothballs can contain pesticides that are toxic to humans and pets. Plus, they are most effective when stored with the clothes in a tight-fitting, closed container. For that reason, many opt for a few natural remedies for first:

Once you’ve cleaned out your closet, there are a few final steps to take before you put everything back in and shut the door on your moth problem. You’ll want to first properly clean then store your clothes to prevent any new moths from appearing.

It’s a lot of work to clean all of your clothes after you’ve found moths, but it’s necessary to prevent an even bigger issue from forming. You’ll want to separate any clothes with natural fibers — especially those with moth bites — and treat them before returning them to your closet. There are a few ways to ensure you kill any moth or larvae.

Once you’ve properly cleaned your clothes, you’ll want to invest in some smart storage solutions to spare yourself the hassle of ever having to deal with moths again. Buy some sealable plastic bags or airtight plastic containers for clothing made of natural fibers — and remember to wash any item of clothing that has been worn at all before storing it to ensure that it is moth-free. For clothing that belongs on a hanger, sealable garment bags should also be effective. A cedar chest can be another storage solution, but it may lose its efficacy over time.

A bonus is that, if you have a small closet, storing some of your clothing in sealable and stackable bins may actually help with organization and free up some space.