Pests Be Gone! How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths in Your Home

How can you get rid of clothes moths in your storage space? When people are cleaning out or organizing their belongings for spring cleaning, this is usually a timely concern. Clothes moths are not a pleasant surprise to find when organizing, but there are steps you may take to correct the problem and prevent future damage. Look for rips or holes in clothing and materials that have been kept in a dark place. King’s 625 Storage has some excellent suggestions on how to eliminate clothes moths from your storage unit and keep them from coming back.

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How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths (in Home Storage & Storage Units)

Identify the Moths

Do you actually have clothes moths? If you notice a moth in your home, do not worry right away. Many moths that might find their way into your home are after plants, not your clothing. Only two moth species are a threat to your clothes: the casemaking clothes moth and the webbing clothes moth—both a yellow or gray color, about 1 cm long. 

Next, look for holes. You will be able to identify a clothes moth by the web left behind on the material. The moths’ babies are actually the root of the problem, not the adult moths. They prefer dark, humid spaces and prefer to eat materials like wool, cashmere, and fur that come from animals. 

Clean Your Clothes and Space

OK, so you’ve identified the clothes moths. Now what? 

For materials that unfortunately were damaged past the point of repair, you should throw them away. Materials with only slight damages can be salvaged with a wash using warm water or dry cleaning. Always check the tags on your clothes before attempting to wash them. You will also want to clean your storage space, whether that be a closet, attic, basement, or storage unit. Vacuum the area and immediately throw away the vacuum bag. If you are dealing with a carpeted space, it may also be worth it to steam clean the area for safe measures.  

Prevent Future Clothes Moths

Now that you have gotten rid of the immediate issue, it is time to set up some precautions for the future. Pack your remaining clothing into sealed bins or bags. If you choose to use garment bags, tape up any potential hole spaces, like seams, for additional security and peace of mind. Another option is to move your storage space around frequently—reorganizing, swapping items in and out, etc. These moths dislike movement and light, so do your best to keep your storage unit from becoming a dark, moist environment. Visiting your storage unit often will give you the opportunity to open up your storage unit to allow for ventilation.  

King’s 625 Storage in Mohnton, PA

Now that you have gotten rid of the immediate issue, it is time to set up some precautions for the future. King’s 625 Storage is your first choice for affordable storage units in Mohnton, PA. Choose from a variety of storage amenities, including drive-up storage units, temperature-controlled storage units, and parking spaces for RVS and boats. Additionally, for your security, all storage units are housed within a fenced and gated perimeter, with 24-hour security cameras and secure keypad access. Feel comfortable storing your personal items at King’s 625 Storage. Call or email the store today, or stop by in person to chat with the team of storage experts at King’s 625 Storage in Mohnton, PA!

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Katie Mest

About the Author: Katie Mest is an SEO Specialist at Storage Asset Management in York, PA. She specializes in writing about the self storage industry, including storage tips and helpful resources. Outside of work, Katie enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with her newly adopted Greyhound rescue, Titan.