Clothes moths are small, pale gold moths that avoid light, so you are more likely to find the damage than the moths themselves. Their larvae feed on wool, silk, cashmere, felt and fur, leaving small holes in jumpers, suits, blankets and rugs. In Brisbane, where winter woollens often sit in the back of a wardrobe for most of the year, they can go unnoticed for months.
Signs to look for include irregular holes, thin patches in rugs or carpet near skirting boards, silky tubes or cases stuck to fabric, and fine webbing in the folds of stored clothes. The crew we book checks the wardrobes, drawers, storage boxes and the edges of carpets and rugs, especially under beds and heavy furniture that seldom gets moved.
- Wardrobes, drawers and storage areas inspected
- Carpet edges and rugs treated where larvae are found
- Cracks and joins in built-in wardrobes treated
- Pheromone traps set to track adult moths
- Advice on washing, freezing and storing woollens
Before the visit, it helps to take clothes out of the affected wardrobe and wash or dry clean anything that can be cleaned. Items that cannot be washed can go in a sealed bag in the freezer for a few days, which kills eggs and larvae tucked into the fibres. Vacuuming along skirting boards, under beds and inside wardrobes removes eggs and larvae and gives the treatment a clean start.
Older homes around New Farm, Clayfield and Hamilton with built-in wardrobes and wool carpets tend to see clothes moths more than newer units with hard floors. To book clothes moth control anywhere in Brisbane, call 07 3543 7773 and tell us what has been damaged.
