Effective Strategies to Eliminate Moths from Your Home

Finding holes in your clothes or linens after storage is disheartening. To effectively remove moths and prevent infestations, follow these expert-recommended methods.

Leading entomologists provide their top tips to keep these pests away, including deterrents, traps, and storage advice.

11 Strategies to Remove Moths

1. Properly Store Out-of-Season Clothes

A bright and patterned bedroom with wooden flooring, pink rug, striped sofa, white and blue patterned wallpaper and a white closet with pink curtains. Large windows with white shutters flood the room with light. — Effective storage is key to avoiding moths.

When transitioning your seasonal wardrobe, avoid tossing everything into a trash bag. Nicole Carpenter from a pest control service states that clean, dry clothes should go into airtight containers, vacuum-sealed bags, or sturdy bins. Flimsy materials won't suffice against moths.

Dr. Tracy Ellis, an entomologist, recommends airtight sweater boxes or vacuum-sealed bags, like the Household Essentials Cedarline Zippered Sweater Bag. These containers help create a barrier and allow easy visibility of contents.

2. Deep Clean Your Closet

Dressing room with velvet closet — Regular cleaning is essential for moth prevention.

Deep cleaning your closet regularly is crucial for moth control. Daniel Baldwin, an entomologist, emphasizes the importance of vacuuming carpets and cleaning surfaces thoroughly to remove any moth eggs and larvae.

Use a Microfiber Cleaning Cloth with a multipurpose cleaner like Method All-Purpose Cleaner for effective cleaning.

3. Maintain Clean Clothing

Miele washing machine in a chic farmhouse style laundry room with striped wallpaper and flowers in the sink — Keeping clothes clean deters moths.

To prevent moth infestations, keep your clothing clean, as moths are attracted to proteins found in natural fibers and food residues. Regularly take garments to dry cleaning to eliminate moisture and kill existing pests.

Alternatively, wash fabrics on a hot cycle of at least 140°F (60°C) to eradicate moths and larvae. Check laundry symbols to ensure fabrics can withstand the heat.

4. Use Natural Moth Deterrents

A cream and wood padded closet in a bedroom with a cream rug, wooden sideboard with vase of bright pink flowers, and grey chair. — Utilize eco-friendly solutions to deter moths.

Try bay leaves, lavender, or rosemary to naturally repel moths. John Stewart from a sustainable pest control brand suggests using organic sprays made from essential oils.

5. Set Up Moth Traps

A large three-door wooden closet, with one door open showing some hanging shirts and two woven baskets. — Traps can help reduce moth populations.

For moths already in your home, consider using traps. Pheromone traps are particularly effective for capturing male moths, disrupting their breeding cycle.

6. Address Carpet Moths

Cream bedroom with carpet, sage green built-in closet and matching vanity table with mid century chair. There is a petal statement ceiling light and bright window showing trees beyond — Regular vacuuming combats carpet moths.

Vacuum carpets thoroughly to remove moths and eggs. Focus on dark areas and regularly empty the vacuum to prevent reinfestation.

7. Clean Stains Immediately

A pink and sunny color drenched living room with a wooden rattan sofa, white and pink striped curtains and a burnt ochre chair. On the floor is a brown and white striped rug and a circular wooden table. — Promptly clean spills to deter moths.

Quickly clean food and drink spills to avoid attracting moths. Use baking soda or an enzyme spray for stain removal. Steam cleaning also helps eliminate moth eggs.

8. Utilize Vinegar

Mirrored brown closets in bedroom with a brown mirrored dressing table, white chair, mirror and large bright window with beige blinds. — Vinegar can kill and deter moths.

White vinegar is an effective natural cleaner that can help kill moth larvae. Apply it with a sponge or as traps with apple cider vinegar and dish soap.