How to get rid of webbing clothes moths | Non-toxic

The webbing clothes moth is the little golden moth behind most closet damage. You rarely see the adult, which prefers to run into a dark fold rather than fly, but you will find its calling cards: silky webbing on wool and silk, gritty specks and small, irregular holes. Getting rid of webbing clothes moths means treating what their larvae are feeding on, cleaning out their hiding spots and trapping the adults to break the cycle, all without mothballs.

How to know it is a webbing clothes moth

Webbing clothes moths are small, about a quarter-inch long at rest, with plain buff or golden wings and no dark spots. They avoid light and are weak fliers, so you are more likely to spot the larvae or their silk than the adult. The cream-colored larvae spin fine silken webbing and leave sand-like frass the color of whatever they are eating. They feed on keratin, the protein in wool, cashmere, silk, fur and felt, and favor items stored unwashed. If the moths you see are near food rather than fabric, you may be dealing with a pantry moth instead. (More on the how and why: How to get rid of clothing moths and Identifying moths in your house 101.)

The non-toxic way to get rid of them

Track down what the larvae are feeding on, starting where you have seen webbing or holes and working outward through the nearby natural fibers. Treat or discard whatever is infested: wash it in hot water at 120°F or above, run it through a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes, have delicates dry-cleaned or seal it in a bag and freeze it at 0°F for about two weeks. Vacuum the closet, drawers and any carpet edges nearby to lift out eggs and larvae, then empty the canister outside. Wipe hard surfaces with a vinegar-and-water solution followed by a light spray of Six Feet Under. Once dry, puff a thin, even layer of Dust to Dust into the cracks with the Insect Buster. Hang Clothing Moth Traps to catch the adult males on their pheromone lure, which breaks the breeding cycle and shows you when the moths are gone. To keep them away, store clean items with Cedar Planks and refresh the cedar with Cedar Ward as its scent fades.

Get rid of webbing clothes moths

• Identify: small golden moths that avoid light, plus silky webbing and gritty specks on wool and silk.
• Treat or toss: hot-wash, hot-dry, dry-clean or freeze anything infested to kill eggs and larvae.
• Clean and treat: vacuum, wipe with vinegar and water then Six Feet Under, and leave a thin layer of Dust to Dust in the cracks once dry.
• Trap and prevent: hang Clothing Moth Traps to catch the males, then store clean items with cedar refreshed by Cedar Ward.

Related: How to kill clothing moths and Non-toxic clothing moths control.

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