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How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths

Pest Control Tips: How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths

How do you get rid of clothes moths? It is a common question that pops up this time of year when people are sifting through their belongings for spring cleaning. Clothes moths are not a fun surprise to come across in your organizing, but there are steps you can take to rectify the situation and prevent damage in the future. Keep an eye out for holes in clothing and fabrics that have been stored in a dark space. Follow Ocean Storage’s tips below on how to get rid of clothes moths and prevent them from finding their way into your storage unit.

How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths

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

Identify the Moths as Your Problem Pest

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 ASAP

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 damage 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.

Learn to Prevent Future Clothes Moths

Now that you’ve dealt with the immediate problem, it’s time to put in place some preventative measures. Organize your remaining clothing into sealed containers or bags. If you have garment bags, tape up any potential hole sites, such as seams, for added security and piece 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.

Professional Pest-Controlled Self Storage at Ocean Storage & Bay Storage in Virginia

Now that you have a better understanding of how to get rid of clothes moths, let us help you find secure storage space for your clothing nearby. Ocean Storage & Bay Storage is your first choice for affordable storage units in the Virginia area. With 10 convenient locations throughout Virginia, Ocean Storage is the leading provider of self storage solutions with key locations in the Coastal Virginia market.

Choose from a variety of storage amenities, including temperature-controlled storage units, wine storage at select facilities, and more! Additionally, for your security, all storage units are monitored with 24-hour security cameras. Feel secure storing your personal items at Ocean Storage this year. Call or email any of our locations today, or stop by in person to chat with the team of storage experts at Ocean Storage and Bay Storage in Virginia!

Choose a location near you and start renting storage online now!

Bay Storage – Cape Charles, VA

Off Battlefield Blvd – Chesapeake, VA 

South Battlefield Blvd – Chesapeake, VA

Edinburgh – Chesapeake, VA 

Greenyard Way – Chester, VA

West Little Creek Road – Norfolk, VA

Towne Point Road – Portsmouth, VA

Nansemond Parkway – Suffolk, VA

Off Laskin Road- Virginia Beach, VA

Northampton Blvd – Virginia Beach, VA

Professional Pkwy – Yorktown, VA

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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.