Found a hole in a favourite jumper, or a thin, balding patch at the edge of the carpet? Before you start swatting every moth you see, here are five quick things worth knowing.
1. It's the larvae, not the moths, that do the damage
The little moth fluttering along the skirting isn't eating anything. It's the larvae, the tiny grubs it lays, that chew through natural fibres like wool, silk and cashmere. So the goal isn't swatting moths; it's finding and stopping the grubs.
2. Clothes moths: wardrobes and stored clothing
These go for stored woollens and textiles: wardrobes, drawers, folded knitwear, suits you rarely wear. The damage is small, irregular holes, often where a garment had a bit of sweat or food on it.
3. Carpet moths: under furniture and along room edges
These prefer natural-fibre carpets and rugs, especially the bits that never get walked on: room edges, under the sofa, beneath the bed. You get thinning, balding patches rather than neat holes.
4. How to spot the damage
Look for fine silk webbing, tiny cigar-shaped larval cases (about the size of a grain of rice), a bit of gritty debris, and damage in the quiet, undisturbed spots. Small buff-coloured moths that scuttle rather than fly to the light are another clue.
5. How to reduce them
Vacuum thoroughly and regularly, especially the bits you usually skip: room edges, under furniture, inside wardrobes. Clean clothes before storing them, keep woollens in sealed bags, and pop any infested item in the freezer for a few days to kill the larvae. Cedar balls smell nice but won't clear an active problem on their own.
A hole or two can be dealt with at home. Repeated damage across a carpet or wardrobe usually means it's spreading, and that's worth a proper look. Clear Pest Control checks moth activity across the North East and tells you honestly what you're dealing with.
See our full guide on signs of a moth problem in the house.