Moth control

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To effectively combat moths, the first step is to identify the type of moth infestation you're dealing with.

Most moths lay their eggs in textiles or food, so this article is divided into two main sections:

  • Moths that attack clothes and textiles
  • Food moths (that infest food items)

These sections provide a brief overview of how to combat each type of moth, with links to more detailed information on specific moth species.

Moths that Attack Clothes and Textiles

Moths that attack clothes and textiles are known for infesting fabrics. This group includes clothing moths and case-bearing clothes moths, as well as, to a lesser extent, brown house moths.

To combat moths attacking clothes, follow these steps:

  • Clean the infested textiles (i.e., wash, dry clean, or freeze them)
  • Clean your home thoroughly (including closets, drawers, carpets, household textiles, cracks, etc.)
  • Use mothballs or moth sachets (in closets and drawers)
  • Properly store textiles (in airtight bags made of paper or plastic)

This is a simplified guide for dealing with clothing and case-bearing clothes moths. You can find more detailed instructions on how to combat these moth species in their respective articles:

We recommend using moth traps and mothballs to prevent and combat moths that attack clothes.

If you suspect brown house moths have infested your textiles, you can read more about their control methods here.

Food Moths

Food moths, as the name suggests, infest food items. This group includes brown house moths and Indian meal moths. In most households, when moths are found in food, they are usually Indian meal moths.

To control food moths, follow these steps:

  1. Empty your kitchen cupboards of all food items.
  2. Inspect all foods thoroughly (especially dry foods).
  3. Discard any infested food.
  4. Clean all cupboards and shelves using a vacuum cleaner and a cloth dampened with vinegar.
  5. Place bay leaves in all cupboards and on shelves.
  6. Store all dry foods in airtight containers.

It’s crucial to find out where the food moths originated. It could be from the store, warehouse, manufacturer, neighbor, or your own home. Food moths must always be eliminated at their source.

You can read more about controlling the two types of food moths in their respective articles:

If you find signs of moths in your food, refer to the two articles above for more information.

We also recommend using flour moth traps to prevent and control food moths.

Effective Moth Control

Effective moth control involves two key steps:

  1. Removing moth larvae, eggs, and adult moths
  2. Preventing future moth infestations

As explained in the previous sections, identifying the type of moth is the first step, as each species requires different treatment methods.

Step 1 involves:

  • Finding moth eggs and larvae in food or textiles (and killing any adult moths you encounter)
  • Discarding the food or cleaning the textiles

Step 2 involves:

  • Storing all food in airtight containers and textiles in sealed bags
  • Using bay leaves to repel food moths and mothballs to repel clothes moths

In short, moth control is about removing existing moths (larvae, eggs, and adults) and minimizing their ability to thrive in your home moving forward.

Other Moth Species

If the descriptions above do not match the moths you are dealing with, you can consult our moth species guide. The guide covers all the most common pest moths found in the UK.

You may also find the following articles useful: