Do moths eat clothes?
Yes, whilst it may be hard to believe, some species of moths feed on the proteins that are found in natural fibres such as wool cashmere, fur and at times even cotton clothing. Given the opportunity, they will happily munch their way through the fabrics, leaving unsightly holes behind.
How to repair moth holes in clothes
If the moth holes in your fabrics are only small (less than 5mm) you may be able to darn and repair moth holes to restore your fabrics to their former glory. To do this, we recommend you use a darning mushroom (available at most haberdashery stores or Amazon) along with yarn that matches the colour of your garment (or contrasting colour if you want a more unique effect).
If your moth holes are larger, patching or embroidering over the hole may be a better solution. It’s always worth seeking the advice of a tailor before you discard any moth-damaged clothing for good.
Read next: The best budget washing machines under £500
How to get rid of clothes moths
If you spot moths in your home, here are some steps you should take (as soon as possible to eradicate them and protect your clothes, carpets and upholstery.
Clean affected items - whether that's washing clothes, linens of fabrics or thoroughly vacuuming carpets in areas that may be infected with moth larvae or eggs. In the case of carpets, pay close attention to dark corners, areas under your furniture and skirting boards, as these make excellent places for moths to hide.
Dispose of heavily infested items - If you discover clothes with a severe infestation of moths (and they simply cannot be salvaged or cleaned) dispose of them as soon as possible to prevent any spread inside the home.
Store your clothing properly - Moths can be attracted to sweat and oils on clothing, so wherever possible, ensure clothing is clean and dry before putting into storage. To protect your clothes when storing clothes long term, you may want to consider investing in some high-quality vacuum storage bags to provide additional protection.
Add preventative moth repellents - Adding moth repellents such as cedar rings, lavender bags, sprays or strips can help protect your storage areas from moth infestations for long periods. Keep track of the date you placed them in storage, and replace them regularly as per the brands’ recommendations.
Tackle outbreaks quickly - If you spot signs that moths have returned, consider using a moth killer spray for fast results, before reusing preventative moth repellents for longer-term protection against their return.
Related: Read our full guide to how to get rid of clothes moths
What’s the best moth repellent for clothes?
Killing moths on contact and offering a long-term solution to prevent the return, the Zero In Clothes Moth Killer was an easy choice for our top-pick moth repellent. Affordable and easy to use, this versatile spray can be applied across all your storage solutions - from wardrobes to drawers, ottomans and airing cupboards.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
Lots of Mumsnet users have suffered the effects of moths in their homes, with many users sharing their hints and tips on how to kill, repel and prevent these unwelcome visitors from returning.
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on the moth repellents that they rate, recommend and have used in their own homes.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, overpriced or simply struggled to keep those pests at bay.
Authentic consumer reviews
To bring you our definitive list of the best moth repellents on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Lakeland, and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.