Got Moths in the Closet? Here's How to Get Rid of Them

By Michael Franco

September 08, 2026

Finding small holes in a sweater you haven't worn in months is one of those moments that immediately raises the question: Do I have a moth problem?

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The answer matters, because moths fall into a couple of very different categories depending on what they're after — and figuring out which kind you're dealing with is the first step toward actually getting rid of them.

Signs You've Got Moths

The most obvious sign is damage: small, irregular holes in clothing, particularly in natural fibers like wool, cashmere, silk and fur. Unlike the damage from other pests, moth damage tends to show up in clusters, often in areas that don't get disturbed often, like the back of a closet or the bottom of a drawer.

You might also spot the moths themselves, though adult moths are actually the less destructive stage — it's the larvae doing the damage, not the moths you see flying around. Clothes moths are typically small, tan or buff-colored and tend to avoid light, scurrying into dark corners when disturbed rather than fluttering toward lamps the way other moths do.

If you're dealing with pantry moths — also called Indian meal moths — the signs look different. You might notice small moths flying near stored food, webbing inside flour, cereal or grain containers or small larvae crawling in pantry items. Both types lay eggs that hatch into larvae, and it's the larvae that cause the actual damage in either scenario.

Why Moths Are Drawn to Closets and Pantries

Clothes Moths

Clothes moths aren't actually attracted to clean clothes. They're attracted to the things on dirty clothes. Body oils, sweat, food stains and other organic residues on fabric are what draw female moths to lay their eggs there in the first place, and those same residues are part of what the larvae feed on along with the natural fibers themselves. This is why moth damage often shows up on clothing that's been worn and then stored without being cleaned first, and why a freshly laundered sweater is a much less appealing target.

Closets and dresser drawers also offer exactly what moth larvae want: dark, quiet, undisturbed spaces where they can feed and develop without interruption. The combination of food source and lack of disturbance is what makes a closet such a reliable breeding ground once an infestation gets started.

Pantry Moths

Pantry moths are drawn to a different set of conditions entirely — they're after dry goods like flour, cereal, rice, pet food and other stored grains and they often arrive in the house already present as eggs in packaging from the store.

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Getting Rid of a Moth Infestation

Identify the Affected Area

Once you've confirmed moths, the first step is identifying everything that might be affected. For clothes moths, that means going through your closets and drawers thoroughly — every item of clothing, particularly anything made of wool, cashmere or other natural fibers, needs to be inspected for damage and for any visible eggs or larvae, which often look like small, pale, rice-like grains tucked into seams or folds.

Protect Your Clothes

Wash everything that can be washed in hot water, which kills eggs and larvae on contact. For items that can't be washed — many wool sweaters, for example — dry cleaning is the most reliable option, since the dry cleaning process also kills moth eggs and larvae effectively. Items that have been cleaned should then go into airtight bags or vacuum seal bags for storage, which prevents any surviving eggs from developing and keeps new moths from laying eggs on stored items.

Vacuum Everything

Vacuum the closet thoroughly, including corners, baseboards and any cracks or crevices where larvae might be hiding and pay particular attention to areas behind and underneath furniture. Wipe down shelves and drawers with a damp cloth afterward.

Use Pheromone Traps

Moth traps — typically pheromone-based sticky traps — won't eliminate an existing infestation on their own, but they're useful for monitoring activity and can help you gauge whether your other efforts are working by tracking whether adult moth activity decreases over time.

Defend the Kitchen

For pantry moths, the approach is similar but focused on the kitchen. Throw out any infested food items and inspect everything else in the pantry carefully, since larvae can travel between containers. Vacuum out the pantry shelves thoroughly, including any cracks where eggs might be hiding, and wipe everything down before restocking.

How to Prevent a Moth Infestation

For clothes moths, the single most effective prevention habit is never storing dirty clothing — always wash or dry clean items before putting them away for an extended period, especially seasonal items like sweaters and coats. Store natural fiber items in airtight bags or containers rather than open on hangers or in regular drawers, particularly for long-term storage.

For pantry moths, transfer dry goods — flour, cereal, rice, pet food and similar items — into airtight containers as soon as you bring them home, rather than leaving them in their original packaging. This single habit prevents most pantry moth problems before they ever start, since it removes both the food source and the breeding ground that loose packaging provides.

If you've had a significant infestation that doesn't seem to be improving despite these efforts, a pest control professional can help identify the specific species involved and recommend additional treatment options.

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