How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths in Your Space
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 Mission Storage’s tips below on how to get rid of clothes moths and prevent them from finding their way into your storage unit.
Hernando Storage | Zia Stor-All | Mission Storage
How to Get Rid of Clothes Moths in Your Storage Space
Identify the Moths
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
OK, so you’ve identified the clothes moths. Now what? If your materials were destroyed beyond the point of repair, you should get rid of them. With a wash using warm water or dry cleaning, items with only minor damage might be salvaged. Before attempting to wash your items, double-check their tags. 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.
Prevent Future Clothes Moths
Now that you have gotten rid of the immediate issue, it is time to set up some precautions for the future. Pack your remaining clothing into sealed bins or bags. If you choose to use garment bags, tape up any potential hole spaces, like seams, for additional security and peace 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.
Find Self Storage in Florida and New Mexico
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. We offer in-person assistance at our storage facilities in Crystal River, FL; Hernando, FL; and Hobbs, NM. Stop into the storage office that is most convenient for you to meet us or to pick up a few moving supplies to start on your packing. Our goal is to make self storage easy!
Crystal River, FL
Down Norvell Bryant Highway—west of Hernando Storage—Mission Storage serves the Crystal River, FL, community. With outdoor and temperature-controlled storage features, you are covered for everything from your seasonal storage to long-term organization. Plus, our outdoor parking can help you clear the clutter of extra vehicles from your property. See how Mission Storage can help you!
Hernando, FL
Located off US-41, Mission Storage is fully equipped to handle any storage need you may have. Positioned on East Norvell Bryant Highway between Citrus Hills, Beverly Hills, and Hernando, FL, we offer indoor and outdoor storage, including warehouse storage space up to about 840 square feet. Find residential and commercial storage options at our nearby storage facility to organize your space.
Hobbs, NM
In Hobbs, NM, Zia Stor-All is your vehicle storage solution. Our covered outdoor parking spaces are ideal for boat and RV storage. In addition to parking, we offer drive-up storage units ranging from 25 square feet to almost 2,000. Use our online storage calculator to determine the right amount of storage space for your situation. If you need more storage options, our nearby annex has even more self storage units for you to browse.
Check out our tips for storing and packing!
Paige Weary
About the Author: Paige is a Social Media Coordinator at Storage Asset Management in York, PA. She brings the most useful storage tips and tricks to your social media feed and loves a good self-storage pun. Beyond work, Paige spends her free time traveling extensively, her most recent trip being the Andes Mountain region of Bolivia.
