How to get rid of clothes moths safely
Updated: October 2026
If you hang a moth killer in a wardrobe that still contains eggs, larvae and dusty corners, the product is being asked to replace work it cannot do. Learning how to get rid of clothes moths starts with finding and cleaning the affected material, then washing or freezing what can tolerate it, placing a suitable product and checking again. A trap full of adults is not clearance. Compare the formats on our [moth protection page](/hub/pest-control/moth-protection), then do the steps below in order. Follow each physical label rather than combining instructions from different products.
If you hang a moth killer in a wardrobe that still contains eggs, larvae and dusty corners, the product is being asked to replace work it cannot do.
If you hang a moth killer in a wardrobe that still contains eggs, larvae and dusty corners, the product is being asked to replace work it cannot do. Learning how to get rid of clothes moths starts with finding and cleaning the affected material, then washing or freezing what can tolerate it, placing a suitable product and checking again. A trap full of adults is not clearance. Compare the formats on our moth protection page, then do the steps below in order. Follow each physical label rather than combining instructions from different products.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Where it goes | Stated life | End cue | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Theo's Home Care London Moth traps, 10 pack | Wardrobes and carpets | About 4 months once opened | Write the open date | 8.7 | about £17.95 | View offer |
 Zero In Zero In transfluthrin moth balls | Wardrobes, drawers, bags | Up to 3 months | Stay in the sachets | 8.9 | about £8.90 | View offer | |
| Best value |  Acana Acana killer sachets | Drawers, two per drawer | Up to 3 months | End window | 8.3 | about £6.78 | View offer |
On this page
Clean before you place anything
Look for irregular holes, silken webbing, cases, frass and larvae around wool, cashmere, fur, feathers, carpet edges and quiet storage. Adults do not eat the fibres. Larvae do. The Natural History Museum notes that carpet beetles may also leave holes, sometimes without moth webbing.
Vacuum wardrobe crevices, drawer undersides, carpet edges and accessible upholstery. Dispose of the contents outside in a sealed bag. Vacuuming cannot guarantee that every egg has gone.
Clean clothes before long storage, because sweat and food stains attract larvae. BPCA suggests brushing wool or fur outdoors after wearing. That does not cure larvae already in the pile. Then decide what can be washed, dry-cleaned or frozen.
Wash or freeze without inventing one number
Always start with the care label. Which? mentions washing above 60°C as a way to kill moth stages, but BPCA points out that wool labels often stop at 30°C. A cashmere jumper marked 30°C should not go through a 60°C cycle because that temperature appears in generic pest advice.
Freezing guidance differs, so use one complete protocol rather than averaging the numbers. English Heritage’s household-facing advice is to seal small textiles and freeze them at −18°C for at least two weeks, then leave the item in the closed bag for 24 hours after removal so condensation does not form on the textile.
The Natural History Museum gives −20°C for one week, or heat at 49°C for more than 30 minutes. The National Trust says about 14 days in a freezer. English Heritage’s conservation method gives −18°C to −20°C for 14 days, or −30°C for three days, and advises against an auto-defrost freezer for museum objects. These are alternatives, not ingredients for a new ten-day rule.
Place the product, then recheck
Hanging killers belong in the enclosed volume on the label. Drawer sachets or balls go among clothing only in the stated quantity. Acana’s sachet bullet says two per drawer. Zero In balls stay in their sachets, for wardrobes, drawers and storage bags.
Set a date wheel when you open a unit. Most enclosed products here say up to three months. Acana’s lavender four-pack also has a six-month specification line. Do not blend that into a longer interval. Follow the pack, and record the change date.
The Acana 275 ml spray is aimed at carpets, curtains and cushions. The 15-minute claim and the three-month repeat are listing claims, and the spray still needs direct reach. The edge of a carpet is not larvae under fitted carpet or inside folded wool.
Pheromone traps monitor adults. Insectix says up to 90 days, London Moth about four months once opened, and the Acana trap listing states no life. A full board is not finished, and an empty one does not prove the larvae have gone. Rail versus drawer is in moth protection for wardrobes and drawers.
When to stop and call someone
Call a pest controller when fresh damage continues after cleaning and labelled treatment, particularly in fitted carpet, a sofa or a void you cannot reach. Moths from a loft, chimney or old nest may need a sweep. More wardrobe sachets do not reach a source outside the wardrobe.
Stop if anybody feels unwell. One Acana four-pack review describes dizziness after wearing wool stored beside a unit. That is one report, not a clinical finding, and it is still a reason to stop. Follow the pack and seek medical advice.
Monitoring versus a killer is in moth trap or moth killer. If you have not bought yet, the moth protection buying guide separates killers, monitors and repellents.
Common questions
How long should I freeze a jumper?
English Heritage says −18°C for at least two weeks in a sealed bag, then 24 hours in the bag after removal. Other authorities publish different complete methods, such as −20°C for one week. Follow one credible time-and-temperature protocol that your freezer and textile can support. Do not average them.
Can I wash wool at 60°C to kill moths?
Only if its care label permits that temperature, which many wool and cashmere garments do not. Generic 60°C advice must not override a 30°C label. Choose another suitable method or consult a cleaner or conservator rather than destroying the garment while trying to save it.
What should I do with the vacuum contents?
Seal and dispose of them outside promptly. Clean the tool as its maker permits before moving to an unaffected room. Vacuuming carpet edges, skirting lines, shelf joints and drawer undersides is useful, but it still needs to be combined with treatment of affected textiles.
Does a full pheromone trap mean the infestation is gone?
No. Clothes-moth pheromone traps attract adult males and help show activity. They do not count or kill larvae inside wool or carpet pile. A full board is a reason to continue locating and treating the source, not a clearance certificate.
When should I replace a three-month hanger?
Set the wheel or write the date when you open it, inspect any membrane or end window, and follow the physical label. Up to three months is a maximum claim, not a universal guarantee. Replace sooner if the authorised instructions or end indicator require it.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings in this set, last checked on 16 October 2026.
- HSE, authorised biocidal products (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, using biocides (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, GB expiry postponements (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Regulation (EU) No 407/2014 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, COPR conditions (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Southwark Trading Standards, mothball warning (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- English Heritage, understanding clothes moths (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- BPCA, moth control (retrieved 16 October 2026)