Clothes moths and carpet beetles

Holes in a wool sweater or a bare patch on a wool rug can come from either of two pests, and both do their damage as larvae. Carpet beetles are more common in homes than clothes moths. The larvae of both eat animal fibers: wool, fur, feathers, hair, felt and dead insects. Carpet beetle larvae eat some cotton too, and they chew through wool blended with synthetics. Clothes moth larvae need the vitamins in stained or soiled fabric to grow, so clean wool doesn't attract them.

Telling them apart

• Carpet beetles. The adults are small, oval beetles, about 1/8 inch long, or less than 1/4 inch for the black carpet beetle. They fly and are drawn to light, so beetles on a windowsill are often the first sign. The larvae are carrot-shaped and hairy, reddish or golden brown, with a tuft of longer hair at the tail end.
• Clothes moths. The adults are small and buff or yellowish, about 1/4 inch long, and hide from light. They're seldom seen and do no damage. The larvae are white with a brown head and about 1/2 inch long. Webbing clothes moth larvae spin silk tubes on the fabric. Casemaking clothes moth larvae carry a small case made of the fabric they're eating, the same color as the fabric.

What you need

• A vacuum with a crevice tool
• Sealable plastic bins or bags
• A flashlight

Steps

1. 1

   Find what's infested

   Larvae feed where it's dark and undisturbed. Look under collars, inside hems, at the edges and underside of wool rugs, under furniture, in stored blankets and in closets. Clothes that are worn and moved often rarely have them.

   30 min

2. 2

   Get rid of what can't be saved

   Bag and throw out old clothes, rags and other items that are badly damaged.

   10 min

3. 3

   Clean the rest

   Dry cleaning kills every stage. Washing and a clothes dryer help too. Wool is damaged above 100°F, and a dryer runs 160°F to 210°F, so check the care label first. Hand washing woolens with a mild soap also kills the insects.

   30 min

4. 4

   Vacuum thoroughly

   Go over the edges of carpets, along the baseboards, the closet floors, upholstered furniture and the floor under it. Don't forget lint in heat ducts. Empty the vacuum when you're done.

   45 min

5. 5

   Look beyond the closet

   Carpet beetles also live on pet food, food spilled under sinks and behind the refrigerator, piano felts and lined instrument cases.

   15 min

6. 6

   Store clean woolens sealed

   Put clean wool clothing and blankets in sealed boxes or bins. Clean out-of-season clothes before you put them away.

   15 min

7. 7

   Check the windowsills and rug edges

   Look along the sills and the rug edges. New adult beetles, or fresh webbing or cases, mean a source is still there.

   5 min

Keeping them away

• Wash or dry-clean second-hand clothes as soon as you bring them home.
• Check clothes, blankets and furs that have been stored for months.
• Keep valuable furs in cold storage, at 45°F or lower.
• Clean, properly stored woolens don't attract fabric pests.

Mothballs and flakes are a last resort, used only in sealed containers. Paradichlorobenzene flakes have been linked to cancer in people, and naphthalene vapors can cause toxic reactions in sensitive people.

Carpet beetles are best controlled by a pest management professional. Ask a carpet company about treating a valuable wool rug.