How To Get Rid Of Moths: 8 Ways, Plus Prevention Tips - Healthline

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How to Remove and Prevent Moths in Your Home

Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on June 18, 2025

Removal
Pest Control
Prevention
Health impact
Takeaway

You may be able to get rid of moths with cedar, certain herbs, regular vacuuming, and sticky traps, among other methods.

Adult moths aren’t usually a problem in the home, but their larvae may eat through fabric — especially cotton and wool — or dry goods like bread or pasta.

This can be a huge nuisance and ruin many good clothes, food, and other household items. However, there’s plenty you can do to get rid of moths and stop them breeding and snacking in your home again.

5 ways to get rid of moths

There are different types of moths, but all can respond to the same removal methods.

Clothes moths tend to avoid light and stay in dark, undisturbed areas such as wardrobes, attics, and cellars. Grain moths may be seen in kitchens and feed on cereal, dried fruit, and other stored foods. These may be seen in light areas.

Here are some top tips for effective moth removal:

Sprinkle your home with cedar

Cedarwood oil can be used as an insect repellent against moths with low risk to humans. Components, including cedrol, are thought to be able repel moths and interfere with their navigational skills. It can also kill moth larvae.

A study showed that 0.6 mg/L of cedarwood oil vapor had 91% mortality to moth larvae in 1 week. A higher concentration of 1 to 2 mg/L of cedarwood oil vapor as more effective, with 100% mortality within 8 to 24 hours of exposure.

While the higher concentration of cedarwood vapor was more effective, the authors noted that lower concentrations are released over a longer period, so may be useful in long term control of moths.

You can use cedar oilin a spray bottle diluted with water or in a diffuser to apply to areas such as wardrobes, drawers, and other places moths may have infested.

Use a sticky trap

Visit your local hardware store and purchase a sticky fly trap. These traps work on common flies and fruit flies, but can trap any insect that falls into their path. Once they’re stuck, they can’t escape, and they eventually die.

Place the trap in the problem area and dispose of it once the sticky area is full. You can replace the trap as necessary.

Keep your floors, carpets, and moldings vacuumed and dusted

Try to clean your home with a vacuum, dusting cloths, and eco-friendly cleaners to keep your home free of dust and dirt, which can draw moths into your home. Pay particular attention to the edges of carpets, near the skirting boards, and any hidden areas e.g., behind or under furniture.

Be sure to empty the vacuum contents and wash dusting cloths regularly so that eggs and larvae don’t grow and develop.

Wash clothes that contain larvae or eggs

Use hot water and high heat in the dryer, if possible.

Dry cleaning or using temperatures above 120°F for 20 to 30 minutes can kill all stages of insects.

Keeping clothes regularly washed can help prevent moths and larvae from surviving.

Freeze any clothes or belongings that show signs of moths

For clothes that can’t be washed or dried hot, put clothes in the freezer at a minimum of 0°F for at least 1 week. Freezers that can reach -20°F can kill all life stages within 72 hours.

Before freezing, seal items in plastic bags, or wrap in polyethylene sheeting. This prevents damage to the items. After freezing, allow clothes to reach room temperature (about 24 hours) before unsealing, as some materials become more delicate and likely to break when cold.

Consider calling a pest control service

Sometimes, removal and prevention techniques just aren’t enough.

If you have a moth infestation that’s out of control, contact a local pest control company and see what solutions they can offer.

Tips to prevent moths

Here are some tips to prevent moths from getting into your belongings:

Brush any clothes made of wool or fur after you wear them outside. Moth eggs can easily infiltrate your closet by affixing themselves to these materials, so scraping them off regularly can help keep any moth larvae from getting inside.
Keep your clothes and belongings washed before you store them away for long periods of time. Air-dry them in sunlight, if possible. This ensures that any eggs or larvae in your clothes are rinsed out or killed so that they don’t grow into maturity while they’re in storage.
Keep your clothes and belongings stored in airtight containers. Use tightly sealed chests, plastic containers, sealed suitcases, or something similar to prevent moths from getting inside and laying eggs. Don’t leave any materials like wool or suits exposed to the air—put them in zipped, airtight garment bags inside your sealed containers, especially when you don’t plan to wear them for a while.
Keep storage areas for clothing and other belongings dry. Moths thrive in moist, humid surroundings. Avoid storing clothes or belongings in basements, garages, outdoor sheds, or other areas that can be exposed to changes in the weather. Put them in an indoor closet, room, or in the attic.
Low humidity. Moths thrive in higher humidity so keeping humidity low may help prevent moths from surviving and multiplying. You may wish to try a dehumidifier.
Vacuum regularly: This can prevent larvae and moth populations from taking hold as the environment is often disrupted, making it unsuitable to live in or lay eggs.

Moths and your health

Most people don’t experience any health effects from the presence of moths in the home.

Sure, they’re annoying and can eat up your clothes and dry foods, but they typically don’t carry any diseases or trigger allergic reactions in most people.

However, some people who are genetically predisposed may experience respiratory allergies from moths. Some moth larvae or adult moths also produce glycoproteins from external substances on their bodies or wings that can result in allergic reactions when they’re inhaled.

Moth larvae — called caterpillars — can cause some allergic reactions or irritation when they make contact with your skin. Though moths don’t bite, larvae have sharp spines or hairs that can sting, causing symptoms like:

itching
scaly skin
blisters
rashes
outbreaks of skin irritation similar to eczema
contact dermatitis, which causes redness, hives, and swelling

Speak with a doctor if you think you’re getting symptoms of allergy from moths or other insects in your home.

The takeaway

While most species of moths aren’t attracted to the home, a few species may take up residence in closets, food pantries (especially those full of grains, bread, and pasta), or just generally throughout the home.

Moths aren’t particularly harmful in general, but they can cause plenty of damage to clothes, food, and other belongings. If you have allergies, moths may also contribute to your symptoms.

If a moth infestation seems overwhelming, there are plenty of ways to rid your home of them and keep them out for good. With some consistent preventive measures, your clothes, food, and sinuses can remain undisturbed.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Clothes moths - Plant & Pest Diagnostics. (n.d.). https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/clothes-moths
Cranshaw WS. (n.d.). Moths in the home. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/moths-in-the-home-5-572
Lu RM, et al. (2020). Development of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of diseases. https://jbiomedsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12929-019-0592-z
Mohd AK. (2018). A review on respiratory allergy caused by insects. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31223213
Moths. (n.d.). https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/moths
Rohr BR. (n.d.). What’s eating you? clothes moths (Tineola species). https://www.mdedge.com/cutis/article/167417/infectious-diseases/whats-eating-you-clothes-moths-tineola-species
Thermal deinfestation of household items | Entomology. (n.d.). https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef640
Vilcinskas A, et al. (2020). Larvae of the Clothing Moth Tineola bisselliella Maintain Gut Bacteria that Secrete Enzyme Cocktails to Facilitate the Digestion of Keratin. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/9/1415

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Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on June 18, 2025

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