Are Clothes Moth Larvae Harmful to Humans? Learn How to Get Rid of Them Fast

The clothes moth larva is a small brown caterpillar, usually hidden inside a silken bag-like or web-like structure (called a case). The adult is a pale yellow moth that shuns light. If you crush it, it gives off an unpleasant odor. So are clothes moth larvae harmful to humans? How do you get rid of them fast?

1. Are clothes moth larvae harmful to humans?

Clothes moth larvae spin silk to make cocoons, and stored wool, upholstered furniture, fur, carpets, blankets, fish meal, synthetic wool and cotton-blend fabrics can all serve as food for the larvae. The larvae are mostly found in clothes storage rooms and in the seams of upholstered furniture. Clothes moths are very weak and cannot fly far, which limits their range of activity. They are especially fond of textiles stained with food or other contamination, and traces of clothes moths can also be seen at collars or where clothes are folded. (Pure cotton clothing is less susceptible to damage.)

2. How do you get rid of clothes moths fast?

1. Declutter your belongings the "dan-she-li" (minimalist decluttering) way

What is "dan-she-li"? It means promptly clearing out many unnecessary things in the home, throwing away what should be thrown away right away, and not keeping things around just because you cannot bear to part with them and letting dust accumulate, which gives clothes moths a chance. For example, books or blankets in the storage room will, after being piled up there for a long time, produce many clothes moth insects that hide in the cracks and do not fly out. As long as you clean these up thoroughly, they are very easy to eliminate.

2. Eliminate them with insecticide spray

There are now many insecticide sprays available on the market that you can buy and spray directly at the places where clothes moths are. In places at home where many items are stored, be sure to spray every few days, so that even clothes moths in tiny spaces will find it hard to escape. There may be no visible effect at the time, but as the pesticide gradually takes effect, many clothes moths will find it hard to survive.

3. Eliminate them with mothballs

Many friends have come across mothballs since childhood, and there is a reason they sell well, since the effect is good. We mentioned insecticide spray above; after using the spray, you can wait for the smell to disperse, then wrap mothballs in paper towels and place them in the corners where a lot of things are stored. The main functions of mothballs are to prevent mold and remove moisture, and they can effectively prevent clothes moths from coming back.

4. Dry clothing frequently in the sun

No external items are needed; you just have to be a bit more diligent in daily life. Take out clothing and items that are not worn often and air and sun them regularly. While the weather is good and sunshine is plentiful, let the clothes receive a baptism of photosynthesis and completely put an end to clothes moths.

3. How do you prevent clothes moths?

1. The most suitable approach is to treat clothing before putting it away. Take all clothing out of the wardrobe, clean the folds, and expose them to direct sunlight for several hours. When dry cleaning or wet washing, they should be ironed well and sealed in plastic bags.

2. When the wardrobe is empty, spray it with chlorpyrifos and similar products. After treatment, put the clothes back, close the wardrobe tightly, and place some mothballs (naphthalene balls) and similar items on the upper layer (put in the required amount according to the instructions). Remember not to put in clothes stained with mud, because the added smell of sweat makes them even more likely to attract clothes moths and cause damage.

3. Museum (collection) items should be inspected first when they enter (the collection), and if there is insect damage they should be treated first, checked regularly and fumigated; there should also be environmental control facilities to maintain low temperature, low humidity and cleanliness. Silverfish and clothes moths do not bite humans or transmit pathogens, so they are easily overlooked, and once they appear, treatment may make complete elimination difficult. In ordinary times, keep the environment clean, collect and organize newspapers regularly rather than letting them pile up, and send them to resource recycling centers for centralized processing. When the seasons change, clothing must be washed and dried before being put into a clean wardrobe, which can reduce the occurrence of pest insects.

The appearance and elimination of clothes moths mainly depend on the level of hygiene in your home. It certainly does no harm for everyone to lend a hand more often.