How to manage clothes moths

Moths are hard to eradicate and infestations can keep recurring, so once you've found them, expect this to be an ongoing exercise. Here are ten top tips to help put you back in control.

01 | Thin down your wardrobe

Moth larvae feed mainly on Keratin found in woollen and other natural materials which is why they love undisturbed layers of clothes to nest in, perfect for the larvae to chew through when they hatch. So if you store rails of clothes you're not wearing, you're giving them the perfect place to nest.

• Cull and charity drop as many clothes as you can 

• Bag up and seal the clothes you wear infrequently and store somewhere else

Think coats, blankets, woollens, furs and silks.

02 | Keep the rest clean

The clothes you are wearing should be turned over in the laundry regularly – moths love sweat and grime so avoid putting away dirty clothes. Wherever possible wash at a high temperature until you are sure the moths have gone. 60c will kill moths, eggs and their larvae. A hot wash followed by a hot tumble dry is ideal if fabrics allow.

03 | Freeze delicates

For delicate silks and wools which can't be washed at high temperatures, place them in a bag in the freezer for a minimum of 72 hours at a maximum frost setting – this will also kill off moths.

04 | Buy second hand with caution

Second hand clothes and soft furnishings could bring a new infestation into your house. Examine items carefully before you buy, vacuum furniture right away and wash clothes at 60c if suitable.

05 | Send out to dry clean

If you've no time for a complete wardrobe launder, many dry cleaners will collect and deliver to make this easy for you – but make sure you let them know that you'd like your clothes treated for moths as they will need to completely separate them from their other orders and will give them a special cleaning treatment. Expensive but effective.

06 | Lower the heating

Moths love warmth and humidity. If you have clothes stored in a spare room, turn off the radiators to keep the temperature low, and keep the room well ventilated. As soon as spring temperatures allow, lower the heating in the rest of the house. Hang moisture absorbers inside wardrobes and replace every so often. Some also have a scent such as lavender that helps repel moths.

07 | Vacuum

If you uncover a moth community take out and brush down all the clothes and thoroughly vacuum the area. Then immediately empty the vacuum cleaner bag or container, containing the contents, as they can hatch and fly out again.

08 | Spring Clean and spray

This is where consistency counts and brushing and shaking rugs in sunlight to dislodge eggs and larvae, and giving them a good vacuum will really help. The same for the wardrobe area and carpets in rooms where clothes are stored, or where there isn't regular foot traffic. Combined with a light spraying of Insectrol or Pro-Active-C inside the empty wardrobe, and allowing it to dry before re-introducing the clothes is very effective if carried out regularly.

To treat carpets and rugs with the same spray, lift the edges and spray the reverse side at least 2 feet from the outer edge, before treating the top surface. Test a small area for colour fastness before treating.

09 | Pheromone traps

Moth Pheromone Traps are a clever way to attract and trap the adult male moths and reduce egg laying, but eggs may already have been laid on clothes before you install the traps so may not do the job on their own. However because the moths are visible when trapped it's possible to see how bad the problem is and more accurately where the moths are nesting. If the pheromone strips are replaced regularly (every 3 months or so) the traps are a good ongoing method of monitoring the problem.

10 | Call in the professionals

You don't have to use chemical warfare – there is now a heat treatment available to treat an infested room, wardrobe or item of furniture, without damaging the fabrics. You'll need to vacate while it is being done, and it can be expensive – though Consider it Done clients can benefit from specially negotiated rates (and VIP treatment of course).