Written by a Zeus Services Certified Technician
Our technicians treat clothes moth and carpet moth infestations across every London borough, with same-day appointments and a follow-up visit included as standard.
Why Moths Are Easy to Miss Until the Damage Is Done
Adult clothes moths do not eat fabric at all — they cause no damage themselves. It is their larvae, small cream-coloured grubs, that feed on natural fibres including wool, silk, cashmere, cotton, fur and leather. Because larvae prefer dark, undisturbed spaces such as the back of wardrobes, under furniture and beneath carpet edges, an infestation can be established for months before anyone notices a problem. By the time visible holes appear, treating only the damaged item is rarely enough — the wider property usually needs inspecting.
The 6 Clearest Signs of an Infestation
1. Irregular Holes in Natural Fibres
Small, irregular holes in wool jumpers, silk scarves, cashmere, fur or leather — moths avoid synthetic fibres almost entirely, so if polyester items nearby are untouched, moths are the likely cause rather than general wear.
2. Damaged Carpet, Usually Near the Edges
Carpet moth larvae favour carpet edges, under furniture and skirting boards where carpets are rarely disturbed or vacuumed. Look for thinning patches, exposed backing or a slightly bald appearance along the room's perimeter.
3. Silk Tubes or Webbing in Fabric
Carpet moth larvae spin small silken cases or tubes as they feed and move, often visible caught in carpet fibres or along skirting boards. This webbing is one of the most reliable confirmation signs, separate from the holes themselves.
4. Live Larvae in Dark, Undisturbed Areas
Small cream-coloured grubs with a darker head, typically 6–10mm long, found in the back of wardrobes, under rugs, in loft insulation or inside seldom-used drawers of woollen items.
5. Adult Moths Flying Near Wardrobes or Airing Cupboards
Clothes moths are small — around 6–8mm — golden-buff coloured, and reluctant fliers that prefer to scuttle rather than fly far. Seeing them repeatedly near one specific cupboard or room usually points to a nearby larval population, not a random single moth that flew in from outside.
6. A Musty Smell From Stored Textiles
A faint musty odour from a wardrobe, chest of drawers or rolled-up rug can indicate an established infestation, particularly combined with any of the signs above.
Why Moth Balls and Lavender Sachets Are Not Enough
Over-the-counter deterrents can discourage adult moths from laying eggs in a treated space, but they do not kill existing larvae or eggs already present in carpets, wardrobe linings or stored clothing. If any of the six signs above are already present, the infestation is established and deterrents alone will not resolve it — the larvae need to be located and treated directly, and a follow-up visit is usually needed to catch any eggs that hatch after the first treatment.
What Professional Moth Treatment Involves
A full property survey identifies the species and every active area — wardrobes, carpet edges, underlay, loft insulation and stored fibres. A residual insecticide formulated for textiles is applied to affected carpets, carpet edges and wardrobe interiors, killing larvae and eggs on contact and continuing to work for several weeks. Pheromone traps are installed to monitor and reduce the adult male population, and a follow-up visit is included to treat any larvae that hatch after the initial treatment.