How to Prevent Clothes Moths (and What Actually Works)
Clothes moths don't attack everything in your closet — they go after a specific set of animal-based fibers, which means most of what people do to "protect" a wardrobe is either unnecessary or, in the case of mothballs, actively hazardous if used wrong. Here's what moths actually eat, what draws them in, and which of the classic remedies — cedar, mothballs — hold up.
Key takeaways
- Moths eat keratin — wool, fur, hair, feathers, and wool blends — not cotton or synthetics.
- Sweat and food stains attract moths, so clean garments before storing them.
- Cedar only kills small larvae and fades within a few years; a tightly sealed container matters more.
- Mothballs are toxic and must stay in airtight containers, away from children and pets.
- Kill eggs and larvae with a hot wash, or by freezing the garment for several days to two weeks.
What moths actually eat
Clothes moth larvae feed on keratin, the protein found in wool, fur, hair, and feathers, and on wool blends, since even a partial wool content is enough to attract them. Pure cotton, linen, and synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon aren't a food source, so a closet of mostly synthetic clothing is at much lower risk.
That means your wool sweaters, coats with fur trim, feather-filled pillows, and hair-bristle brushes are the pieces worth protecting — not your t-shirts.
What draws moths to a specific garment
Moths aren't just looking for keratin in the abstract — they're drawn to garments carrying sweat, food residue, or other organic stains. A wool sweater that's been worn and put away unwashed is a far more attractive target than a clean one, which is exactly why cleaning everything before storage does double duty: it prevents yellowing, and it reduces the odds of an infestation in the first place.
Does cedar actually work?
Partially. Cedar oil can kill small, newly hatched larvae, but it loses potency after a few years as the oil evaporates from the wood's surface — a cedar chest that's protected your sweaters for a decade isn't doing much anymore. Rather than relying on the wood itself, what matters more is a tightly-built, well-sealed container or closet that limits how easily moths can get in and lay eggs in the first place. Treat cedar as a mild deterrent, not a long-term shield.
Mothballs: effective, but only if used correctly
Mothballs work by releasing naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene gas, which is toxic to moths — and to people and pets if it's not contained. They're only safe when used in truly airtight containers; outside of one, the fumes can irritate eyes and lungs and cause nausea, and at higher exposure levels naphthalene can damage red blood cells and organs. Ingestion is a real risk, particularly for children and pets: as few as two naphthalene mothballs swallowed have caused severe hemolytic anemia.
If you use mothballs, keep them in a sealed container, never loose in a closet or drawer, and store them well out of reach.
Already have moths? Kill the eggs and larvae
If you've found evidence of moths — larvae, webbing, or damage — a hot wash (roughly 20–30 minutes at the hottest setting the garment allows) kills eggs and larvae on contact for washable items. For anything that can't be washed hot, freezing works instead: seal the garment in a bag and freeze it for at least several days at temperatures below 18°F, though some sources recommend leaving it in for up to two weeks for extra assurance. Either method should be followed by a thorough cleaning to remove the residues that drew moths there in the first place.