Prevent Pests From Destroying Your Custom Closets in 4 Simple Steps

Jessica Parsons • Feb 16, 2022

Whether it's finding holes in your clothes or seeing bugs scurry away, nobody likes to find pests in their custom closet! Luckily, there are a few easy steps for preventing pesky bugs from destroying your beautiful wardrobe area.

First, identify what pests are eating away at your clothes, as this will determine what natural repellant you'll use. Regardless of the species, it's important to vacuum your closet often and store seasonal pieces in vacuum-sealed bags or, better yet, in another space. Inspect clothes brought home from the dry cleaners, and always use hot water to wash them.

Keep reading to see how these tips will prevent pests from destroying your closets and clothes.

Identify Closet Pests

It's important to know what pests to be on the lookout for, as your approach may vary depending on the bugs you're battling. In the local Michigan area, moths, silverfish, and carpet beetles are common bugs that can destroy your clothes.

Moths

These tiny, white, shiny moths are one of the most common bugs found in closets, although the moths themselves are not to blame for eating your clothes! It's actually the larvae laid in the fibers that are responsible for ruining your favorite wool sweaters.

Upon hatching, moth larvae love to munch on leather, wool, and silk. As they grow into adult moths, they wean off fibers for food. The more larvae, the more damage they can do. To learn more about clothes moths, check out this article by Michigan State University.

Silverfish

Silverfish are thin, silvery bugs with two antennae at one end and three antennae at the other. Technically, silverfish don't eat clothes; they eat the dirt, debris, and foods "stuck" in the fibers of your clothes. Silverfish thrive in dark environments, such as a dresser, basement, or closet.

Carpet Beetles

These tiny little bugs have a similar circular shape to ladybugs, but they have a black back with a yellow stripe down the middle. As opposed to moth larvae that tend to stay on clothes, carpet beetles can be anywhere in your closet: on the walls, ceiling, or carpet. They chew on all kinds of fabric, as well as fur, mohair, and feathers.

According to BugWiz.com, an adult carpet bug can lay 100 eggs that hatch in 14 days. The larvae can eat clothes for a whole year, which can mean significant damage to your wardrobe!

Pests Be Gone!

Once you know the pest (or pests!) you're dealing with, it's time to get rid of them! Here are a few tips on disposing of pesky critters and keeping them from coming back for good.

1. Vacuum Often

Pests, in general, prefer dark, peaceful environments; the best way to get rid of them is to make your closet an uncomfortable living space! Vacuuming periodically serves several purposes.

First, it disturbs the quiet darkness that these bugs love so they won't want to lay their eggs in your clothes. Second, it removes the potential of continued breeding. Third, you can examine your clothes and closet to see if there is still a pest problem.

Be thorough with your vacuuming! If possible, vacuum every surface, including the top shelf, baseboards, corners, and floor. This will suck away as many pests as possible.

2. Store Seasonal Clothes

Pests have a greater chance of multiplying in unused clothes. For this reason, it's wise to store your seasonal clothes in vacuum-sealed bags.

MarthaStewart.com advises washing all clothes before storing, especially if you've had a pest problem in the past. This will ensure your clothes won't have holes when you pull them out the following season.

3. Use a Natural Repellant

Mothballs are simply not effective because the chemicals can be damaging to humans and pets. Instead, use a natural repellant (and thankfully, they smell so much better than mothballs!). Some of the most common include:

Eucalyptus
Tansy
Cedar
Pennyroyal
Peppermint
Lavender

Purchase these fresh, dried, as an essential oil, air freshener, or soap. Hang fresh or dried bunches, diffuse or wipe surfaces with essential oils, spray air freshener, or leave out a bar of soap on a napkin. Additionally, cedar blocks, hangers, or chests are natural repellants. While natural repellants are superior overall, it's worth noting that their effectiveness will fade as the scent does.

4. Use Heat

Larvae and adult bugs will die with hot temperatures. Wash your clothes in the hottest water allowed by the garment(s) and have your dry cleaner do the same. You can also iron clothes (even everyday pieces like t-shirts) if the garment allows, or hang them in the sunlight to kill off the spores and send adult bugs running.

Conclusion

If you notice any type of damage to your clothes, first identify the pest that's causing it. Vacuum your closet often, spread natural repellant, and launder your wardrobe in the hottest water possible without damaging your clothes. Don't forget to store seasonal clothes in vacuum-sealed bags or in an alternative space.