Carpet Moths in Brent Homes
What most people call carpet moths are usually clothes moths, and the adults you see fluttering are not the ones doing the damage. It is the larvae, feeding on the keratin in wool, silk, fur and feathers, that eat carpets and rugs down to the backing.
Where the damage is
Larvae avoid light and disturbance. Damage concentrates under furniture that is rarely moved, along skirting boards, in the corners of wardrobes and in rooms that are only used occasionally. Fitted carpets can be damaged underneath long before it shows on top.
Signs of carpet moths
- Bare or thinning patches in wool carpet, especially at the edges
- Small, pale larvae and silky webbing in the pile
- Tiny, dull moths that prefer to run or hide rather than fly
- Holes in stored woollen clothes
Before treatment
Vacuum thoroughly, including under furniture and along every edge, and empty the vacuum outside. Move furniture where you can so the whole floor is accessible, and wash or dry-clean affected textiles. Tell us about any valuable or antique rugs; a pest treatment does not clean or restore a textile.
Keeping them away
Regular vacuuming under furniture is the single best deterrent. Pheromone traps help show whether moths are still active, though they only catch males and will not solve an infestation on their own.
