Clothes Moth Traps

The trap releases a pheromone that imitates the female clothes moth, drawing adult males onto a sticky board. Taking those males out reduces the number available to mate, which disrupts breeding and brings the population down over the following weeks. It also shows you whether moths are active, where in the house they are, and roughly how many. Read our honest answer on whether moth traps work.

You will start noticing results within a few days as moths are caught. For larger infestations it may take a few weeks to see a significant reduction in activity, since the population comes down as fewer males are left to mate. If catches are not tailing off after a few weeks, that points to a source that has not been found rather than a trap that is not working.

Not on its own, and this is where moth traps get a bad name. The trap works on the adults, but adult moths do not eat fabric - the larvae do, and no trap reaches them. So use the trap to find where the problem is concentrated and to bring numbers down, then deal with the source directly. Wash affected items hot, or seal them in a bag and freeze at -18C for two weeks, then treat the empty wardrobe or drawer with a moth killer spray.

In wardrobes, drawers, airing cupboards and under-bed storage - anywhere wool, cashmere or silk is kept. Hang or sit the trap near the fabric itself rather than by the door, keep it away from draughts and vents that would carry the lure away, and use a separate trap for each enclosed space rather than one for a whole room.

A lure lasts several months, with the exact figure stated on the pack - follow that and note the date you opened it. Replace sooner if the board fills up or gets dusty, since a covered adhesive surface stops holding anything. Keep spares sealed in the wrapper until you need them, because the lure starts working the moment it is opened, whether it is in place or not.

The traps are non-toxic - the lure is a pheromone and the catch is held on an adhesive board, so there is no insecticide and nothing to swallow. The adhesive is sticky enough to be a nuisance on fur or fingers, so site traps inside wardrobes and drawers and out of reach. Use as directed.

Steady catches that are not tailing off mean the source has not been found yet. Look beyond the obvious wardrobe: carpet edges under heavy furniture, felt underlay, wool insulation, an old rug in the loft, or a forgotten bag of winter knitwear. Larvae favour dark, undisturbed spots and feed on the sweat and food residue in worn fibres, so unwashed items in long storage are the usual culprit. Our guide has ten ways to stop moths eating clothes.

Leave a trap running after treating. Catches dropping away and staying low for two to three weeks, with no fresh holes or webbing, is the signal. Check the stored garments themselves as well as the board - the lure only draws males, so the trap alone is not the whole picture.