The short answer
The main signs of clothes moths are irregular holes in wool or silk, fine silk webbing, gritty droppings called frass, small empty cases and pale larvae. The damage is usually in dark, undisturbed spots such as under collars, at carpet edges and under furniture. Small, weak-flying moths that avoid light are another clue.
Why the signs are easy to miss
Clothes moths are good at staying out of sight. The larvae, which do all the damage, avoid light and feed in dark, undisturbed places. The adults are small, weak fliers that prefer to hide rather than fly about. English Heritage and Lambeth Council both describe them this way.
So by the time most people notice a hole in a jumper, the larvae have often been feeding for a while. Knowing what to look for, and where, helps you catch it sooner.
The main signs of clothes moths
Holes in natural fabrics
The most obvious sign is irregular holes in wool, cashmere, silk, fur or feathers. English Heritage describes the damage as irregular rather than neat, and it often shows up in hidden places such as under collars and cuffs, in folds, or on the side of a garment that faces the back of the wardrobe. Clean cotton and synthetics are not normally eaten. Our post do moths eat clothes? explains why.
Silk webbing
The common clothes moth is also called the webbing clothes moth because its larvae spin fine silk as they feed. Look for thin, cobweb-like threads or tunnels on fabric, often with bits of fibre and droppings stuck in them.
Frass
Frass is the gritty droppings left by feeding larvae. It looks like fine grains or dust in and around the damage. If you brush your hand over an affected carpet edge or the bottom of a drawer and it feels sandy, frass is a likely reason.
Cases
The case-bearing clothes moth’s larva lives inside a portable silk case that it drags around as it feeds. Empty cases left behind, sometimes stuck to fabric or lying in drawer corners, are a sure sign this species has been present.
Larvae
The larvae are small, pale caterpillars. You are most likely to find them when you lift a rug, move a chest of drawers, or unfold something that has been stored for months.
Adult moths
The adults are small. The common clothes moth is around 5 to 8 mm long and a plain pale gold. The case-bearing clothes moth is greyish brown with one to three dark spots. Both flutter weakly and tend to hide in shadows rather than fly towards a light.
Where to look and what it means
| Sign | Where to look | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular holes | Wool, silk and cashmere, under collars and cuffs, in folds | Larvae have fed here |
| Silk webbing | On fabric surfaces, in carpet pile | Common clothes moth larvae are or were active |
| Frass | In and around damage, drawer bottoms, carpet edges | Larvae have been feeding recently or for some time |
| Empty cases | Drawer corners, fabric surfaces, under furniture | Case-bearing clothes moth present |
| Larvae | Under rugs, under furniture, inside stored items | An active infestation |
| Bare carpet patches | Carpet edges, under beds and sofas | Carpet moths, which are clothes moths in carpets |
| Small moths avoiding light | Wardrobes, dark corners, near carpets | Adults breeding nearby |
Signs of carpet moths
“Carpet moths” are simply clothes moths living in carpet, so the signs are the same. Lambeth Council and English Heritage point to carpet edges, the patches under furniture, and crevices in sofas as the usual places. Look for thinning pile, bare patches down to the backing, webbing and frass. Our guide on how to get rid of carpet moths covers what to do next.
Why do I have small moths in my house?
Not every small moth is a clothes moth. A few quick checks can help.
Is it a garden moth?
The UK has about 2,500 species of moth, and the BPCA says only a few are pests. If a moth flew in through an open window, is larger or heads straight for the light, it is probably a harmless garden visitor.
Is it a food moth?
Some small moths found in kitchens are food moths, which live in stored dry food rather than fabric. If the moths are near your cupboards rather than your wardrobe, check packets of flour, cereal and similar goods. The BPCA also notes that the white-shouldered house moth, an occasional household pest, can affect stored food as well as textiles.
Is it a clothes moth?
If the moths are small, plain or lightly spotted, hide from light and turn up near wardrobes, drawers or carpets, and you can see any of the signs above, it is very likely a clothes moth. A pheromone trap can confirm it. English Heritage says traps are useful for spotting and locating a problem, though they will not control an infestation on their own.
What to do once you have found the signs
Start with thorough cleaning, hot washing or freezing, and sealed storage, as set out by the BPCA and English Heritage. If the signs are widespread, or keep coming back after a few weeks, a professional survey is worth it. Our pages on clothes moth treatment and carpet moth treatment explain the options, including heat treatment, which kills every life stage. It also helps to understand how long moths live, because eggs can hatch days after you think you have cleared them.
We are a free matching service. We do not treat moths ourselves; we put you in touch with a local professional who does.
If the damage keeps coming back, ask for a free quote and we will find a specialist who covers your area.
Where our information comes from
- English Heritage: Webbing clothes moth, fact sheet 4 (read 26 October 2026)
- Lambeth Council: Pest facts, moths (read 26 October 2026)
- Hammersmith and Fulham Council: Common clothes moth (read 26 October 2026)
- Butterfly Conservation: Occasionally troublesome moths (read 26 October 2026)
- BPCA: 10 top tips to defend your fabrics from pest moths (read 26 October 2026)