How to Safeguard Your Closets From Pests

Nobody wants to deal with annoying little insects that destroy wardrobes and cause unsightly closet damage. You work hard to look sharp, so don’t let the bugs win this war. 

Your custom closets will be blissfully critter-free - just check out these top tricks for safeguarding your fancy threads:



• Take everything out and clean thoroughly
• Don’t store anything dirty in your closets
• Organize and store clothes in breathable bags
• Get rid of any moisture
• Lavender is a great organic pest deterrent
• Cedar never goes out of style

It’s relatively common to discover your closet(s) has unwanted guests, especially in wetter climates. The most likely suspects are moths, carpet beetles, and silverfish. They especially like to chomp on expensive cotton, leather, and wool garments. 

As soon as you notice any holes or other disturbing evidence of closet monsters, you must act fast to remove these pests and preserve your belongings.  Read on for more info on how to beat these clothes-devouring beasties for good!

Cleaning is good for your soul as well as your home. Take this opportunity to take everything out of your closet and give it a thorough airing out. Be sure to throw away old items that no longer fit or are sadly out of fashion, and examine anything with sentimental value closely to make sure there are no signs of bugs, like new holes.

Wipe down every surface, shelf, and the inside of drawers with the appropriate cleanser for your hard surfaces. Turn on all the lights you can to do a careful check for evidence of creepy crawlies. Vacuum with a vengeance. Once everything is spotless, you can begin to put things back in order.

When it’s time to put everything back, do not be tempted to return things that have already been worn recently. Sadly, wearing something just once will leave microscopic skin oils and hair fragments that are irresistible to annoying insects. If your jeans fit better after one wear, then stash them in the laundry room instead. 

Clothing with food stains and shoes covered in outdoor germs or actual dirt both attract loads of gross creatures, so do yourself a favor and put those items as far away from your nice clean closets as possible.

If you get items dry cleaned, you might think that you are safe from bug invasions. Unfortunately, those plastic bags inhibit airflow, seal in moisture, and create a haven for pests. Remove your duds from the bags as soon as you bring them home and let them air out. The starch used by commercial cleaners on some clothing is also attractive to them, so try to avoid utilizing that whenever possible. 

Cardboard boxes are also not ideal for clothes because they are themselves a delicious insect snack. Instead, use breathable fabric bags or bins to store your most loved items. Lifestyle guide The Spruce suggests keeping seasonal or extra bulky clothes in your suitcases when you are not using them - just line them in “acid-free” tissue paper first.

Cool, dry air is a deterrent for pests as well as a key element of any well-organized closet. Houses located in areas where the weather is moist probably have more of an issue with this specific problem. Keeping your storage areas as dry as possible will also make it harder for mold or mildew to take hold.

There are several clever ways to reduce the humidity in your closet space without spending a lot of cash:

• Leaving the light on for a few hours will help warm and dry the air
• Place a fan or small dehumidifier to keep the air flowing
• Place an open box of baking soda on a top-shelf
• Activated charcoal is non-hazardous and draws wetness from the air

This fascinating article on Medium explains that regular sticks of chalk can also rid your home of excess moisture in a pinch - just tie a bundle together and hang in the back of a closet.

This bright purple herb smells divine and is a natural and strong bug repellant. You can grow your own - it’s a perennial that thrives in certain USDA zones, according to Homeguides.sfgate.com. Native to the Mediterranean, it has been used since the olden days for a variety of medicinal purposes. If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry - dried stalks or pure essential oil of lavender work just as well and are easily found online. 

Soak cotton balls in lavender oil and hide them around your closet area to drive away moths and other pests. Or you can put the dried flowers in cloth bags and hang them with your clothing. If you are going to put away fancy clothes from a special occasion, always include an herbal sachet to ensure that they smell fresh and do not attract fabric-eating critters.

This fragrant wood has been used for clothing storage since the Middle Ages at least. Women for generations were gifted cedar chests for their belongings upon coming of age. It has a pleasant and calming outdoorsy scent, as well as being a natural dehumidifier and pest deterrent. Cedar planks are also used in cooking for adding additional flavor to steaks and seafood. 

Cedar is affordable, and a little goes a long way. Placing small chips of this aromatic wood in a sachet in your closet can absorb water from the air as well as keep pesky bugs away from your clothes. Just make sure that the sachet is well protected as cedar oil has a tendency to stain clothing. A tiny percentage of people are allergic to the wood’s oils though, so make sure you’re not one of those unlucky folks before purchasing a large quantity.

Bugs are a useful part of the ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean they should live for free in your home without paying rent. Get rid of those annoying beasties before they cause damage to your precious wardrobe. Using the handy tips above will safeguard your closets from destructive pests and ensure that your belongings remain in pristine condition!

• https://homeguides.sfgate.com/lavender-sachets-moths-77335.html
• https://medium.com/@thehumidifiermentor/diy-dehumidifier-alternatives-moisture-absorbers-you-can-make-b47d448b52f3
• https://www.thespruce.com/storing-seasonal-clothing-1900114