Recognizing the Warning Signs of Cloth Moths

Insect infestation is a common and often reoccurring problem in home environments. Insects make no distinction between valuable textiles and utilitarian ones. They seek out opportune environments to infest. Often Oriental rugs contain wool face knots and are often conducive for shelter, reproduction, and in the case of some moths species, for food.

There are two types of moths whose larvae feed on wool, the case-making moth and the webbing moth. The adult moths themselves cause no damage, but the larvae they produce are very damaging. It is the larvae that actually feed exclusively on animal fibers, especially wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, and leather. These materials contain keratin, a fibrous protein that the worm-like larvae of the clothes moth can digest.

Soiled textiles, especially those soiled with pet urine, make for a more hospitable environment for infestation with higher moisture levels as well as additional sources of nourishment for insect larvae development. Proper area rug washing is highly effective for pet urine removal. This is just one reason to have a professional area rug cleaning done on your valuable fine woolen rugs. It is far less expensive to pay to have rugs cleaned than it is to pay for oriental rug repair.