Moths are not a hygiene problem
Clean houses get moths. Antique dealers get moths. Insurance adjusters find moth damage in rugs that have not moved in forty years. The issue is natural fibre and environment — not cleanliness. At our Skokie, IL workshop we see moths in wool rug piles and wool carpet remnants alike, because the clothes moth larva feeds on keratin protein, not dirt.
Our treatment uses non-toxic elimination that is safe for wool, silk, and natural dyes, paired with a cleaning to remove larvae and eggs. We then wrap vulnerable pieces in a protective storage wrap on request. Drop-off is available at our Skokie workshop or our St. Charles location in the Fox Valley.
Moth larvae move fast — and rug moth damage rarely stops on its own
Don’t wait — clothes moth larvae can destroy a wool or silk rug in as little as 2–3 weeks. The longer treatment is delayed, the more pile is lost permanently. Moth larvae in rugs feed on the wool pile from the underside, which is why a moth eaten rug is often much further along than the visible thinning on top suggests. Left unchecked, isolated carpet moth damage in one corner of a wool area rug becomes an active infestation that spreads to every natural-fibre piece in the room.
After treatment, our repair specialists assess any pile or structural damage — moth damage repair is available in the same visit, so a rug that has already lost pile to an infestation can be treated and repaired without a second trip.
Our moth treatment process — step by step
- 01
Inspection
Identifying active infestation vs old damage. Active moths require treatment; old damage may only need repair.
- 02
Treatment
Non-toxic, rug-safe moth elimination. Safe for wool, silk, and natural dyes.
- 03
Cleaning
Larvae, eggs, and organic matter removed by a full conservation wash — the food source has to go.
- 04
Repair assessment
Damage mapped for reweaving if needed. Combined estimate provided so you see the full picture.
- 05
Prevention wrap
Protective storage wrap available for rugs that live in closets, basements, or seasonal rotation.
