Carpet Moth Treatment & Protection – Hampshire
Hello, We're Richard and Michelle, When You Book with Us — It's Always Us Who Do the Work in your home or commercial setting bringing with us over 20 years of experience
We are Trading standards approved and Advanced Members of the NCCA
For Feedback See: Trading Standards and NCCA (National Carpet Cleaners Association)
Professional Moth Treatment Serving all of Hampshire, including Winchester, The New Forest, Southampton, Portsmouth, Andover, Basingstoke, Petersfield, and surrounding areas.
At Hampshire Carpet and Upholstery Care, we specialise in the detection, removal, and long-term prevention of carpet moth infestations across Hampshire. Moth larvae—especially from species like Tineola bisselliella (common clothes moth) and Tinea pellionella (case-bearing moth)—are a serious threat to natural fibre carpets, rugs, and upholstered furnishings. Left untreated, they can cause irreversible damage to wool, silk, and cotton.
⚠️ Why Carpet Moths Are a Hidden Danger
Moth larvae feed on keratin found in natural fibres, leaving behind threadbare patches and frayed areas—often under furniture, near skirting boards, or behind curtains. Infestations often go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. More about the life cyle of carpet moths is written below.......
🧐 How Do Moths Get into Your Home?
Carpet moths often enter through:
- Contaminated footwear or clothing
- Second-hand rugs, furniture, or soft furnishings
- Bird nests near your roof or chimney (larvae feed on feathers and organic debris)
Because eggs are microscopic and moths are discreet, early professional intervention is crucial.
🔍 Signs of a Carpet Moth Infestation
Look out for:
- Irregular, worn patches in carpets or rugs
- Fine powder or gritty frass (larval droppings)
- Webbing or tiny white caterpillar-like larvae
- Adult moths fluttering low near the floor
- Damage around room edges or hidden spaces
🧪 Our 3-Phase Moth Treatment & Prevention Protocol
1️⃣ Expert Inspection & Identification
- Full property survey to determine the moth species
- Assessment of fibre types, infestation severity, and damage level
2️⃣ Deep Steam Cleaning + Residual Insecticide Treatment
- Industrial-grade hot water extraction kills most eggs and larvae instantly
- Professional-strength, HSE-approved residual insecticide spray
- Penetrates deep into carpet and upholstery fibres
- Odourless, non-staining, and safe for children and pets once dry
- Continues to protect for weeks after treatment
3️⃣ Long-Term Moth-Proofing & Protection Guaranteed!
- Application of moth-repellent fibre protector to prevent reinfestation
- Includes a 2-Year Guarantee – if moths return, we’ll treat again free of charge*
- Protection often lasts much longer with proper care
*Note: Fish tanks and pet birds must be removed from treatment areas until fully dry.
✅ Safe, Effective & Trusted Throughout Hampshire
- Safe for homes with children, pets, and allergy sufferers
- Non-toxic, professional-only treatments
- Suitable for domestic and commercial properties
📍 Areas We Cover
Proudly serving the whole of
Hampshire, including:
Winchester, The New Forest, Southampton, Portsmouth, Andover, Basingstoke, Petersfield, and all surrounding villages.
🛡️ Protect Your Investment – Book a Treatment Today
Don’t let moths quietly destroy your flooring and furnishings. Contact Hampshire Carpet and Upholstery Care for expert moth treatment and fibre protection that works – guaranteed.
👉 Call now to book your free consultation or inspection.
🐛 Carpet Moths: Biology, Life Cycle & Damage Mechanism
Carpet moths, most commonly Tineola bisselliella (the common or webbing clothes moth) and Tinea pellionella (the case-bearing clothes moth), are textile-damaging insects that pose a serious threat to carpets, rugs, upholstery, and other natural-fibre soft furnishings. The true destructors are not the adult moths, but their larvae, which feed voraciously on keratin, a structural protein found in animal-based fibres such as wool, silk, cashmere, alpaca, and even feathers or pet hair embedded in textiles.
🔄 Life Cycle: From Egg to Adult
Carpet moths undergo a complete metamorphosis with four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
- Egg Stage
Female moths lay between 30 to 200 tiny eggs directly onto suitable food sources—typically undisturbed sections of carpet, upholstery, or fabrics in low-traffic areas. Eggs are microscopic and adhesive, making them extremely hard to spot and remove by vacuuming alone. Eggs hatch within 4 to 10 days depending on temperature and humidity. - Larval Stage (Damaging Stage)
Upon hatching, the larvae—small, white caterpillar-like insects—immediately begin consuming keratin-rich fibres. This is the most destructive stage, as larvae can feed for up to 2–6 months, chewing through the base of carpet tufts and leaving irregular bare patches, especially in corners, along skirting boards, behind furniture, and under rugs. Case-bearing moth larvae form protective silk cases around themselves using fibre from the material they're consuming, further camouflaging their presence. - Pupal Stage
Once fully grown, larvae spin a cocoon and pupate within it for 8 to 40 days, depending on environmental conditions. Pupation typically occurs in cracks, carpet pile, or behind baseboards—areas that are hidden and hard to reach during regular cleaning. - Adult Stage
Adult moths emerge from the pupae ready to mate and restart the cycle. Adult carpet moths are small, beige or silvery-brown in colour, and generally avoid light. Their sole purpose is reproduction—they do not feed and typically live for only 2 to 4 weeks. However, multiple overlapping generations can occur annually in warm indoor environments, making infestations stubborn and recurring.
🧬 How Carpet Moths Cause Damage
Larvae digest keratin by secreting specific enzymes that break down protein fibres into nutrients. As they feed, they damage not only the visible carpet pile but often penetrate deep into the structure of the textile, weakening the fabric base and causing long-term wear. Unlike beetle infestations, moth damage typically presents as irregular holes, threadbare spots, or tuft loss in isolated areas. In heavy infestations, fine powdery frass (droppings) and silk webbing may be found near damaged fibres.
🌡️ Environmental Conditions & Risks
Carpet moths thrive in warm, humid, and undisturbed environments. Urban homes with central heating and rarely moved furniture provide ideal conditions. Infestations often go unnoticed until severe damage becomes visible. Common entry routes include second-hand textiles, bird nests in lofts or eaves, or even through open windows during warmer months.