Summary: Coat closets are for storing jackets and random supplies, not pests! This blog explores the habits of 6 common coat closet pests and the best ways to prevent them from invading your closet. The pests mentioned are: silverfish, roaches, crickets, spiders, carpet beetles, and moths. Pointe Pest Control protects homes and businesses from invasive pests that damage your belongings.

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Closets are the lemons of the home: they aren’t the most popular feature, but they sure make life (or cooking) a lot more enjoyable! Coat closets are even less appreciated since they’re small or completely absent from some homes. If you have a coat closet or two, you might use it to store a variety of clothing and cleaning items.

Coats, shoes, vacuums, brooms, shopping bags, and random holiday decorations are common staples in these small spaces. But an unfortunate item that might be in your coat closet is a hidden pest family. Most household pests prefer to stay in dark, hidden areas, so a coat closet is an ideal environment for many critters. Let’s learn about the 6 pests that frequently call a coat closet their new home and the reasons why they prefer these stuffy places.

Silverfish

These aren’t the most infamous pests, but silverfish are certainly some of the most destructive! They eat organic particles, including dirt, dead skin, dust, and food. Silverfish eat the fibers of specific fabrics as well, but they’re more focused on the random crumbs and dirt on the fabric. If you start finding small, jagged holes on your coats and sweaters, it could be because of some hungry silverfish.

Silverfish are nocturnal and live in darkness, so their presence usually isn’t found until it’s too late. The one redeeming factor is that silverfish don’t have wings, so they can only crawl to their food sources. Any clothes and papers that are stored on the ground could become a silverfish’s dinner. The best ways to prevent silverfish are to keep fabric-based items off the ground and to do the laundry in a timely manner.

Roaches

Roaches definitely don’t bring the fun wherever they go, and you might be displeased to know that they are not a stranger to coat closets. Similar to silverfish, roaches eat through most fabrics and cellulose-based items. But unlike those silvery pests, roaches enjoy just about any spill or ingredient. They eat glue, cardboard, food stains, dirt, and book bindings. Roaches are also nocturnal and feed at night, so it’s tough to catch them in the act.

Unfortunately, roaches are also one of the filthiest pests in existence. They transmit bacteria and disease to us through their droppings, bodies, and saliva. Anything that they touch is contaminated and should either be sanitized (clothing) or thrown out (food). Roaches also trigger allergy and asthma symptoms in people who live near a roach infestation. These pests reproduce quickly, so if you think you have roaches, contact your local pest control ASAP.

Crickets

Crickets seem like more of an outdoor pest, but they’re actually a common closet pest. These insects also enjoy the crumbs and dirt found on worn clothing, so crickets have a feast ahead of them when they invade a coat closet. Crickets might find their way inside a home by going towards the lights when it’s dark outside, then seek out a safe shelter in a dark space. The coat closet is a common target since it’s not very busy and it usually has a lot of clutter.

If you keep your worn coats and jackets in the coat closet, you might find them full of random holes after a cricket enjoyed its feast. They tend to get a little excited when they’re feasting on dirt, starch, stains, and food crumbs. These holes are actually the least of your worries when it comes to crickets. Their droppings stain every fabric, so treat any stained coats immediately to remove as much of the stain as possible.

Spiders

If we had to choose an “odd one out” on this list, it would be the spider. This pest doesn’t eat fabric or crumbs, and it couldn’t care less if it was surrounded by a bunch of dirty laundry. Instead, spiders invade coat closets because of the other pests they might find in there! Spiders need to live in an area with reliable food and water, so a cozy coat closet is perfect. Whether they spin webs or hunt their prey, spiders are content to wait in the darkness for their meals.

We’re not trying to give you nightmares, but one of the spider’s favorite hiding spots is inside a shoe. They love the warmth, darkness, and isolation. Shoes that are stored in the garage or outside are more at risk of becoming a spider’s habitat, but it’s better to be safe than sorry with all close-toed shoes. Before you put your shoes on, turn each one upside down and give it a quick shake. Remember: spiders prefer shoes that aren’t worn as often, so check those winter boots!

Carpet Beetles

Coat closets that are carpeted are (unsurprisingly) more likely to have carpet beetles. This bugs enjoy blankets, carpets, thick clothing, and rugs. The larval stage is the most destructive, which isn’t great considering carpet beetles lay up to 100 eggs at once. The larvae eat fibers for one year, then the adult carpet beetles live for just 20 to 60 days afterward. Carpet beetles are tough to see when you aren’t looking for them, so keep an eye out for these tiny pests.

Carpet beetle eggs hatch more often when it’s warm, but a cozy house allows them to hatch on a consistent basis. All life stages of this pest will hide in dark corners in between feedings. The adults eat flower pollen, so they only truly emerge from hiding when the flowers bloom in spring. But as for the coat closet, it’s important to note that carpet beetles want the actual fabrics and fibers — not the stains — for their meals. The best way to get rid of them? A good vacuuming!

Moths

Clothes moths are not a surprise addition to this list, but they are an important one. They’re active in every region and relentless in their fabric-centric diets. The items that clothing moths frequently enjoy are made of wool, silk, leather, and cotton. Blended fabrics seem to be more popular with this pest, but they aren’t too picky. As with carpet beetles, moth larvae are much more destructive than their adult selves. If you start finding a lot of holes, it could be an invasion.

There are two types of moth larvae that frequent our coat closets. The first is the case-bearing clothes moth, which is silvery-brown in color. It eats any item made of hair, fur, or flannel. The second is the webbing clothes moth, a pale gold-colored moth. This one loves wool and cashmere, and the adults lay hundreds of eggs at once. Moth invasions are more obvious since you’ll see them fluttering around, so look out for any active moths in the closet!

Save The Coat Closet!

The coat closet may be a forgotten space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prevent pests from claiming it as their own. There are a few easy tasks we recommend you do to keep tiny invaders out of your closet all year long.

Keep it clean. When you do your usual vacuuming or sweeping of the floor, don’t forget the closet floor! This is especially important if you store your shoes in the coat closet.
Contain the dirty laundry. Keep all dirty clothes contained to a hamper or basket. Don’t let those worn coats pile up on the ground, as this provides easy access to pests.
Organize everything. Organization comes easier to some, but if it’s not your forte, try your best to keep everything tidy. Hang up all coats and jackets, and use sturdy containers to store items on the shelves.
Try essential oils. Certain essential oils seem to repel indoor pests, if you want a natural repellent. You can diffuse essential oils in the area, or simply spray a diluted mixture (12 oz. water and 15 or more drops of oil) in the closet.

Break Out The Pest Solutions This Fall

Whether you have pests bugging you (literally) inside the house or making a mess of your yard, Pointe Pest Control is here to serve you! Our licensed technicians solve each pest problem with an reliable combination of thorough inspections, tailored treatments, and preventative measures. Pests don’t take a season off, so neither do we. We are dedicated to eliminating those creepy-crawlies as efficiently as possible. You don’t have to deal with your pest troubles on your own. Contact us today for a free quote on our pest control services that are always in fashion!

Citations

How to get bugs that eat clothes out of your closet. (n.d.). Terminix. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.terminix.com/blog/home-garden/how-to-help-stop-bug-that-eat-clothes/

Kushner, D. (2020, May 15). 8 tips on how to prevent pests in your custom closets. Closet Decor & More. Available at https://www.closetdecorandmore.com/eight-tips-to-prevent-pests-in-custom-closets (Accessed on October 7, 2024).

Leverette, M.M. (2022, July 13). How to control bugs that eat clothes. The Spruce. Available at https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-control-clothes-eating-insects-2145853 (Accessed on October 7, 2024).