Clothes moths are notorious for feeding on clothing and natural fibres; they have the ability to digest keratin. The moths prefer dirty fabric for oviposition and are particularly attracted to carpeting and clothing that contains human sweat or other liquids that have been spilled onto them. They are attracted to these areas not for the food but for the moisture: the caterpillars do not drink water; consequently their food must contain moisture. The range of recorded foodstuffs includes cotton, linen, silk and wool fabrics as well as furs; furthermore they have been found on shed feathers and hair, bran, semolina and flour (possibly preferring wheat flour), biscuits, casein, and insect specimens in museums.

Adult and larvae clothes moths prefer low light conditions. Whereas many other moths are drawn to light, clothes moths seem to prefer dim or dark areas. If larvae find themselves in a well-lit room, they will try to relocate under furniture or carpet edges. Handmade rugs are common locations due to the thick weave and ease of access for the larvae to crawl underneath and do their damage from below. They will also crawl under mouldings at the edges of rooms in search of darkened areas where fibrous debris has gathered and which consequently contain high food sources.

Often perceived as purely a household pest, clothes moths has been responsible for losses of industrial revenue exceeding millions in one year, although this has become less severe with a move away from natural fibres to synthetic fabrics. Other species have however filled this vacancy, most notably fur and carpet beetles. Clothes moth has also been noted to infest dried vegetable material.

Methods for controlling clothes moths include periodic dry cleaning or laundering, proper storage, freezing, heating, fumigating with dry ice, trapping, or insecticides. Insecticides for clothes moths usually contain pyrethrins, which provide quick knockdown of clothes moths. Pheromone traps are also available to trap both the webbing clothes moth and the case making clothes moth. Place traps in closets and other clothes-storage areas. Trapping not only enables the detection of clothes moths but also provides some control, due to the fact that trapped males can't mate. Keeping humidity levels low inside buildings creates an environment that isn't favourable for clothes moth development. Buildings that don't have numerous tiny cracks and crevices will also have fewer clothes moth problems. Good housekeeping practices are important as well. It is also important to regularly monitor fabrics and closets for clothes moths and their damage in order to take action when infestations are still small. To inspect for clothes moths, look to see if there are silken tubes in the hidden portions of clothes, such as under collars, or silken mats or patches on material. Both the silken tubes and mats often have fibres and faces incorporated into them. Check to see if any sign of surface grazing of fibres, any holes, or both on the fabrics. With fur look to see if hairs have been clipped at their base, causing loose fur and exposed hide.

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