Do Moths Eat Leather? Protecting Leather and Shearling Jackets

Finding small holes in a sweater makes anyone nervous about the rest of the closet, including the leather jackets hanging next to it. So, do moths eat leather, or is it only wool that is at risk? The short version is that leather is a minor target, but the wool parts of many jackets and coats are not.

Do moths eat leather jackets?

The insect behind most closet damage is the clothes moth, and the common clothes moth is the best known. The small adults you see fluttering low in a closet do not eat at all. Their job is to mate and lay eggs. The damage comes from the larvae, tiny cream-colored caterpillars that feed on animal fibers, mainly the keratin in wool, hair and feathers, along with silk.

Extension entomologists include leather on the list of materials larvae can damage, but it is not what they look for first. Smooth, finished leather offers little to eat. The risk rises when leather carries sweat, skin oils, food or drink, because larvae are drawn to soiled spots and the traces of moisture they hold. A clean leather jacket in a clean closet is rarely touched. A sweaty collar or a spilled drink left for months is another story.

The bigger concern is everything attached to the leather. Many jackets have wool linings, ribbed knit cuffs or collars, or a whole wool side, as with shearling. Those parts are exactly what clothes moth larvae prefer.

Which parts of a leather jacket are most at risk?

• The wool side of shearling. Shearling is sheepskin with the wool left on, so the soft interior and collar are prime feeding ground. Our guide to sheepskin leather explains how it is made.
• Wool and wool-blend linings. Quilted or flannel-style linings that contain wool can be eaten from the inside where you do not see it.
• Knit trims. Ribbed cuffs, collars and waistbands made with wool are common targets.
• Sweat and spill zones. Inside the collar, the cuffs and the underarms collect body oils, which makes even the leather there more attractive.

Jackets and coats that pair leather with sheepskin, like the pieces below, deserve the most attention when you put them away, because the wool side is exactly what moth larvae look for.

Men's Sheepskin B-3 Bomber JacketWomen's Brown Lambskin Cropped Shearling JacketMen's Black Lambskin Coat with Sheepskin Lining

Is it moths or carpet beetles?

Carpet beetles cause very similar damage. Their larvae also digest keratin and feed on wool, hair, feathers and other animal materials, so much of the damage blamed on moths is actually theirs. The clues differ a little. Clothes moth larvae leave silky webbing, small silken tubes or cases, and tiny pellets of droppings. Carpet beetle larvae are bristly and leave shed skins behind, usually without any webbing. The good news is that the same prevention steps work for both.

What are the signs of moth damage?

• Thin or bare patches in shearling where the wool has been clipped near the base
• Small, irregular holes in knit trims or wool linings
• Silky webbing, tube-like cases or fine debris in seams, pockets and under the collar
• Tiny pellets about the same color as the wool they came from
• Small, buff-colored moths that flutter low and avoid light rather than flying toward it

How do you protect leather and shearling jackets from moths?

1. Clean before you store. Wipe the leather, brush the wool and deal with any spills or sweat marks before a jacket goes away for the season. See our guides to cleaning a shearling jacket and cleaning a shearling collar.
2. Use a breathable garment bag. A closed, tightly woven cotton garment bag keeps adult moths from reaching the jacket while letting leather breathe. Avoid sealing leather in plastic for long periods, since trapped moisture can encourage mildew.
3. Choose a cool, dry closet. Hang the jacket on a wide, shaped hanger with a little space around it. Our guide on how to store a leather jacket covers the details.
4. Disturb things regularly. Larvae like dark, undisturbed spots. Every few weeks, take stored jackets out, shake them, brush the wool and check the collar, cuffs and seams.
5. Vacuum the closet. Lint, hair and dust in corners, shelves and along baseboards can feed larvae. Vacuum them out and empty the vacuum outdoors.
6. Treat cedar and lavender as extras. Their scent may help deter adult moths a little, but cedar loses its effect over time and lavender sachets fade quickly. Neither kills larvae, so they cannot replace cleaning and checking.

Why are mothballs a bad idea for leather jackets?

Mothballs are pesticides, not air fresheners. They only work at a high concentration inside an airtight container, and their labels require that kind of use. Their vapors can make people and pets unwell, and young children are especially at risk if they find them.

They are also hard on leather. The smell clings to leather, wool and linings and can take a very long time to air out. If a jacket has already picked up a mothball or musty smell, our guide on getting smells out of a leather jacket can help.

What should you do if you find moth larvae?

1. Take the jacket outdoors, shake it well and brush the wool, seams and pockets to remove larvae, cases and eggs.
2. Keep it apart from your other clothes until it has been treated.
3. Vacuum the closet thoroughly, including corners, shelves and baseboards, and check every wool item nearby.
4. Have shearling and wool-lined pieces cleaned by a professional who specializes in leather and sheepskin.
5. Check the closet again over the following weeks, since eggs you missed can hatch later.

You may read about freezing infested items. Museums do use controlled freezing, but it calls for very low temperatures, airtight packaging and a slow return to room temperature. A jacket that combines leather, wool, metal hardware and finishes is not a simple candidate, so ask a leather specialist before you try it on anything you value.

FAQ

Can moths damage a leather jacket with a polyester lining?

It is unlikely. Larvae rarely feed on synthetic fabrics unless they are blended with wool or heavily soiled. Keep the jacket clean and check any wool trims.

Does cedar keep moths away from leather jackets?

Only a little. Cedar may discourage adult moths, but its scent fades and it does not kill larvae. Cleaning, breathable storage and regular checks matter far more.

How often should I check stored jackets?

Every few weeks is a good habit, and always before you put a jacket away and when you bring it back out for the season.

Can moth damage in shearling be repaired?

Sometimes. A sheepskin specialist can trim, blend or patch small damaged areas, but larger bare patches are hard to hide, so prevention is far easier.

So, do moths eat leather? Only now and then, but they will gladly feed on the wool side of sheepskin, which is why clean, breathable storage and regular checks matter most for warm, wool-lined pieces. Browse our bomber and flight jackets for cold-weather styles worth looking after.