Clovelly is a small pocket squeezed between the mountain and the railway line on the way into Fish Hoek. Most calls here come from homes that back onto fynbos or the golf course, so a good share of what turns up indoors has walked in from the veld.
The local picture in Clovelly
Mostly a household thing: weevils in flour and rice, and pantry moths in cupboards that don't get cleared out often. Holiday homes left closed for months are the worst, so keep dry goods in sealed jars.
Housing is mostly freestanding family homes, many stepped into the slope with retaining walls, split levels and sub-floor voids underneath. Older houses often still have timber floors and wooden window frames that have taken decades of salty air. Those voids under suspended floors and the gaps around old garage doors are exactly where mice settle in for winter. A few flats and townhouses closer to Main Road add the usual shared-bin and shared-roof issues.
Silvermine and the mountain sit directly behind you, the golf course fills the valley floor and False Bay is a stone's throw away. The Silvermine River reaches the sea here, and the low ground around its mouth stays wet after winter rain. Gardens on the slope are sheltered and damp, which suits millipedes, slugs and the insects that feed on them. In a dry summer, ants go looking for water inside.
Signs to look for
- You find small silk tubes or cases stuck to fabric, carpets or the corners of cupboards.
- Moths are seen resting on the ceiling of the kitchen or a bedroom in the evening.
- Small whitish caterpillars crawl up pantry walls or across the ceiling looking for somewhere to pupate.
- Small pale moths flutter away when you open a wardrobe or move clothes on the rail.
- Webbing clumps together cereal, nuts or pet food in the pantry.
- Small, irregular holes appear in woollen jerseys, suits, scarves or blankets, often in hidden areas like under collars and arms.
A note from the field
Spraying the wardrobe and leaving the infested clothes inside is the most common mistake we see. The clothes need to come out and be washed, frozen or dry cleaned.
How the treatment works
Identifying the moth correctly matters most, because clothes moths and pantry moths are treated in completely different places. For clothes moths we remove and sort affected textiles, recommend washing at high temperature, dry cleaning or freezing, vacuum carpets and wardrobe floors thoroughly, and apply a residual treatment to carpet edges, skirting boards and the inside of cupboards, with an insect growth regulator where the infestation is heavy. For pantry moths we find and remove all infested food, vacuum shelving, and treat cracks and crevices where larvae pupate, keeping treatment away from food. In both cases we place species-specific pheromone traps to monitor results, since these catch male moths and show quickly whether the problem is under control.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our moth control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Vacuum under beds, sofas and along carpet edges regularly, since moths thrive in dark, undisturbed spots.
- Wash or dry clean woollens before packing them away for summer, because moths prefer fabric with sweat and food stains on it.
- Store woollen clothes and blankets in sealed bags or containers, not in open shelves or cardboard boxes.
- Take clothes out of the wardrobe and shake them every few weeks, as clothes moths dislike disturbance and light.
- Keep cereals, nuts, dried fruit and pet food in airtight containers, and check birdseed before bringing it inside.
Pricing, honestly
The cost depends on whether it is a clothes moth or pantry moth problem, the number of rooms or cupboards involved, and whether carpets and upholstery need treatment. Larger homes, guesthouses and retail spaces with many wardrobes or storage areas take more time and may need a follow-up visit. We give a free quote, usually after seeing photos or doing a quick inspection.
Both moths are more active in warm weather, so problems usually become obvious from late spring through summer. Clothes moth damage is often discovered in autumn when people pull their winter woollens out of storage for the first cold front. Heated homes and warm pantries can see moth activity all year round.
Moth Control questions from Clovelly
Do the moths I see on my patio light eat clothes?
Almost never. Clothes moths avoid light and are rarely seen flying. The big moths around outdoor lights are garden species.
How long does it take to get rid of moths?
With a proper clean-out and treatment, activity drops quickly, but we keep monitoring for several weeks because eggs and larvae can survive in hidden spots.
Why are there holes in only some of my jerseys?
Clothes moth larvae prefer wool and silk that has sweat or food stains on it, and they feed in dark, undisturbed spots, so items worn less often are usually hit hardest.
Why does my Clovelly house get more mosquitoes than friends in Fish Hoek?
Homes near the low ground where the Silvermine River meets the sea are close to standing water after rain. Clearing gutters and pot saucers helps, and we can treat resting spots in the garden if it is bad.
Do rats in Clovelly really come down from the mountain?
Some do, especially in winter when the veld is cold and wet. Many are already living in compost heaps and under decks nearby, so we check the garden as well as the ceiling and deal with both.
Do you come out to Clovelly for moth control?
Yes. Clovelly is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, St James, Sun Valley. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
