Moths that thrive on wardrobes full of cashmere, wool, fur and other fabrics made from animal hair are a bane to many people. But there are plenty of ways to protect your clothes without resorting to mothballs.

Cleanliness is the first — and best — line of defense, said Cheryl Ann Farr, a professor of textiles and clothing at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., because dirty clothes are often what attract moths in the first place. Moth eggs, larvae and adult moths can all be killed by a hot-water wash cycle or by dry cleaning. And any that remain in the closet can be vacuumed up or removed by scrubbing.

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