🧣 On an Old Sweater, I Found Strange Reddish Balls – And What They Were Made Me Want to Burn Everything


 

There’s something comforting about pulling out your favorite winter sweater after months of summer wear. You expect that cozy scent, the soft fabric, maybe even a hint of cedar from storage.

But what you don’t expect?

Finding tiny, oval-shaped reddish balls stuck to the fabric — ones that feel like pebbles and smell like... well, something you’d rather not describe.

That’s exactly what happened to me when I went through my closet recently. I was getting ready to donate some gently used sweaters — they looked fine, no holes or stains — until I started washing them.

And then it hit me.

Those weren’t seeds. They weren’t lint. They weren’t mold.

They were moth eggs — or worse, larvae casings left behind by these silent closet invaders.

And let me tell you… I almost threw up.


What Are Those Little Reddish Balls on Clothes?

If you’ve ever found small, oval, reddish-brown or orange specks on stored clothing, especially wool, silk, or cashmere, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with clothes moths — specifically, their eggs or larval cases .

Here’s what you may have encountered:

  • Moth eggs – Laid in hidden folds of fabric, often near seams or under collars.
  • Larval cases (cocoons) – The little reddish-brown husks are protective shells left behind as larvae mature.
  • Fecal pellets or debris – Moth larvae leave behind waste and silk threads, which can look like tiny clumps or balls.

These signs mean one thing: you had a moth infestation — possibly undetected for years.


Why Moths Love Your Old Clothes



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