Protection of carpets from moths and other pests that eat away natural fibers such as wool and silk, leaving holes and spots that look eaten away, even on newer rugs. Treatment of the fibers is one measure, and mothballs are sometimes used for storage longer than about a year or in moth-prone places, though they leave a lingering odor. The main defense is upkeep: moths favor dark, damp, undisturbed places such as beneath sofas or in storage, so a clean, dry, ventilated rug that is vacuumed under furniture and shaken out and aired every few months is far less likely to be attacked. A rug going into storage is cleaned first and wrapped in breathable material, then unwrapped and checked about every six months if it stays a year or more.