We all know that some insects can cause quite a bit of damage if they build a stronghold in your closet and use your clothes as a food source. Moths, carpet beetles and silverfish are just a few of the clothes damaging insects that may come your way.

Whether you choose to get rid of them using chemical insecticides or more eco-friendly methods, they must be removed to protect your clothing investment.

If you caught the problem in time, you may have dodged the permanent damage of holes. But what about those strong brown spots?

This isn't pretty, but the spots are insect excrement or digestive waste. This can happen in pest infected closets, storage containers or even on clothes dried on outdoor clotheslines. For some reason, flies love clean bed sheets.

To remove the stains from washable clothes, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach (OxiClean, Clorox 2, Country Save Bleach, or Purex 2 Color Safe Bleach) and cool water. Follow the package directions as to how much product per gallon of water. Sort the clothes by color and fabric. Completely submerge the garments and allow them to soak for at least eight hours. Check the stains. If they are gone, wash as usual. If they remain, mix a fresh solution and repeat. It may take several soakings to remove the stains but they should come out.

If the garment is dry clean only, point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner. If you are using a home dry cleaning kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.