Carpet beetles are very destructive. But they are easy to get rid of. Keeping them from overrunning your home is also easy.
You can kill and get rid of carpet beetles by:
- Steaming and vacuuming your carpets
- Storing foodstuffs and any organic materials in air-tight containers
- Applying vinegar in infested areas
- Treating affected spaces with diatomaceous earth, boric acid, or a good insecticide
Here is everything you need to know about carpet beetles and what you can do about them.
The following are popular and effective methods of getting rid of carpet beetles.
Vacuum
Carpet beetle larvae are incredibly destructive. But they only thrive when they have enough food.
Regular vacuuming denies the destructive larvae the luxury of having an unlimited food supply, and doing so will definitely slow them down.
There is also the fact that vacuuming can get rid of both the larvae and carpet beetle eggs. The vacuum can literally suck them from your home, and you can then get rid of them by throwing away the vacuum bag.
Steam
Carpet beetles are vulnerable to heat. As a result, you can kill them and their eggs by exposing them to extreme heat. This is why steam cleaning will work. Simply use a steam cleaner to clean your carpets, upholstered furniture, and any other infested items and you will get rid of a significant portion of your carpet beetle problem.
Clean with vinegar
You can also get rid of carpet beetles by cleaning your home with vinegar.
To do so effectively, start by cleaning the affected areas by washing off or wiping away any stains, dirt, debris, or food particles in the area. After you are done, dip a piece of cloth in apple cider vinegar and then use it to wipe the affected area.
Boric acid
Boric acid is an effective go-to solution when it comes to dealing with most pests. Therefore, it is no surprise that it can also kill carpet beetles, their larvae, and eggs.
To kill carpet beetles, sprinkle it on the affected area. Give the boric acid enough time to work and if it doesn’t kill off the carpet beetles, reapply it.
When using boric acid, you should remember that it is poisonous. It will have a harmful effect on your loved ones if they consume it in large quantities. It can also trigger allergic reactions in your loved ones.
Therefore, unless you are dealing with a carpet beetle problem that isn’t going away, you should restrict yourself to using natural solutions. This is because they are not only safer, but have also proven to work.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth works because it is made up of fine particles with really sharp edges. When you apply it to an area that is infested by carpet beetles, these sharp edges will cut through the outer protective layer of the larvae of the carpet beetles.
In doing so, it will leave them vulnerable to extreme dehydration. This will then lead to the death of the carpet beetle larvae.
The advantage of using diatomaceous earth over other chemicals like boric acid is that it is generally harmless to human beings. In fact, food-grade diatomaceous earth is still effective against carpet beetles.
Using it as pest control treatment is thus safer than alternatives that are equally effective.
Insecticides
If you want a fast and effective method of completely getting rid of carpet beetles, then you should use an insecticide. Insecticides that have deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, or bifenthrin are the most effective against these pests and are thus recommended.
However, you should keep in mind that while insecticides are effective against carpet beetles, they can trigger allergic reactions in your loved ones. They may also end up killing organisms and plants that are beneficial.
Therefore, you should always opt for insecticides as a last resort. You should also use them with care.
How do you know that you need to get rid of carpet beetles?
While carpet beetles are not dangerous, they are very destructive. Therefore, identifying their presence as early as possible can save you from a lot of financial headaches.
Here are the signs of carpet beetles that you should look out for.
- Holes and thin areas in fabric. The larva stage of carpet beetles feeds on anything that has fiber. This includes rugs, carpets, bristle brushes, furs, blankets, clothes, and any other items with fibers. Therefore, if you start noticing holes in fabric or fur items, you should definitely start looking out for other signs of carpet beetles.
- Falling hairs. When carpet beetle larvae eat fur items, they tend to weaken them. They also clip them at their base. This often leads to hairs falling off these items, And so if your fur clothing or items start shedding their furs, then carpet beetles might be to blame.
- Larval skins. As carpet beetle larvae grow, they shed their skins. They leave these skins all over the places that they infest. Therefore, if you come across light brown skins under rugs, or on wool blankets or clothing, then you likely have a carpet beetle problem.
- Fecal pellets. In addition to empty skins, adult carpet beetles and their larvae also tend to leave fecal pellets behind. The presence of these pellets is often proof enough of an infestation.
- Crawling carpet beetles. Adult carpet beetles mate outside. They also love feeding on plants. Therefore, they are bound to want to get out of your home. And when they do, you will see them crawling up your walls, especially during spring. This is often a sign of a wider carpet beetle infestation.
How do you keep carpet beetles from coming back?
You can keep your home safe from a carpet beetle infestation by getting rid of things that would encourage them to stay.
Carpet beetles are generally opportunistic and so tend to pitch camp in areas that have a ready supply of food and which will favor their thriving.
Some of the things that you should do to prevent future infestations include:
Closing all potential entry points into your home
Carpet beetles typically enter homes through cracks in windows, doors, walls, and roofs. Sealing gaps, crevices, cracks and any other forms of opening around your home is thus an easy way of keeping carpet beetles at bay.
Sealing food in air-tight plastic containers and bags
If your home has a ready supply of food substances, carpet beetles are more likely to settle there. They will not only make it their home, but also multiply and make it uncomfortable for your loved ones.
To prevent carpet beetles from settling in your home, wrap food remains in plastic bags. Use air-tight containers to store your groceries and anything that they may find delicious.
Cleaning cabinets and other storage spaces
Immediately there is a food spill or an accidental mess in the kitchen, you should make an effort to clean up immediately. Any crumbs, food particles, and fluids that remain in your kitchen can attract carpet beetles.
Therefore, cleaning up immediately is something that will go a long way toward reducing the odds of ending up with a black carpet beetle, varied carpet beetle, or any other carpet beetle infestation.
Installing protective nets over your windows
Flying carpet beetles usually fly into homes through windows. Once in the home, they establish themselves, multiply, and then start wreaking havoc.
Installing bug nets over openings like windows will keep them off your home. It will trap them before they have a chance to explore your home, and this will go a long way toward saving you from the headaches that carpet beetles routinely cause.
Being selective about plants and flowers in your home
Carpet beetles can attach themselves to flowers and plants. And so if you bring plants into your home that are already infested with carpet beetles, you will be inadvertently exposing your home to these pests.
Taking the time to inspect each and every plant or flower that you take into your home will therefore help.
Removing pet hairs
Carpet beetles feed on a wide range of items around the home. This includes pet hairs.
To discourage adult carpet beetles from camping in your home, you should vacuum and clean pet hairs off your carpets, floors, and furniture. Do this regularly and as often as possible and this might just be enough to discourage adult beetles from staying in your home.
Store fur and wool items in air-tight bags
You can also keep adult carpet beetles from making a home in your house by simply storing away items that they like to feed on.
Since wool, fur and things with natural fibers are a favorite delicacy of carpet beetles, and since they can’t eat through plastic, then storing these items in air-tight plastic bags will go a long way towards discouraging them from settling in your home.
Relocating bird nests
Carpet beetles love to camp in bird nests. Therefore, if you have an infestation, and still have nests near your windows and doors, they are likely to blame for your pest problems.
To keep your home free from adult beetles and their larvae, you should relocate the nests. Doing so will make your home less of low-hanging fruit to carpet beetles. It might just be enough to save you from having to deal with a recurring carpet beetle infestation.
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FAQ's
There are varied carpet beetle species in the world. The most common types include:
- varied carpet beetles
- black carpet beetles
- furniture carpet beetles
- fur carpet beetles
No, carpet beetles are not dangerous. They don’t harm human beings or pets. However, they can sometimes trigger allergic reactions in some people. This may include skin irritation and eye irritation.
Yes, adult carpet beetles lay eggs. They lay eggs in food sources like furs, wool clothing, woolen carpets, and any items that contain natural fibers. They usually lay eggs in the hundreds and these eggs usually hatch within 30 days.
