What to Do About Carpet Beetles

Have you ever heard of carpet beetles? If not, allow us to introduce you to the dermestids that may already be living in your home. Carpet beetles can hitch rides on flowers and pets, or they might just invite themselves in through the window. Once inside your home, these insects lay eggs in carpets, clothes and other textiles. Don’t let these bugs make a buffet of your textiles! Here’s what you need to know about them so that you can get rid of them.

Carpet Beetle 101

Adult carpet beetles are either black or a combination of tan, white, and black. Evidence of these pests can usually be found by windows and doorways. Thankfully, as adults, carpet beetles are not much of a threat to carpets and other natural fibers, but the problem with seeing adult carpet beetles is that there is most likely beetle larvae hiding around your home. And the beetle larvae along with their appetites can wreak havoc on carpets, clothes, curtains, and more. Carpet beetles also love to munch on pantry staples like pasta and rice, so keep an eye out for them where you store these goods as well.

Since the larvae are quite small and mostly clear, they can be difficult to see on their own. It is easier to identify a carpet beetle infestation by the damage they leave behind. If you notice bald patches, irregularities in carpet piles, or small holes in clothes and curtains, these are tell-tale signs that you have some unwelcome guests.

What to Do About Carpet Beetles

If you find that you do indeed have a carpet beetle infestation, don’t worry. There are several ways to successfully eradicate them.

The first way is to use insecticide. Deltamethrin, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin will all do the trick. Test an inconspicuous area of the carpet to make sure that the insecticide won't stain it. Then just follow the manufacturer’s instructions to treat the entire carpet pile with the insecticide.

Another route you can take is to utilize diatomaceous earth. While insecticides need to be used carefully to not cause harm to family members and pets, diatomaceous earth is a natural product that doesn't require as much caution. It works as a desiccant, dehydrating larva. The only precaution you should take when using this product is to wear a mask in order to prevent inhaling the fine dust particles.

Boric acid is another effective way to neutralize carpet beetle threats. Boric acid works as a poison to these insects but is only harmful to humans if ingested. Handling boric acid on its own is completely safe. In fact, many people already use this ingredient in their laundry, and it can be found in the laundry section of your local grocery store. Simply sprinkle it evenly over the surface of your carpets and vacuum it up the next day.​

Once you have eradicated the beetles, you can assess the damage that they left behind. If there are large bald spots as a result of their stay, call Carpet Stretch and Rescue. We can repair the damage they caused.

By Carpet Stretch and Rescue 6-8-2022