Content

• Steps
• Advice
• What you need

Carpet beetles are persistent invasive pests that often nibble on carpets, clothing and other fabrics. Although carpet beetles are not easy to get rid of, it is entirely possible to treat them yourself. Act quickly when you see signs of infection like larvae, scaling, and litter. With the right tools and methods, you will get rid of carpet bugs in your house and prevent them from coming back.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Clean up

1. 

   Identify the source of the infection. Both adult carpet beetles and larvae can spread indoors, but the larvae often do the most damage because they feed on organic materials such as wool, leather and silk. In order to know where to focus on cleaning, you first need to find the main source of infection, ie where most signs of damage are present and the presence of carpets. Examine dark, unattended areas such as basements and under carpets for signs such as:
   • The jagged brown skin flakes look like a shell left by a larvae
   • Brown carpet beetle droppings about the size of a grain of salt
   • Adult beetles are oval in shape, have many different colors and are slightly smaller than pin heads. They fly and usually live outdoors but spawn indoors in dark and deserted places.
   • The larvae are slightly longer than the adults and often have fluff of feathers, although some species may be smooth and glossy. They can be brown, red, white or striped.

2. 

   
   
   Vacuum your entire house to remove larvae and carpet bugs. Thorough vacuuming is the best and fastest way to get rid of carpet bugs and carpet larvae. Focus on the areas most infested, but it's also a good idea to vacuum the entire house to make sure it's completely removed. Immediately dispose of the garbage bag in the machine after vacuuming is complete.
   • Continue vacuuming at least once a day for a week. Depending on the level of infection, you may need to vacuum several times a day for the first few days.
   • Vacuum all upholstery in your home or areas with cloth cover that cannot be placed in the washing machine.
   • Check the carpet label for how to clean and rent a steam carpet cleaning service if necessary.

   

   
   

   Kevin Carrillo

   MMPC, Pest Control Specialist Kevin Carrillo is a senior pest control and project manager at MMPC, a certified minority-owned pest control services business. based in New York. The MMPC is certified against the industry's leading set of standards, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and the New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA).MMPC's work has been posted on CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

   

   Kevin Carrillo
   MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

   Steam carpet cleaning or hire a professional. Once the infestation has been resolved, continue to vacuum and clean the carpet regularly with the small slot attachment, paying attention to dusty areas and few people in the house.

   
   

3. 

   Throw away contaminated clothing and linens. If clothing or fabric has been eaten by carpet bugs, throw it in an outdoor trash can. An infection will be harder to deal with if you keep the items contaminated with the carpet bug.
   • Throw away the rodent clothing even if you can't see any bugs on it.

4. 

   Wash all clothes, even if they do not appear to be contaminated. Put all clothes, towels, blankets, bed sheets and other linens in the machine and wash in hot, soapy water. Carpets, larvae, and their eggs live very tough, and washing in hot soapy water is the most effective way to kill them.
   • Take all items that cannot be washed dry clean.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Use specialized methods

1. 

   Spray insecticide on areas that you cannot clean or wash. Look for items that include carpet beetles in your list of insects. Carefully follow the instructions when spraying on fabric items that you cannot otherwise clean. Avoid spraying all over the house - insecticides should be used only topically.
   • Only spray on lint-rich areas, such as around carpet edges, wall cabinets, linen shelves, nooks and crevices. Do not spray on clothes or bedding.
   • Don't forget to wear gloves and protective clothing when spraying. Leave the room when it is released in the air and wash your hands after spraying.

2. 

   Sprinkle boric acid on hard to reach areas. If you have areas where carpet beetles are infested but difficult to get to, like attics or niches, sprinkle boric acid over them. You can also make a spray solution by mixing 1 tablespoon (4 g) of boric acid with 1 cup (480 ml) of hot water. Stir to dissolve the powder, then pour it into a plastic spray bottle to spray in hard-to-reach corners.
   • Boric acid has bleaching properties, so you should avoid sprinkling it on darker materials.

3. 

   Use a hormonal glue trap in the case of a persistent carpet beetle infection. If the infestation becomes severe, place glue traps all over the house to catch carpet bugs and prevent other problems. Place traps around entrances such as windows, doors or crevices and enclosed areas where carpet beetles congregate most.
   • Traps use hormones or pheromones that are specially formulated for the carpet beetles in your home. You can also use non-hormonal glue traps to catch carpet bugs, especially those that fly through windows.
   • Check the trap 1-2 times a week.
   • Carpet traps can be found in insecticide stores or online.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Prevent infection

1. 

   Find and remove outside sources or carpet beetle nests. To make sure carpet bugs don't return, check the insect repellent mesh and the doors to make sure there are no openings, and make sure to close the door as much as possible. Look outside and clear the webs, bird's nests, old beehives, and rodent burrows that carpet beetles can hide.
   • You should also check the flowers or plants before bringing them indoors for signs of carpets or larvae. If so, leave the plant outside.
   • For particularly persistent and recurrent infections, you can spray insecticide around low areas outside your home and near entrances. However, insecticides can affect other harmless insects, so you should only use them outdoors when you have no other way.

2. 

   Regularly clean areas prone to carpet beetle infestation. Regular vacuuming, washing clothes and other fabrics at least every 2 weeks is the best way to prevent carpets. You also need to remove spills and spills immediately; Food and sweets can attract carpet bugs.
   • Be sure to remove hair, lint or dust, as this is a carpet beetle's favorite food.

3. 

   Cover unused fabrics and clothing in a plastic bag. Store clothes and linens in a sealed plastic bag. Leave it in the sun and dust it once a year to check.
   • For added protection, place insecticide-soaked resin sticks in the cloth you keep in the bag. Mothballs or similar products are also effective against carpets.
   • If you notice signs of a carpet bug, wash or dry the items before storing them.

4. 

   Choose synthetic materials over organic materials. Carpets eat only organic produce, so choosing synthetic materials reduces the risk of carpet beetle infection. This is especially useful for carpets, tapestries, and furniture.
   • Synthetic materials commonly used to weave carpets and carpets include nylon, polyester, triexta, and olefin.
   • For furniture, synthetic materials include acrylic, acetate, nylon, and polyester.
   advertisement

Advice

• If you can't get rid of the carpet beetles yourself, hire a professional exterminator. They can use stronger and more effective chemicals for a more thorough cleaning.
• Carpets can also be attracted to piano felt pads and hammers, causing damage that affects the sound of the piano. In this case, you should call the piano technician for help.
• The few carpet bugs that show up indoors are not a major concern; they often enter the house from the outside and quickly leave. You only need to treat it when you see larvae.

What you need

• Vacuum cleaner
• Washing machine
• Laundry soap
• Pesticide
• Gloves and protective clothing (for spraying)
• Boric acid (italian drug)
• Glue trap
• Plastic boxes or plastic bags for storing fabrics
• The sap or mothballs